A New Jersey bill that would require sportsbooks to be forthcoming about account limiting has seen its first movement in the state legislature.
Key Takeaways
- The Assembly Tourism, Gaming, and the Arts Committee unanimously approved the gaming bill.
- The legislation could soon reach the House floor.
- If passed, New Jersey would join Massachusetts in efforts to inform bettors of account limitations.
A4002, which includes a series of changes to operator reporting, was read and passed by a vote of 7-0 in the Assembly Tourism, Gaming, and the Arts Committee last week. The bill is eligible to be added to the House’s calendar, which could lead to a floor reading and a vote.
Sponsored by Democrat Assemblymen Dan Hutchison, Cody Miller, and Michael Venezia and introduced in February, A4002 would force New Jersey sports betting operators to adopt rules that “may include, but need not be limited to, limits on play times, maximum wager amounts, and deposit and withdrawal restrictions.”
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Notifying the consumer
The legislative act also calls for sportsbooks to notify the user of any account restrictions and provide an explanation for the limitations.
“Any account that has been limited shall be reviewed at periodic intervals, in accordance with standards to be established by the division, to determine whether the account should remain limited or whether the limitations should be removed,” according to the bill.
The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement would also receive the authority to establish rules and regulations around these new measures. If this bill is passed and signed into law, it would become effective immediately.
Hot-button topic
The Garden State is taking on an issue that sports betting customers have been asking for for years.
Many bettors claim that they are regularly limited by sportsbooks without explanation. New Jersey’s bill would allow customers to be told why they are not allowed to wager on certain markets.
Massachusetts regulators took it upon themselves late last year to unanimously pass two measures that will force sportsbooks to inform bettors of account limitations.
