New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has signed a law that prohibits sportsbooks from partnering with the state’s public colleges and universities. The measure, first introduced in April 2024 by four sponsors, was more than a year in the making.
After passing the Senate in June, the bill made its way to Murphy’s desk and became law in July. Supporters called it an important step to shield students from the influence and potential harm of gambling promotions on campus.
What A4113 Prohibits
Under the new measure, known as A4113, public institutions of higher education, including their athletic departments and booster clubs, are barred from entering into any agreement with a sportsbook that gives the operator access to advertise on school property, in digital broadcasts, or through other channels tied to the school.
The law defines a “sports wagering partnership” as any arrangement that allows a betting operator to market its services through the university’s facilities or media.
“A public institution of higher education shall not participate in a sports wagering partnership as defined by subsection a. of this section,” the bill reads.
Assemblywoman Linda S. Carter (D-Somerset), one of the bill’s sponsors, explained her motivation earlier this year, calling advertisements for sports betting on college campuses “unnecessary” and likely to “create harmful consequences.”
She added that the law is designed to limit young people’s exposure to gambling’s potential risks.
Exceptions and Amendments
The law does leave room for certain types of partnerships, however. A September 2024 amendment allows schools to engage with sportsbooks for academic collaborations or experiential learning programs that benefit students, provided they are not marketing-driven.
The legislation’s path to becoming law took about 15 months, moving through several rounds of committee review and amendments.
After it was introduced last spring and referred to the Assembly Higher Education Committee, the bill advanced in September 2024 with amendments before passing the Assembly in February 2025.
A month later, the bill moved to the Senate Higher Education Committee, where it was approved in May 2025 and sent on for a full Senate vote. The Senate passed it in June, and Governor Murphy signed it into law the following month.
The state has been active in regulating gambling tied to higher education. Earlier this year, the Senate advanced Bill 3080, which would ban sportsbooks from offering prop bets on college games entirely, another sign New Jersey is tightening rules around sports betting and student-athlete protection.