Four New Responsible Gambling Bills Introduced in New Jersey
The upcoming New Jersey legislative session will see the state’s lawmakers reintroducing several new bills and protection measures. The latest bills highlight different areas of attention that lawmakers are focusing on in the new year. While some of the proposals are new, others are brought back for debate from previous sessions.
Proposals include a statewide “Gambling Treatment Diversion Court” pilot within the criminal justice system, offering underage gambling offenders gambling prevention, education, and treatment programs as optional penalties. There is also a proposal to require gambling addiction prevention and education in public school health classes across the state and a measure that will require colleges to launch gambling awareness programs in case they sign any partnership deals with sports betting operators.
New Jersey has always been revolutionary when it comes to legal online casinos. It appears that the Garden State is also setting new standards when it comes to responsible gambling.
Senate Bill S2272
Senate Bill S2272 was reintroduced in January by state Senate President Nicholas Scutari. It is based on the successful drug recovery courts, which prefer recovery programs and education over penalties. The bill, which proposes “state gambling treatment diversion courts,” says that people convicted of gambling crimes such as fraud, illegal gambling, or underage gambling will receive treatment, support, and education as opposed to penalties like jail time or fines. The bill has been sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Senate Bill S1214
Senate Bill S1242 is meant to address underage gamblers specifically. This bill allows judges in New Jersey to send an underaged gambling offender to a support program rather than imposing on them a penalty or fine. Currently, anyone under 21 who is caught gambling in NJ will receive a fine between $500 and $1,000. According to the bill, a judge can still give the offender a fine but can also send them to mandatory support and education programs. The bill has been referred to the Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee in the Senate State Government.
Assembly Bill A1715
Assembly Bill A1715 has been reintroduced since 22/23. It requires colleges and universities in the state to establish gambling addiction prevention programs in case the higher-education institution in question signs a partnership deal with a sports betting partnership. No state colleges or universities in New Jersey have such partnerships. So, the outcome of the bill isn’t really applicable. Still, it has been referred to the Assembly Higher Education Committee.
Assembly Bill A1711
Introduced by Assemblywoman Garnet Hall during her first term as a NJ state legislator, she is also the main promoter of Assembly Bill A1711. The bill was initially introduced and stalled in committee in 2022/2023. However, Hall is sponsoring it and reintroducing it in this session. A1711 requires high schools in New Jersey to teach in health classes about gambling addiction and how to prevent it. According to the bill, students will learn about the dangers of gambling addiction, the risks of gambling relating to personal finances and assets, and probability vs predictability. A1711 has been referred to the Assembly Education Committee.
