Share 
Two New Jersey sports wagering bills focused on responsible gambling, consumer protections, and operator transparency advanced out of the Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee this week, continuing lawmakers’ push to tighten oversight of the state’s regulated wagering market.
Assembly Bill A4002 and Assembly Bill A4003, sponsored by Assemblymembers Dan Hutchison, Cody Miller, and Michael Venezia, were both reported out of committee with amendments on Thursday and now head to the Assembly floor for further consideration.
The measures were first introduced in January as part of a broader responsible gambling effort in Trenton aimed at increasing consumer protections and improving transparency between operators and customers.
A4002 targets sportsbook account restrictions
A4002 would require New Jersey sports betting operators to establish and publicly post rules governing wagering account limitations. The bill would also require operators to notify bettors whenever their accounts are limited or restricted.
The legislation addresses a growing concern among bettors regarding limiting or restricting winning players without clearly communicating the reasons behind those decisions.
Under the proposal, operators would need to submit their limitation policies to the Division of Gaming Enforcement for approval and provide written notice when restrictions are applied. The bill also calls for annual reporting on how often account limitations occur and the types of restrictions imposed.
While the bill does not prohibit platforms from limiting accounts, lawmakers say the goal is to improve transparency and consumer awareness in the market.
New Jersey remains one of the country’s largest sports wagering jurisdictions, routinely generating more than $1 billion in monthly handle.
A4003 focuses on responsible gambling protections
A4003 would prohibit operators from offering New Jersey sports betting bonuses or other incentives to customers currently using responsible gambling tools.
That includes bettors enrolled in self-exclusion programs or those who have voluntarily set deposit, time, or wagering limits on their accounts.
The legislation would impose fines of at least $500 per violation for operators that continue marketing promotional offers to those customers.
Lawmakers argue the measure closes a gap in responsible gambling protections by preventing operators from undermining safeguards that customers have intentionally activated.
Operators commonly use bonus bets, deposit matches, and promotional credits to encourage wagering activity. Critics of those practices have argued that targeted promotions can negatively impact at-risk players attempting to control their gambling habits.
Responsible gambling a priority for lawmakers
The advancement of A4002 and A4003 adds to a growing list of gambling-related proposals introduced during New Jersey’s current legislative session.
Other recently introduced bills have focused on banning credit card use for online gambling deposits, restricting push notifications, and creating new integrity reporting systems.
As New Jersey lawmakers continue debating additional consumer protection measures, the state appears poised to further expand responsible gambling requirements in one of the nation’s most mature online betting markets.
