New Jersey bill would replace criminal charges for underage gambling with civil fines

A New Jersey Senate committee has advanced a bill to remove criminal penalties for underage gambling and replace them with escalating civil fines. The measure, S597, would apply to individuals under 21 who gamble, adults who allow a minor in their care to gamble, and casino licensees or employees who permit it. Fines collected would be directed to the state's compulsive gambling prevention, education and treatment programs. The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the bill by an 11-0 vote on Thursday, sending it to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.

The bill would change violations from a disorderly persons criminal offense to a civil offense. A first offense could carry a fine of up to $500, rising to $1,000 for a second offense and $2,000 for a third or subsequent violation. Currently, underage gambling at a casino or simulcasting facility is a disorderly persons offense with a fine of between $500 and $1,000. The legal gambling age would remain 21.

"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 Democratic sponsor of the bill.

Beach said the state's efforts are better spent on behavioural changes that may prevent future addiction. Senator Vince Polistina, a Republican co-sponsor, argued that the pervasive presence of gambling in daily life should be considered. "Gambling has become a much bigger part of everyday life, from sports broadcasts and commercials to social media and the constant stream of betting ads people see online," Polistina said. He added that a criminal offense is an unnecessarily harsh consequence for a young person who makes a mistake. "This bill keeps penalties in place, increases fines for repeat violations, and directs the money collected toward gambling addiction prevention, education, and treatment," Polistina said. The bill's scope also includes people under 18, who are currently handled through the juvenile justice system.

Fine revenue would go into New Jersey's General Fund and then be appropriated by the Legislature to the Department of Human Services. The money would support eligible programs, potentially including services from the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey. The Council conditionally supported a similar previous proposal but raised concerns about a version that does not require problem-gambling education alongside the fines. The current proposal mirrors an effort from the previous legislative session that was never enacted. That earlier bill, introduced in December 2024, also sought to replace criminal penalties with fines and direct money toward addiction services. S597 was filed in January 2026 as a renewed attempt for the 2026-27 session. An identical Assembly version, A1822, is currently with the Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee. The bill must clear the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, win approval from the full Senate and Assembly, and reach the governor's desk before it can become law. New Jersey would not be the first state to treat underage gambling as a civil offense, as Washington state uses a civil infraction system with smaller fines. Other states, like Nevada, still treat it as a criminal misdemeanor.