New Jersey considering softening underage gambling punishment

Article by : Charles Perrin Dec 18, 2024

• 
• 

New Jersey lawmakers have reportedly come up with a new plan for how the state should tackle underage gambling.

It is thought legislators are considering shaking up how the state punishes underage gamblers by adopting a softer stance.

Originally, underage gambling was viewed as a criminal offense, and it was put on a level footing with a disorderly persons misdemeanor.

However, Garden State lawmakers insist that underage gambling, which refers to citizens under the age of 21, should be a civil matter instead.

The proposed bill would see fines levied as follows:

• First-time offenders would be hit with a $500 fine.
• Patrons that fall foul of a second offense would be fined $1,000.
• Any further violations would be subject to a $2,000 fine.

The bill, already approved by an Assembly committee, will now be scrutinized before a full Assembly vote.

Should that stage be cleared, then the law would need to pass the House and the Senate before it is enacted and signed off by Gov. Phil Murphy.

Under current law, any patrons who are caught underage gambling face a $1,000 fine and jail time.

Explaining his original dilemma, New Jersey Assemblyman Don Guardian said: “The concern I had initially was about reducing the severity of the payment.

“But the fact that all the money will go to problem gambling treatment programs instead changed my mind.”

Among the bill’s supporters include the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey. But there have also been concerns predominantly raised by gaming leaders about the level of education provided through the issuing of fines.

As of yet, there have been no official figures released on how many underage gamblers there are in the state.

Should the law be passed, there will be questions raised about whether a fine for underage gambling will be enough of a deterrent.

What is clear, is that the proposal hasn’t been undertaken lightly, and perhaps underage gamblers may embrace it.