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New Jersey lawmakers are considering a bill that would require iGaming and sports wagering operators to send monthly push notifications to bettors detailing their gambling winnings and losses.
Sen. John McKeon introduced Senate Bill 4280 last week, adding another responsible gambling measure to a state that has increasingly focused on player protections as online wagering continues to grow.
The legislation would apply to both New Jersey online casinos and sports operators in the state.
Under the proposal, operators would have to provide patrons with monthly statements showing the total dollar amount won and lost since the previous report. Those statements would be delivered through push notifications and any other electronic communication method selected by the customer.
Bill targets transparency for bettors
The bill defines a push notification as an automatic electronic message sent to a bettor’s device when the gaming app is not actively open or visible.
The legislation states that operators would be required to provide patrons with “regular statements concerning the patron’s winnings and losses,” including “the total dollar amounts of winnings and losses since the last statement.”
The legislation amends both the state Casino Control Act and New Jersey’s sports wagering law. The Division of Gaming Enforcement would oversee implementation and determine any additional information included in the notifications.
Responsible gambling advocates have increasingly pushed for more transparency tools that help players better understand their gambling activity. Similar measures have been discussed in other jurisdictions as regulators and lawmakers look for ways to address concerns about excessive gambling tied to mobile betting.
New Jersey has been one of the nation’s largest online gambling and New Jersey sportsbook markets since launching legal sports wagering in 2018. Mobile wagering now accounts for the overwhelming majority of sports betting activity in the state.
Responsible gambling measures continue expanding
The proposal comes as lawmakers nationwide continue debating new responsible gambling safeguards, including affordability checks, advertising restrictions and mandatory player activity summaries.
Some operators already offer voluntary access to win-loss statements within customer account settings. However, the New Jersey bill would require operators to proactively send the information directly to patrons on a recurring basis.
The legislation also could create tension with operators because the notifications themselves are designed to prompt users to engage with the platform while simultaneously highlighting gambling losses. The bill’s language specifically describes push notifications as messages that “prompt the patron to check or engage with such platform.”
New Jersey lawmakers have introduced a slew of bills regarding responsible gaming that protect players and the integrity of sports.
Bill would take effect immediately
New Jersey regulators and lawmakers have previously taken several steps aimed at responsible gambling. The state requires operators to display problem gambling messaging in advertisements, including the “1-800-GAMBLER” helpline.
The bill was introduced May 14 and has not yet advanced through committee. If passed, the law would take effect immediately.
