New Jersey’s Responsible Gaming Task Force has recently made some recommendations for the state’s gambling protocols.
In the comprehensive 109-page report, the task force advised the state’s legislature to display more standardised warnings on casino advertisements and put more funds into gambling addiction resources and educate children on the possible harms of gaming.
Proposal to Raise the Legal Gambling Age
It also called for review of the legal betting age for certain gambling categories, including bingos, raffles, amusement games, lottery, horse racing, and fantasy sports. The suggestion is to increase the legal age to 21.
With the aforementioned games, individuals as young as 18 are sometimes allowed to buy tickets or place bets. That’s why the task force is worried about the young adults.
Background: Why the Task Force Was Created
The Garden State’s Responsible Gaming Task Force was launched by Gov. Phil Murphy in the summer of 2024. It was created after a 2023 report from Rutgers University discovered that gambling-related issues are higher than the national average in New Jersey, particularly in Black and Hispanic demographics.
According to the task force’s new reports, the gambling age protocols can be confusing in N.J. For instance, individuals must be 21 or older to place bets in a land-based casino, play slots or wager on sports. However, they must be at least 18 years old to bet on certain horse races or purchase a lottery ticket.
New Jersey’s gambling age rules can be confusing, according to the report. While people need to be 21 to legally place a bet in a casino, put money in a slot machine or wager on sports, they only need to be 18 to bet on some horse races or buy a lottery ticket.
The Governor Backs the Recommendations
Governor Murphy supports the recent findings, and here’s what he commented on the topic after the release of the report last week:
“New Jersey has long been a leader in the gaming industry, and with that leadership comes the responsibility to ensure the well-being of our residents. I appreciate the Task Force’s efforts to create a safer and more supportive gaming environment, particularly for our most vulnerable communities.”
However, the Casino Association of New Jersey, which is the trade organization that represents the local casino industry has not yet provided a response to the new suggestions. The Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey that represents the state horse racing sector, has also refrained from commenting on the matter.
Calling for Stricter Advertising
Furthermore, in the new report, the state’s task force insisted that N.J. should be more assertive on gambling commercials by mandating that these ads must include information about how gambling can be addictive.
The report also proposes to include several variations of these messages, which would prevent message fatigue, where repeated exposure to the same warning can reduce its effectiveness.
Early Education for Children
Also, the task force believes the state should educate children on gambling behaviours when they are in elementary school. This is since they should learn about the risk of gambling long before they would be allowed to legally wager. The report also outlined that many children are already ‘desensitised’ to taking more risks, as they play video games.
According to the report, gambling education at an early age could help clarify gambling activities, while making students aware of the potential psychological and financial risks of betting.
Changes Proposed for Addiction Treatment Certification
RGTF’s recommendations also propose modifications to the state’s Alcohol and Drug Counsellor Committee. The task force reckons that the committee should have more options for treating gambling addiction as a standalone disorder, instead of treating it alongside other addictions.
Last but not least, the task force also came up with a proposal to remove oral exams for addiction counsellors in the state. Currently, licensees usually have to take written and oral exams to be certified to treat addictions.
These recommendations aim to create a safer and more supportive gaming environment, particularly for vulnerable communities.
Attorney General Praises the Initiative
The New Jersey Responsible Gaming Task Force is chaired by Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin. He was appointed to lead the task force when it was established in 2024. Here’s what he said on the topic:
“I’m proud that New Jersey is leading the charge in tackling problem gaming. We’re already recognised nationally for our data-driven responsible gaming tools, and I’m encouraged by our multiagency task force’s thoughtful recommendations to take our efforts even further and strengthen support for those who need it most.”
New Jersey Issues Latest Gambling Numbers
In April 2025, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement published its March 2025 gambling revenue numbers. The total gambling revenue for the month from brick-and-mortar casinos, racetracks, and others was US$546.1 million. This was a modest 3.7% growth compared to the US$526.6 million from the same period of last year.
Land-based casinos in the state contributed with US$230.9 million, while iGaming brought in US$243.9 million. Lastly, proceeds from sports betting accounted for US$71.3 million. Both retail and online gaming were improvements from last year. However, sports betting saw a decrease from March 2024.
