Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, whose state filed the legal challenges that ultimately led to the U.S. expansion of regulated sports betting, will be honored during the Betting of Sports America in April.

Christie, who served two terms as New Jersey governor, will join the Sports Betting Hall of Fame during the conference on April 25 held at the Meadowlands Exposition Center.

The state’s seven-year legal challenges ultimately led to the U.S. Supreme Court overturning the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, allowing state to legalize the activity. Since the PASPSA was eliminated, seven states, including New Jersey, have legalized the activity. Another 15 states are currently exploring sports betting legalization.

“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,” said Rasmus Sojmark, founder and CEO of Sports Betting Community, which curates the Hall of Fame. “For that bravery, the industry is indebted to Governor Christie and his inclusion in the Hall of Fame is just a small thank you for his support.”

The Hall of Fame Ceremony is being held at Sky Room in New York City, and is part of the conference’s closing party.

“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,” Christie said. “I’m very proud and gratified to be recognized by the sports betting industry in this year now that PASPA is a distant memory.”

The Sports Betting Hall of Fame was launched by SBC in 2016. Current members include Sportradar Founder Carsten Koerl, Intralot co-founder Constantinos Antonopoulos, independent bookmaker Fred Done, and Bwin co-founder Norbert Teufelberger.

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