New Jersey Senate panel backs bill replacing criminal penalties for underage gambling with civil fines

New Jersey lawmakers have moved forward a bill that would swap criminal penalties for underage gambling with civil fines. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 11-0 on Thursday to advance S597, which now goes to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. The measure has not become law.

Under the proposal, the civil penalty would be about $500 for a first violation, $1,000 or less for a second, and a maximum of $2,000 for any further violation. The fines would apply to people under the legal gambling age of 21 who gamble in a casino or at a simulcast location. They would also cover anyone who allows a person under 21 in their lawful custody to gamble, as well as casino licensees and employees who permit underage gambling. The change would turn the conduct into a civil matter rather than a disorderly persons offense.

Revenue from the fines would be directed to prevention, education and treatment services for compulsive gambling. According to the Senate Republican office's announcement, this could include programmes run by the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey.

The primary sponsors are James Beach and Vince Polistina, with Kristin Corrado, Shirley Turner and John McKeon as co-sponsors. The Press of Atlantic City reported that the bill advanced with bipartisan support. Polistina, a Republican from Atlantic, said young people are now exposed to gambling far more often than in the past, citing televised sports programming, advertising and social media. He stressed that underage gambling should not be encouraged and that casinos must follow the law, but argued that treating a young person's misconduct as a criminal matter is too harsh. In his view, financial penalties, higher fines for repeat offenders and funding for education and treatment would keep accountability in place.

According to the Legislature's bill page, S597 was introduced on January 13. It was first assigned to the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee before being transferred to the Judiciary Committee on September 28. The Office of Legislative Services has certified it for a fiscal note. The proposal mirrors earlier measures, S3972 and A5086, which were debated and received preliminary approval last year but were never enacted.