New Jersey Reopens Gambling Policy Debates With 2026 Bills on Sweepstakes, Sportsbooks, and Casino Expansion

All measures are carryovers from last year. They were referred to the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee.

Another Try on Sweepstakes Regulation

Senate Bill 1500, sponsored by Sen. Joseph P. Cryan, would designate sweepstakes casinos as internet gaming and subject them to New Jersey’s existing online gaming regulations.

Under the bill’s framework, sweepstakes casinos would have to:

• Obtain licensure from the Division of Gaming Enforcement as internet gaming operators.
• Submit to regulatory oversight similar to that applied to licensed online casinos.
• Be taxed on gross gaming revenue as part of the state’s internet gaming tax regime.

If the bill is enacted, sweepstakes casinos would be subject to the same gaming gross revenue tax of 19.75% as online casinos and sportsbooks.

Sen. Cryan introduced a similar bill last year, but it did not receive any action. Meanwhile, the sponsor of its Assembly companion bill, Rep. Clinton Calabrese, withdrew that bill and introduced another that bans sweepstakes casinos.

The Legislature passed the bill, and Gov. Murphy signed it into law in August 2025, effectively forcing dual-currency platforms to leave New Jersey. In 2025, New Jersey was one of six states to enact bills prohibiting sweepstakes casinos along with Montana, New York, Connecticut, Nevada, and California.

Notably, 2026 has begun with multi-state efforts to prohibit sweepstakes casinos. In Indiana, HB 1052 received its first hearing on January 6. Some House Public Policy Committee members raised questions about whether the state should prohibit or regulate the platforms, highlighting that New Jersey’s internal debate on possibly regulating sweepstakes could play out in other states as well.

Sportsbook Reform: Fees, Props, and Micro Bets

A set of bills addresses sports wagering operations:

• Senate Bill 2334 would establish a fixed annual sports wagering license fee of $250,000. From that, it would direct $140,000 to the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey and $110,000 to addiction treatment programs.
• Senate Bill 2160 prohibits micro bets, or rapid, play-by-play wagers, and sets penalties for violations.
• Senate Bill 1170 would bar player-specific proposition bets on college sports. That mirrors efforts seen in other states as a safeguard for competitive integrity.

All three bills are carryovers from previous sessions. Efforts to establish an annual licensing fee did not receive any hearings in either 2024 or 2025.

Efforts to prohibit proposition bets on college sports did pass their first committees in both 2024 and 2025. However, they didn’t see any action past that. Meanwhile, efforts to ban micro bets emerged in late 2025, but again, no action was taken.

While none had gone far previously, developments in 2025 surrounding betting scandals in college basketball, the NBA, and the MLB could prompt lawmakers to revisit the proposals. Meanwhile, budget needs could result in SB 2334 receiving more interest.

Advertising Oversight: Responsible Messaging and Limits

Two bills aim to tighten gaming and wagering advertising standards:

• Senate Bill 2356 would require the Division of Gaming Enforcement to study advertising language and establish mandatory responsible messaging. Also, it grants regulators the authority to limit ads near schools and media that target vulnerable populations.
• Senate Bill 1444 would restrict deceptive or inappropriate advertising practices for casino games and sports pools.

Sen. Cryan also introduced SB 1444. This year marks the third consecutive year he has introduced the measure. Previous efforts stalled in initial committees.

SB 2356 is also a carryover 2025 bill, and its companion Assembly bill passed the initial committee but stalled in the second one.

Northern Casino Expansion on the Ballot: Constitutional Resolution Introduced

Senate Concurrent Resolution 31 (SCR31) would propose a constitutional amendment empowering the Legislature to authorize slot machine gambling at horse racetracks and dedicate revenues to retirement systems, casinos, Atlantic City improvements, and horse racing.

SCR31 is a carryover from the prior session, reflecting renewed interest in broadening legal casino gaming to Northern New Jersey locations, such as the Meadowlands. This debate has resurfaced amid competitive pressure from neighboring states.

In December, New York approved three casino licenses in the New York City metro, which would directly compete with Atlantic City casinos. Some New Jersey lawmakers have called for expanding gambling in Northern New Jersey, and with the threat of casinos across the Hudson, those calls have intensified.

New Jersey voters already voted once on expanding casino gaming outside Atlantic City. In 2016, voters rejected the proposal by a margin of 77% to 23%. However, at the time, there were no plans for casinos in New York City. Also, critics called that effort too broad.

Legislative Momentum and Outlook

All of the bills and resolutions introduced on the first day of the 2026 session are carryovers from the 2025 session. That illustrates sustained legislative focus on gaming issues from regulatory, consumer protection, and market expansion standpoints.

Notably, in the past year, dynamics have shifted on most of the topics covered. That means, New Jersey lawmakers could put some of them higher on the 2026 legislative calendar than in prior sessions.

Committees will now schedule hearings where industry stakeholders, advocacy groups, treatment providers, and local community representatives will weigh in before potential floor consideration.