NEWARK — The NCAA and the four major professional leagues sued New Jersey on Tuesday, saying the state's plan to allow sports betting violates federal law and threatens the "character and integrity" of sporting events.

Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, the National Hockey League, the National Football league and the NCAA filed the lawsuit in federal court in Trenton.

The leagues say New Jersey's proposal to allow sports betting is "in clear and flagrant violation" of a 1992 federal law, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, which restricts betting on collegiate and professional games to four states: Delaware, Montana, Nevada and Oregon. New Jersey was given a chance to become the fifth state, but declined to act during a yearlong window from 1993 to 1994.

Gov. Chris Christie signed a law in January to allow sports betting at New Jersey's 12 casinos, four racetracks and on the site of a closed racetrack. In May, he said he would move forward with the regulations without attempting to get the 1992 law overturned.