(AP) - New Jerseyans have Gov. Chris Christie's back when it comes to his plan to defy a federal ban on sports betting.

A new Fairleigh Dickinson University PublicMind poll out Tuesday shows 45 percent of respondents favor allowing sports betting at casinos and horse tracks even if the federal government forbids it. Christie said earlier this year that's what he plans to do.

The poll found 38 percent opposed to that approach.

When the question of a federal ban was eliminated, 58 percent of respondents said New Jersey should allow sports betting.

The NCAA and the four major professional sports leagues are suing New Jersey to block the plan, saying it threatens the "character and integrity" of sporting events.