A state assemblyman says he may seek a state law that would legalize sports betting in New York in a bid to fight the federal ban.

After New Jersey's sports-betting law was struck down in federal court this month, Assembly Racing Committee chairman Gary Pretlow, D-Mount Vernon, said he'll try a similar path in New York.

Pretlow said he hopes to introduce legislation that would allow New York to take sports bets, aiming to take away from Nevada's sports books.

"I am a believer in legalizing sports betting," Pretlow said.

The legislation faces long odds, as it would in the courts even it was passed by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The state Legislature returns to Albany in January.

Senate Racing Committee chairman John Bonacic, R-Mount Hope, Orange County, was circumspect of a possible New York bill.

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"Any discussion of legalizing sports betting in NY is premature at this point. There are significant legal issues to consider before undertaking this endeavor," he said in a statement.

New Jersey has tried repeatedly to legalize sports betting to help its ailing casinos and racetracks, but federal courts have rejected each attempt.

Pretlow's effort — which he first mentioned earlier this month at a gambling conference in Saratoga — comes amid an increasingly saturated gambling market in the Northeast.

New York has nine racetracks with video-lottery terminals, as well as five American Indian-run casinos and four upstate casinos that are set to open as early as next year.

The state is facing growing competition from casinos planned in Massachusetts, as well as the potential of casinos in northern New Jersey.

In June, the state Legislature passed a bill to legalize daily fantasy sports contests, and Cuomo signed it earlier this month.

Pretlow said his bill would largely seek to pressure Congress to change the nation's sports betting laws.

"I'm considering this year putting in legislation similar to New Jersey's legislation, and hopefully it gets to court in the Second Circuit, and hopefully we get a different opinion," he said.

As part of the state's law in 2013 to legalize up to four upstate casinos, it included a provision that would let the facilities add sports betting if it is legalized.

Sports betting would provide tax revenue to states and help existing casinos, he said.

"It's not fair that only one state is allowed to legally take sports bets," Pretlow said.

Any state law would likely be rejected in the courts, said Chris Moyer, director of public affairs for the American Gaming Association, the Washington, D.C.-based lobbying arm for gambling operations.

But he said pressure from states could push Congress to act.

In addition to New Jersey's efforts, Pennsylvania passed a resolution urging the federal government to revisit the 1992 law that restricts sports gambling.

"You're starting to see more and more states become interested in this," Moyer said.

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