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Following a series of high-profile scandals, New Jersey has emerged as the latest jurisdiction to pursue aggressive reforms of its online gambling regulations, with four new Senate bills introduced targeting responsible gaming measures.
The legislative push, led by Senators Andrew Zwicker and Paul Moriarty, represents one of the most comprehensive efforts to date to address problem gambling in the digital era. If enacted, the reforms would significantly restrict how operators market to and interact with players.
S3401 would eliminate promotional push notifications and text messaging by gambling operators, removing a key customer acquisition and retention channel that critics argue can trigger impulsive betting behavior. Violators would face minimum fines of $500 per incident.
Sportsbook-specific measures in S3419 require transparent account limitation policies, while S3420 closes a perceived loophole by prohibiting bonuses to players enrolled in responsible gaming programs. The latter aims to prevent operators from using promotions to circumvent self-imposed restrictions.
The centerpiece legislation, S3461, spans 26 pages of regulatory requirements. Most notably, it would ban credit card deposits for online gambling transactions, a move that could substantially impact payment processing volumes. The bill also mandates strict KYC verification and requires operators to maintain dedicated responsible gambling personnel.
A novel element of S3461 is its tiered intervention system, which establishes a graduated response protocol for at-risk players. Starting with automated informational outreach, the system escalates through personal contact to account suspension and eventual closure with professional referral when warranted.
The bills also mandate gender data collection for problem gambling research and implement cooling-off periods for withdrawal cancellations. Industry groups have yet to formally respond to the proposals, which currently await committee hearings.
