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Summary:
- New Jersey could reclassify underage gambling from a criminal offense to a civil offense.
- A proposed bill approved by the Assembly would replace charges with fines between $500 and $2,000.
- The money would reach support programs for education, prevention, and treatment of gambling addiction.
Legislators are currently considering a significant shift in the way New Jersey handles underage gambling violations.
S3246 proposes that gambling by individuals under 21 be treated as a civil offense rather than a criminal offense, replacing potential criminal charges with fines.
Fines Would Go to Support Organizations
The proposed legislation also introduces penalties for those who facilitate underage gambling in the Garden State.
The fines for offenders would be structured progressively: $500 for a first violation, $1,000 for a second, and $2,000 for any further offenses.
Revenue from these fines would be directed toward programs focusing on education, prevention, and treatment of gambling addiction.
The Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey (CCGNJ), which has already helped a large number of people recover from disordered gambling since its inception four decades ago, would be one of the main beneficiaries of the funding.
The CCGNJ worked together with government agencies and populations at risk, including older adults and youth, to highlight problems and provide “support, treatment, and hope” while “maintaining a neutral position on gambling and encouraging individuals to gamble responsibly”.
Change of Heart for Skeptical Voices
As expected, only some people agree with the proposal. Atlantic City’s former mayor and Republican assemblyman Don Guardian was initially skeptical about softening the legal consequences.
However, the allocation of fines toward treatment initiatives helped change his stance.
“The concern I had initially was about reducing the severity of the punishment” Guardian explained. However, the fact that all the money would reach problem gambling treatment programs helped change his mind.
The issue of underage gambling is gaining attention as more young people engage in betting, particularly sports wagering, which has grown nationwide.
While exact figures on underage gambling offenses are not available, experts in addiction recovery constantly report increases in youth participation.
CCGNJ Offers Conditional Support
The CCGNJ has expressed conditional support for the bill but also raised a series of reservations.
Luis Del Orbe, the council’s acting executive director, welcomed the funding for treatment and education but stressed the need for mandatory educational initiatives.
He raised the question of the persons who would pay the fines for underage players, highlighting the potential issue of parental responsibility.
In a statement to the Assembly, the council warned of rising challenges, speaking of the larger and larger number of New Jersey citizens who “need help due to the ongoing expansion of gambling opportunities”.
Anticipating a growing demand, the council expressed the urgent need “for expanded education and awareness about the harms that can come of gambling, particularly with respect to youth.”
If passed, the bill that has already been approved by the Assembly committee and has been moved to the full Assembly for a vote will go to Governor Phil Murphy’s desk for final approval.
