Gambling in NJ: What Has Changed Legally in 2019
Are you not updated on the last legal gambling news from NJ? It took three years of pushing a bill through the state legislator to get here, and the legal environment continues to open up for web-based gaming platforms.
In this article, we’ll cover the latest stories from inside and outside of the courtroom. We’ll provide some insight into safe online gambling and include the most recent updates from licensed operators in NJ.
NJ Horsemen vs. Major Sports Leagues
This year’s long-running legal saga in New Jersey has been between thoroughbred horsemen and national sports leagues. The state’s racing industry has recently won a significant legal victory over those organizations that blocked NJ’s pursuit of legal sports betting.
In late September, a three-judge panel from the United States Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on the side of the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (NJTHA). The 2-1 decision overturned a previous US District Court ruling.
The NJTHA operates the Monmouth Park racetrack and filed suit against the National Football League, the National Baseball Association, the National Hockey League, Major League Baseball, and the National Collegiate Athletics Association for financial damages.
According to the NJTHA, the leagues’ multi-year collaborative effort to block the state’s quest for legal sports wagering had cost them over $150 million in revenue.
NJ Online Casinos in the Dog House
Earlier this month, the DGE or Division of Gaming Enforcement explained infractions for which they were penalizing five online gambling companies. PokerStars, SG Digital, iGaming Cloud, William Hill Sportsbook, and GAN were fined for a total of eight infractions.
These operators were fined for losing data, running unapproved games, and allowing self-excluded customers to place bets. The penalties ranged from $1000 to $100,000. SG received the largest fine for operating three games differently to the original versions that were approved by the DGE.
The games that landed SG Digital in the proverbial dog-house were:
- Zeus III
- Epic Monopoly II
- 888 Fortunes.
The other companies had lost data from slot tournaments, user hand histories, and system crashes. Also, iGaming Cloud was fined $7000 for allowing customers on the self-exclusion plan to place bets.
The self-exclusion plan is a resource available to those who have a gambling problem. If operators fail to monitor customers and provide protection, they’ll be held accountable.
Latest DGE Updates
Recently, the DGE went on record to warn advertisers to stop promoting any unregulated gambling sites. Companies have a responsibility to encourage legal and regulated sportsbooks and not have affiliations with, or use odds from any illegal sites.
The regulator boss of the division, David Rebuck, explained the motivation as being about adequate consumer protection mechanisms. He argued that offshore operators often deploy inadequate protocols that endanger players.
In August, BetOnline and Bookmaker were forced out of the sector due to their marketing affiliations and advertisement schemes.
Progress Overview
According to the November 2019 DGE press release, the Total Gaming Revenue for November was $306 million as compared to $257.4 million in 2019. That’s a very healthy 7% increase. Total taxes on that revenue is 8% from all casinos, with 15% from internet gaming and 8.5% racetrack and casino wagering.
In 2019, eight out of the ten months have produced record revenues, with an overall growth of 69% for the year.
On Tuesday, December 10, 2019, IDEA, an online gambling industry association, released a headline that stated there had been an estimated 6,552 jobs created through iGaming. The report also said that $401 million in wages and $259.3 million local and tax revenue was collected between 2013 and 2018.
The Verdict
There you have it – some of the latest legal gambling news of 2019. If you’re wondering where to gamble legally in NJ, you only have to look at your computer screen or mobile phone. As long as you are over the age of 18 and physically located within the state borders, you’re permitted to play.
If you’re someone who likes to gamble online in NJ, it’s a good idea to have an idea about the latest legal updates. There may be some slight hiccups to come, but looking at the current projections, we’d say that the industry is going to continue to grow for the foreseeable future.
