New Jersey bill would shift underage gambling fines to addiction programs
The measure would replace criminal charges with civil fines and direct the revenue to gambling addiction prevention and treatment.
A New Jersey Senate committee has advanced a bill to replace criminal penalties for underage gambling with civil fines and direct that revenue to addiction prevention and treatment.
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 11-0 on Thursday to send S597 to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee for further review.
The measure would change violations from a disorderly persons criminal offense to a civil offense, with fines of up to $500 for a first offense, up to $1,000 for a second and $2,000 for a third or subsequent violation.
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"While studies have shown that young people are more vulnerable to developing gambling problems, punishment through the criminal justice system could saddle them with criminal records," said Sen. James Beach, a Democrat and one of the bill's sponsors.
He said the effort is better spent focusing on behavioural changes that may prevent future addiction.
"Our efforts are better spent focusing on behavioral changes that may prevent future addiction. By replacing criminal penalties with civil fines and directing that revenue towards gambling addiction prevention, education, and treatment programs, we will help young people avoid gambling-related problems in the future," Beach added.
The fines would apply to anyone under the legal age of 21 who gambles at a casino or simulcasting facility, an adult who allows a minor in their care to gamble, and a casino licensee or employee who permits underage gambling.
Money collected would go to the state's General Fund, then be appropriated to the Department of Human Services to fund compulsive gambling prevention, education and treatment programs, potentially including services from the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey.
"Now, underage gambling should never be encouraged, and casinos have a responsibility to follow the law, but a criminal offense is an unnecessarily harsh consequence for a kid who makes a mistake," said Sen. Vince Polistina, a Republican co-sponsor.
Polistina said gambling has become a bigger part of everyday life through sports broadcasts, social media and advertising, exposing young people more than ever.
"Young people are exposed to it more than ever, and that should be taken into consideration when deciding how to handle underage gambling violations," Polistina said.
The bill retains an existing defence for casinos if an underage customer falsely represented their age in writing and was admitted in good faith.
Its scope also includes people under 18, who are currently dealt with through the juvenile justice system.
Previous effort and next steps
The proposal mirrors a measure that lawmakers debated and gave preliminary approval last year but was never enacted.
That earlier proposal, Senate Bill 3972, was introduced in December 2024 to replace criminal penalties with escalating fines and direct money towards addiction-related services, but the session ended before it became law.
The current bill, S597, was filed in January 2026 as a renewed attempt for the 2026-27 session.
It must clear committees in both the state Senate and Assembly and win approval from the full membership of both houses before reaching the governor's desk.
The identical Assembly version, A1822, was introduced earlier this year and is currently with the Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee.
Senators Kristin Corrado, Shirley Turner and John McKeon are listed as co-sponsors, giving the proposal bipartisan backing.