New Jersey senators have voted to move underage casino and simulcasting gambling away from criminal prosecution. The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced S597 by an 11-0 margin this week, with the measure now headed to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. If enacted, the bill would replace a disorderly persons offence with tiered civil fines and send the proceeds to compulsive gambling programmes.
What the committee decided
The panel's vote was unanimous, according to reporting by RG.org that cites the Legislature's bill page. S597 was first introduced on 13 January. It went to the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee before being moved to the Judiciary Committee on 28 September. After the committee approved it, the bill was referred to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. The Press of Atlantic City reported that support crossed party lines.
How penalties would shift from criminal to civil
Under current law, a person below 21 who illegally enters or places a bet in a licensed casino or simulcasting venue can be charged with a disorderly persons offence. PlayUSA says that this can bring a fine from $500 to $1,000 and a sentence of up to six months, while under-18s are handled through juvenile delinquency proceedings. S597 would remove those criminal penalties and create civil fines instead: no more than $500 for a first violation, $1,000 for a second, and $2,000 for a third or later violation.
According to a Senate Republican office release cited in the RG.org report, the civil penalty structure would cover three situations. It would apply to a person under 21 who gambles in a casino or simulcasting facility, to an individual who allows someone below 21 in their legal care or custody to gamble, and to a casino licensee or employee who permits an underage person to gamble.
Where penalty money would be directed
Money collected from these civil fines would be paid into the state's General Fund. The Legislature would then appropriate funds to the Department of Human Services, which would distribute them to compulsive gambling prevention, education and treatment programmes that meet its criteria, based on reporting by New Jersey Senate Democrats. A Senate Republican office release named the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey as one organisation offering these types of services.
Senator James Beach, one of the primary sponsors, said the funding mechanism is central to the proposal. He stated that replacing criminal penalties with civil fines and directing the revenue to addiction prevention, education and treatment will help young people avoid future gambling-related problems.
Why sponsors back the change
Beach said the goal is to keep young people from being burdened with criminal records while addressing gambling-related risk at an earlier stage. He pointed to studies suggesting that younger individuals are more prone to developing gambling problems, and argued that criminal justice punishment could leave them with records. He said attention should be directed toward behavioural change that may head off future addiction.
Senator Vince Polistina, the other primary sponsor, said under-21s now see gambling far more often than previous generations. He cited sports broadcasts, commercials, social media and a steady stream of online betting advertisements.
Sponsors and the path ahead
Primary sponsorship rests with James Beach and Vince Polistina; Kristin Corrado, Shirley Turner and John McKeon are listed as co-sponsors. The Press of Atlantic City reported that a comparable proposal received preliminary approval during the last session but did not become law. That earlier bill was recorded as S3972 and A5086, and the bill page indicates that S597 has obtained a fiscal note certification from the Office of Legislative Services.
