The Responsible Gambling Task Force in New Jersey has submitted a 109-page report that offers Gov. Phil Murphy and the state’s Attorney General proposals for several responsible gambling initiatives. Murphy formed the task force in June 2024 after a Rutgers study estimated that 6% of New Jersey residents are at high risk for problem gambling, which is significantly higher than the national average of 1 to 2%.
The task force addressed a number of concerns regarding regulated and unregulated gambling, along with a plan to enhance responsible gambling efforts and lower risks. Gov. Murphy said in a statement:
“New Jersey has long been a leader in the gaming industry, and with that leadership comes the responsibility to ensure the well-being of our residents.
“I appreciate the Task Force’s efforts to create a safer and more supportive gaming environment, particularly for our most vulnerable communities.”
What is in the Responsible Gambling Task Force report?
The Responsible Gaming Task Force is explained in a 109-page document that was published on Monday. The document consists of the following topics in relation to responsible gambling:
- Regulated and unregulated gambling, including sweepstakes
- Overview of RG in other jurisdictions
- Underage gambling
- Funding
- Education, prevention and treatment
- Recommendations
Some of the important aspects of the report is towards the end, where the recommendations come in. The task force wants to establish the New Jersey Unified Responsible Gaming Evaluation Board (URGE), which would serve the following purpose:
“Consider and study RG matters of mutual interest, make recommendations to the Legislature, determine regulatory reforms, and set RG policies that warrant funding, as recommended and discussed herein, and to evaluate the effectiveness of funding which is provided in part based on the latest research and input from clinicians and other stakeholders.”
Another important component of the report is to provide residents with a centralized RG website, universal self-exclusion list and expanded education efforts, especially to young, legal gamblers.
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, Chair of the Responsible Gaming Task Force, said in a statement:
“I’m proud that New Jersey is leading the charge in tackling problem gaming. We’re already recognized nationally for our data-driven responsible gaming tools, and I’m encouraged by our multiagency task force’s thoughtful recommendations to take our efforts even further and strengthen support for those who need it most.”
CEASE calls out Gov. Murphy for not adequately addressing smoking
The report does not mention anything about smoking being related to problem gambling until a footnote on page 91. The footnote leads a reader to a link that compares gambling to smoking.
That was much to the dismay of Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects (CEASE), who is fighting to eliminate indoor smoking at Atlantic City casinos. Pete Naccarelli, a co-founder of CEASE and a longtime table games dealer in Atlantic City, said in a statement emailed to PlayNJ:
“Buried in a footnote of the report is a quiet admission that smoking and problem gambling go hand-in-hand, but the governor completely sidesteps the issue in his recommendations to address it. This is what hypocrisy looks like.
“You can’t claim to care about responsible gaming while turning a blind eye to the toxic environment that pushes the people most at risk of gambling addiction to gamble longer and puts workers’ lives at risk.
“Governor Murphy had an opportunity to lead. Instead, he chose to punt. If New Jersey is truly serious about responsible gaming, it’s time to stop dancing around this issue and finally end indoor smoking in casinos.”
CEASE has made several ploys to Gov. Murphy, the latest of which included a protest outside the League of Municipalities conference in Atlantic City in November. CEASE has called on Murphy’s wife, Tammy, who is a champion of maternal health in New Jersey, to use her voice to aid in the cause.
