Lawmakers in NJ consider making underage gambling a civil matter

NJ New Jersey Underage Gambling Law Changes Civil
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Lawmakers in New Jersey are considering making changes to how the state punishes instances of underage gambling.

Lawmakers in the Garden State have proposed a piece of legislation that changes state gaming law making gambling by patrons under the age of 21 no longer a criminal offense and only punishable with a fine. Active gaming law in New Jersey considers underage gambling a disorderly persons offense with the change making it a civil matter.

The bill, approved by an Assembly committee, faces a full Assembly vote. To be enacted, it must pass in both the House and Senate before being signed by Gov. Phil Murphy.

Fines have been proposed for the potential change with first offenders levied a $500 fine. Patrons with a second offense are fined $1,000 with additional violations subject to a $2,000 fine. Proceeds from the fines would be allocated toward problem gambling initiatives, including government-backed treatment and education programs. Under active law, patrons who are caught gambling underage face up to $1,000 in fines and jail time.

“The concern I had initially was about reducing the severity of the punishment,” New Jersey Assemblyman Don Guardian told the Associated Press earlier this week. “But the fact that all the money will go to problem gambling treatment programs changed my mind.”

The proposed bill has garnered support from key organizations, including the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey, but the bill is also drawing concerns. Responsible gaming leaders in the state have voiced concerns about whether the bill’s emphasis on fines provides patrons across the state with proper problem gambling education.

NJ lawmakers aim to protect young people

The potential change of underage gambling laws in New Jersey comes as lawmakers in the state consider a measure that aims to prohibit operators from offering college player props.

Last month, the state’s Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee advanced Bill A4905 after the measure was introduced by Assemblyman Sterley Stanley. The bill bans college player prop betting in the Garden State as student-athletes across the country face an uptick in gambling-related harassment. A recent NCAA study found over 5,000 social media posts that contained abuse directed at student-athletes, coaches or officials.