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New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) signed a bill into law on Tuesday that prohibits sportsbook operators from partnering with universities within the state.
It took more than a year for the legislation to become law.
The bill passed the New Jersey Assembly in February, and the Senate approved A4113 in June.
What the bill says
New Jersey sportsbooks are no longer able to partner with public colleges in the state. New Jersey Bill A4113 specifies what constitutes a partnership between a school and a sportsbook, along with the prohibition.
“As used in this section, ‘sports wagering partnership’ means a partnership or contractual agreement between a sports wagering operator or intermediary and [an] a public institution of higher education, including an athletic department or booster club of the institution, for access to advertise in the institution’s stadiums and other facilities, in digital and broadcast sports content, and through other means.
“A public institution of higher education shall not participate in a sports wagering partnership as defined by subsection a. of this section.”
Four primary sponsors introduced the legislation in April 2024. One of the sponsors, Assemblywoman Linda S. Carter (D-Somerset), said in March that “advertisements for sports betting on a college campus are unnecessary and can create harmful consequences.” Her goal was to protect students from being exposed to potential gambling harms.
Interestingly, the new law does not totally outlaw partnerships between universities and sportsbook operators. The legislation was amended in September to allow partnerships that are “established for academic purposes or provides experiential learning opportunities to students enrolled in the institution.”
Timeline of bill
It took around 15 months for the measure to become law:
- April 2024: Introduced, referred to Assembly Higher Education Committee
- September 2024: Reported out of Assembly Committee with amendments, second reading
- February: 2025: Passed by the Assembly
- March 2025: Received in the Senate, referred to Senate Higher Education Committee
- May 2025: Reported out of Senate committee, second reading
- June 2025: Passed Senate
- July 2025: Signed into law
New Jersey has made protecting college students, as well as student-athletes, a priority. Laws have been passed to protect the privacy of college students, protections against predatory, for-profit institutions, and requirements for colleges to create safe and secure environments for their students.
Currently, Senate Bill 3080 would eliminate college player prop bets in New Jersey. The legislation recently passed the State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee.
