New Jersey's online gambling market is one of the oldest and most progressive in the US. The Garden State was the plaintiff in the case that struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018, which opened the floodgates for legal US sports betting that is prevalent today. It was also the first state to legalize online casinos, in 2013, partly due to its long association with legal gambling in Atlantic City. But what changes are going on today?
As in most years there are currently half a dozen gambling-related bills at various stages of the New Jersey Legislature in Trenton. These bills effect various parts of the business from land-based casinos to sports betting advertising to responsible gambling initiatives and even a surprise potential move on "sweepstakes" social casinos. This is what you need to know about New Jersey gambling legislation.
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New Jersey politicians have often talked about expanding licensed casinos outside of Atlantic City. However, doing so would require a constitutional amendment - and ratifying that needs a public referendum. Last time that didn't go well for casino proponents. In 2016 New Jersey voters soundly rejected the proposal - 70% of them in fact.
However, much has changed since then. Atlantic City casinos, already on the decline in 2016, have fallen even further since the pandemic. And no less than three new mega casino resorts are soon set to open in downstate New York. Some NJ politicians see this as a reason to show New Jersey can still compete as a national gambling destination. Nevertheless, it is widely considered that chances of this bill getting to a public vote are slim.
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Sweepstakes casinos use a model where players get two kinds of virtual currency to play games when they deposit, one ostensibly for free, but only winnings from the free "sweepstakes" coins can be exchanged for real prizes.
This model skirted the law and was legal in all states for a few years. However, states, particularly those with existing regulated online casinos like New Jersey, have been increasingly cracking down on them. Former Governor Phil Murphy moved to ban them in the Garden State in 2025.
A bill to looking to regulate and tax sweepstakes casinos was immediately filed after that, but failed. Senate Bill 1500 was filed in January this year, aiming to try again. Although how successful it will be is unclear at this stage.
With debates ongoing about how to regulate different gambling models, clarity around exactly what casinos offer remains important for players. New Jersey casino fans often look to independent review platforms like Casino.org's list of trusted online casino sites to identify all state-licensed operators. NJ's regulatory standards are robust. However, there are still key differences including in game selections, payment processing and bonus terms. Comparison sites assemble this information all in one place, assisting players in evaluating their options.
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This measure was introduced in a bill late last year, which was unanimously approved and then signed into law by then Governor Murphy last month. It mandates that public colleges and universities in the state have at least one open seminar per semester from the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey.
During the campus visit the organisation will also distribute responsible gambling advice and information on problem gambling support services. Lawmakers said they were concerned that sports betting apps in particular are highly popular among college students and that more structured education and information on the risks is needed.
Gambling advertising is frequently an area of interest for New Jersey's legislators and regulators. State Senator Andrew Zwicker (D-16) has proposed one of several bills currently in the legislature aiming to curb certain kinds of advertising.
This particular bill, 3401, would ban licensed online casinos sportsbooks from sending push notifications to players while they don't currently have the app open. This would include text message advertisements offering bonuses, which is a popular way of building a marketing list for casinos.
Interestingly this ban wouldn't just be for online casinos, but also retail sportsbooks and casinos in Atlantic City - many of whom advertise to VIP clients via text. Zwicker's proposal is to fine operators $500 a time if they are caught breaking this rule.
Meanwhile Senate Bill 3420 proposes prohibiting sports betting operators in the state from marketing bonuses specifically to anyone currently under the limits of a responsible gambling tool such as self-exclusion. Operators already generally avoid doing this, but the new proposal will clarify that in regulation.
