New Jersey Bill Would Replace Underage Gambling Crimes With Civil Fines
Senate Bill 597 passed Senate Judiciary Committee; fines range from $500 to $2,000.
Key Takeaways
- Senate Bill 597 passed the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously on 15 October 2026 and advances to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.
- The bill replaces disorderly persons offences for underage gambling with civil fines of US$500, US$1,000 and US$2,000 for first, second and subsequent violations.
- The measure covers minors, adults who permit gambling by minors, and casino licensees and employees, while preserving a good-faith proof-of-age defence for employees.
- All revenue from the civil penalties would go into New Jersey's General Fund and be allocated to the Department of Human Services for eligible gambling-harm programmes.
Senate Bill 597 would replace criminal penalties for underage gambling in New Jersey with civil fines up to US$2,000 and cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously on 15 October 2026. The measure now moves to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee and would remove disorderly persons offences for violations involving people under 21.
What the bill would change
Under the proposed law, violations would attract escalating civil fines: US$500 for a first offence, US$1,000 for a second offence and US$2,000 for a third or subsequent violation. The bill targets underage gambling at casinos and simulcasting facilities and also covers adults who allow minors under their legal care to gamble, plus casino licensees and employees who permit underage play. Revenue from those civil penalties would be deposited into New Jersey's General Fund.
Procedures and protections
The bill would not alter New Jersey's minimum legal gambling age of 21, but it would change case handling for young people. Cases involving individuals under 18 — currently a matter for the juvenile justice system — would be handled under the civil-penalty regime prescribed by the measure. The draft preserves an existing defence for casino employees who, in good faith, relied on written proof of age and reasonably believed the person was at least 21 based on appearance and documentation.
Funding for treatment and prevention
The Legislature would allocate the General Fund receipts to the New Jersey Department of Human Services for eligible programmes addressing gambling-related harm, including prevention, education and treatment services. Potential beneficiaries named in the bill include services provided by the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey.
Sponsors and next steps
The bill is sponsored by Democratic Senator James Beach of Camden and Burlington counties and Republican Senator Vince Polistina of Atlantic County. Senators Kristin Corrado, Shirley Turner and John McKeon are listed as co-sponsors. The next procedural stop is consideration by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. For coverage of regulatory changes affecting casinos see casino and for broader rule developments see regulation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What penalties would Senate Bill 597 impose for underage gambling?
Senate Bill 597 would impose civil fines of up to US$500 for a first offence, US$1,000 for a second offence and US$2,000 for a third or subsequent violation. The fines apply to underage gambling at casinos and simulcasting facilities and to adults who allow minors in their care to gamble.
Does the bill change New Jersey's legal gambling age?
The bill does not change New Jersey's minimum legal gambling age of 21. It would, however, remove disorderly persons criminal offences for violations involving people under 21 and replace them with civil penalties.
How would revenue from fines be used under the bill?
All revenue collected from the civil penalties would be deposited into the state's General Fund. The Legislature would then allocate those funds to the New Jersey Department of Human Services for eligible prevention, education and treatment programmes addressing gambling-related harm.
Who sponsors Senate Bill 597 and what are the next steps?
Democratic Senator James Beach and Republican Senator Vince Polistina sponsor the bill; Senators Kristin Corrado, Shirley Turner and John McKeon are co-sponsors. The bill cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee on 15 October 2026 and will be considered next by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.
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About the author
Eleanor Whitfield
Regulatory Affairs Correspondent
Eleanor Whitfield tracks gambling legislation, licensing decisions, and regulator enforcement across key markets — from the UKGC, MGA, and Germany's GGL to Spain's DGOJ and the state-by-state map in the Americas. The reporting answers three questions precisely: what changed, where, and who it affects, with jurisdictions, effective dates, and penalty figures named exactly as published. Compliance officers and operators read Eleanor Whitfield to know which rulebook moved before their next board meeting.
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