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Adam Roarty is a journalist covering sports betting, regulation, and industry innovation for CasinoBeats. His coverage includes tax increases in the UK, covering breaking stories in the ever-evolving landscape of US betting such as the...
Read Full BioThe new legislative session in New Jersey has seen a host of bills related to gambling carried over from last year as lawmakers continue to debate the state’s policies towards the industry.
A total of six bills have been carried over, including legislation that would regulate sweepstakes casinos, ban micro and college prop bets, impose fees for sportsbooks, and restrict gambling advertising.
The state saw an increase in revenue from gambling last year. Through November, total revenue stood at $6.38 billion, representing a 10.4% increase from the same period in 2024. While some lawmakers celebrate the additional tax revenue the industry brings, others argue that the growth is causing harm to residents.
Sweepstakes Casino Bill Remains Active
The range of bills carried over reflects differing stances on how to regulate the gambling industry. Last year, the state passed a bill banning sweepstakes casinos, which helped drive up revenue from legal online casinos.
One of the bills carried over would see platforms legalized again, but under regulation. The bill was first introduced in January of last year, before the ban took effect in August.
If passed, the bill would require any operator of an online sweepstakes casino to obtain a casino service industry enterprise license from the state. Platforms would then function in much the same way as online casinos.
With the ban now in place, it seems unlikely the state will move forward with this legislation. Most operators have already exited and could launch online casino platforms if they were interested in operating in the regulated industry.
Restrictive Bills Aim to Control Industry Growth
Other bills carried over primarily aim to restrict the industry. One bill proposes banning micro bets, while another would prohibit college prop bets.
The two pieces of legislation are in response to a series of sports betting scandals that occurred last year. Lawmakers debated banning micro bets last month. Proponents of the ban argued that it would protect users from gambling harm. The bill would prohibit live bets on the next play or possession.
Many other states have already banned college prop bets, and similar legislation to do the same in New Jersey has also been introduced. The bill made some progress last year, advancing in the Senate as lawmakers unanimously approved the legislation.
NCAA President Charlie Baker has called on more states to ban the markets, citing concerns about players being abused by angry bettors and risks of more point-fixing scandals.
Two of the other carried-over bills would increase restrictions on gambling advertising. Both propose restricting ads that are deemed to be aimed at minors, while one would also see the Division of Gaming arrange a study to investigate the effect of gambling advertising.
The final bill would see sportsbooks charged $250,000 for licenses, an increase from the current $100,000. It would direct the additional funds towards problem gambling treatment in the state.
With a host of other bills to consider, it is unclear as yet which of the gambling legislation will be prioritized. Still, the micro bet and college prop bans are a hot topic amid several betting scandals.
