New Jersey is looking to change the penalty for underage gambling from a criminal into a civil offence, punishable by a fine, as reported by the Associated Press.
As per the current laws, people under the age of 21 are not permitted to gamble, irrespective of it being casino gambling or online sports betting. Those engaging in gambling while being under the legal age or those aiding the underage group wager, may be subject to a disorderly person’s penalty, a criminal offence.
What if underage gambling becomes civil offence?
However, the new proposal aims to make such offences’ punishment more lenient. If the proposal goes through and underage gambling is recognised as a civil offence, those participating would be subject to a range of fines.
An initial fine of $500 would be applicable for first-time offenders while a second offence would be subjected to a $1,000 fine. Similarly, subsequent offences would be subject to a $2,000 fine.
The proposal was recently approved by an Assembly committee and is now headed for greenlighting from the Assembly. If approved by the Assembly, it will need to be sanctioned by both legislative houses in New Jersey. The proposal would be enacted as a law after it is signed by the Democratic Governor Phil Murphy.
The New Jersey Council on Compulsive Gambling is expected to benefit from the proceeds from the fines. The proceeds are also expected to be used for different gambling treatments, education and prevention programmes.
Luis Del Orbe, the acting executive director of the Council on Compulsive Gambling, has noted that the state needs more funding to be dedicated towards gambling treatment programmes. However, he was doubtful if fines alone would have the desired effect. He also suggested that the proposal should include education on problem gambling.
Strongest November in 11 years
Recently, New Jersey’s gambling sector recorded its strongest November in 11 years. New Jersey’s Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) has reported a total gaming revenue of $556.9 million in November 2024. This marks a 15.4 percent year-on-year (YoY) increase, driven by steady growth across casinos, iGaming, and sports betting.
Casino win remained the strongest contributor to New Jersey’s gaming sector in November, generating $223.9 million, a 4.2 percent increase compared to the same period last year. Slot machines raised $167.7 million, which reflects a 4.3 percent increase YoY.
Meanwhile, table games contributed $56.2 million, showing an increase of 4 percent over November 2023. Despite this strong monthly performance, year-to-date (YTD) figures for casino win paint a slightly different picture. Total casino win for 2024 so far stands at nearly $2.6 billion, reflecting a 1.1 percent decline compared to the previous year.
Notably, table game revenues have seen the largest YTD drop, recording a decrease of over $40 million compared to 2023.
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