Chris Christie, former state governor for New Jersey, is to be recognised by the sports betting industry for the role he played in widening the scope for sports betting in the US.

chris christie

The Sports Betting Hall of Fame was launched by Sports Betting Community in 2016 to recognise the individuals who have significantly contributed to the industry. Christie spent more than seven years fighting for legalised sports betting in his state and it was his efforts in spearheading the challenge through the federal courts that opened the door for states across the nation to take a look at regulating sports betting.

Rasmus Sojmark, founder and CEO of SBC, said: "Governor Christie is the first politician we have inducted into the Sports Betting Hall of Fame, but he is there with good reason. Without the political will from the governor’s office it is questionable that PASPA would ever have been challenged in the courts.”

Christie said: “Sports betting was held back for too long by the unfair federal laws, so I was more than happy to be the first to make a stand against them. I’m very proud and gratified to be recognised by the sports betting industry in this year now that PASPA is a distant memory.”