State power over sports betting
Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Assn.
In brief
The Supreme Court overturned the ruling that had upheld PASPA against New Jersey’s challenge.
- Where it stands
- Decided
Decided 7-2 · May 14, 2018 · Opinion by Justice Breyer
- What it’s about
- New Jersey challenged PASPA, a federal law that barred states from changing or repealing their bans on sports betting. The Supreme Court overturned the Third Circuit’s judgment upholding PASPA.
- Who it affects
- New Jersey won its appeal of a ruling that upheld federal restrictions on changes to state sports-betting laws.
Summary: written with AI from the case record.
What it's about
The case asked whether Congress can force states to keep their own bans on private conduct in place.
Question presented
Does a federal statute that prohibits modification or repeal of state-law prohibitions on private conduct impermissibly commandeer the regulatory power of States in contravention of New York v. United States , 505 U.S. 144 (1992)?
What the Court decided
Holding
Judgment REVERSED. Alito, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Roberts, C. J., and Kennedy, Thomas, Kagan, and Gorsuch, JJ., joined, and in which Breyer, J., joined as to all but Part VI-B. Thomas, J., filed a concurring opinion. Breyer, J., filed an opinion concurring in part and dissenting in part. Ginsburg, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which Sotomayor, J., joined, and in which Breyer, J., joined in part. VIDED.
- Result
- Reversed
The vote
- Joined the judgment
- Dissented
- Wrote an opinion
- Majority · 7joined the Court's opinion
- Dissenting · 2disagreed with the result
- Ginsburgwrote the dissent
- Sotomayor
What's next
The Supreme Court has completed its review of this case.
Documents
Docket activity
New analysis added
AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
AI analysis generated: Decision Record
Case data updated: summary, question_presented, generation_metadata
Case data updated: question_presented, extraction_metadata
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Sources
Primary materials plus reporting. Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.