Delaware will appeal sports betting restrictions to US Supreme Court

Delaware to appeal sports betting limits

DOVER, Del. — Delaware Gov. Jack Markell says the state will appeal restrictions on its sports betting lottery to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Markell and his aides said Thursday the state expects to file its appeal by the end of the month.

The appeal will ask the Supreme Court to reverse a ruling by a federal appeals court in Philadelphia that restricts the lottery to multi-bet wagers on professional football.

The appeals court dealt the state a blow in August when it ruled the lottery must be restricted to multi-bet wagers on professional football, similar to a 1976 lottery that allowed Delaware to be exempted from a 1992 federal ban on sports betting.

The ruling came in a lawsuit filed by the professional sports leagues and the NCAA.