New Jersey Takes Steps Toward Tougher Responsible Gambling Rules

The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) has put forward a plan that could transform how online casinos and sportsbooks in the state manage responsible gambling. The proposed regulations released in the New Jersey Register this week, aim to replace voluntary guidelines with a set of mandatory requirements.

Planned Rules Would Make Online Companies Identify Risky Gamblers

The new plan would require operators to follow a standard approach to identify and help players who show signs of problematic gambling behavior. The division is open to public input on the proposal until November 14, after which they may finalize the rules.

If put into action, every licensed operator would have to name a “responsible gaming lead” to keep an eye on customer activity and step in when warning signs pop up. The plan also sets up a standard list of behavior triggers. These include one-day deposits over $10,000, three canceled withdrawals in 10 days, or betting that tops $1 million in a 90-day period. Other red flags are many visits to the self-exclusion page without following through, several requests to cool off, and big jumps in both gambling time and bet frequency.

When a customer hits one or more of these marks, staff need to kick off a three-step help plan. First, they send out information on tools to gamble responsibly. If the behavior keeps up, the player has to watch an educational video that the DGE has given the thumbs up to before they can play again. For the worst cases, the person in charge of responsible gaming will reach out straight away by phone or video chat. If they cannot get in touch after trying a few times, they might put the account on hold. In bad situations, they could even shut it down for good.

NJ Gaming Board Mentions Rutgers Research to Back Tougher Responsible Betting Guidelines

Jamie McKelvey, Assistant Bureau Chief in charge of responsible gaming at the DGE, explained during an industry webinar that these measures had been in development for years. She mentioned a Rutgers University study that found New Jersey residents reported higher rates of problem gambling compared to national averages. This data, she said, pushed regulators to take stronger action.

McKelvey stressed that most operators already use similar tools, but the lack of consistent thresholds has allowed too much variation. She said standardization would ensure all players across the state receive the same level of protection. At the same time, she pointed out that the regulations were designed to be flexible allowing the addition of new behavioral markers if research suggests more effective approaches.

The proposal puts forward extra rules, like stopping operators from asking players to take back withdrawal requests and requiring them to gather gender information for yearly problem gambling reports.

While the rules are not set in stone yet, regulators have shown they want to tighten control. If put into action, these steps would be the most thorough responsible gambling plan in the state since online casinos kicked off in 2013 and sports betting followed suit in 2018.