New Jersey Takes Action to Tighten Gambling Laws to Safeguard the Public and Children
New Jersey’s Task Force Proposes Tougher Gambling Regulations
The highly gambling-averse U.S. state of New Jersey is now being contemplated to implement a package of stricter regulations to meet increasingly pressing issues around problem gambling as well as children's gambling. Established by Governor Phil Murphy in 2024, the Responsible Gambling Task Force released a comprehensive report that contains highest-priority amendments to make gambling safer and more responsible.
The suggestions follow a Rutgers University study found that New Jersey gamblers have a higher risk of developing gambling issues. The suggestions follow that neighboring New York is also considering tighter controls, especially on sports betting.
Key Proposals to Curb Problem and Underage Gambling
The new report focuses on several high-priority areas:
1. Educational Initiatives for Youth
The task force suggests the implementation of gambling education to the elementary schools, citing alarm over the increasing numbers of children reportedly gambling as early as sixth and fifth grade. By getting an early start on educating the children, and warning parents, the state is going to actively tackle youth gambling.
2. Creation of a Responsible Gambling Board
A proposed Responsible Gambling Board would be responsible for overseeing all safe gambling initiatives across the state. This board would evaluate current programs and propose further improvements as needed.
3. Enhanced Self-Exclusion Tools
The report urges the development of a centralized self-exclusion portal, where players can opt out of gambling across all legal operators. This would ensure consistency and broaden access to player protection tools.
4. Stricter Regulations on Advertising
To reduce the appeal of gambling ads, especially among minors, the task force proposes:
Mandatory risk warnings in all gambling advertisements.
Limitations on ad frequency and placement, especially near schools and public transport.
Daily fantasy sports (DFS) platforms would be required to include links to self-exclusion resources, aligning them with sportsbooks and casinos.
Tackling the Growing Threat of Unlicensed Gambling
Apart from the law-abiding gaming, the task force cautioned against unregulated sites. These sites tend to disregard safety measures and do not participate in state-sponsored responsible gaming programs. An interesting statistic from earlier research illustrates that 1 in every 4 adults in New Jersey has played on unregulated sites over the last two years.
Such ill-reputed platforms include offshore sportsbooks, prohibited online casinos, and sweepstakes-style games that take advantage of legal loopholes.
Toward a Safer Gambling Environment in New Jersey
The Murphy administration will weigh the suggestions in the report during the next few months. If implemented, the reforms would establish a new benchmark for responsible gambling legislation in the U.S.
As the industry continues to evolve, New Jersey's leadership may balance economic development with consumer protection, particularly among its most vulnerable constituencies.