New Jersey sportsbooks will now have to do more than offer responsible gambling tools to their customers. New regulations require operators to monitor betting activity, identify potential warning signs, and take action when players appear to be developing signs of problem gambling. The new requirements make New Jersey the first state to establish mandatory monitoring standards for online gambling.
Under the new regulations, sportsbooks and online casinos must review accounts when customers reach certain spending thresholds or display potentially harmful betting patterns. The idea is to catch warning signs earlier rather than waiting until a customer reports having a gambling problem.
Some of the financial triggers include depositing more than $10,000 within 24 hours, depositing more than $100,000 over 90 days, or wagering at least $1 million over a 90-day period.
Regulators are also paying attention to how customers use their accounts. Canceling three withdrawal requests within 10 days, visiting the self-exclusion page three times within 30 days without registering, or spending 50% more time gambling compared to the previous two weeks can all trigger a review.
Operators must assess customers who meet these criteria and determine whether their activity suggests potential gambling harm. Those considered at risk are placed on a monitoring list.
New Jersey has also established a three-stage intervention process that operators must follow when customers continue displaying concerning behaviour.
The first stage involves an email explaining the responsible gambling tools available to customers, including deposit limits, cooling-off periods, and self-exclusion. If further action is needed, the second stage requires customers to watch an educational video before they can continue gambling.
The final stage involves direct contact by telephone or video, with operators required to provide information about professional gambling support. Accounts can be suspended after three unsuccessful contact attempts or closed if a gambling problem is confirmed following the final intervention.
Previously, operators already had responsible gambling teams and internal monitoring procedures, but there wasn’t a consistent, legally enforceable standard for when customer reviews and interventions were required. The new regulations change that.
The timing is particularly notable given the increased scrutiny surrounding sportsbook VIP programs. New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport acknowledged concerns about gambling operators using aggressive marketing tactics toward customers showing signs of problematic behaviour.
One prominent example involves FanDuel and a personalized video featuring Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper. The video was sent to a VIP customer who later sued the sportsbook, alleging that the company encouraged excessive gambling despite warning signs.
The controversy has attracted attention from federal lawmakers. Earlier this month, Sen. Richard Blumenthal challenged FanDuel over celebrity videos sent to VIP customers, questioning whether the promotions were being used to encourage vulnerable bettors to continue gambling.
New Jersey lawmakers have also been examining the issue. In September, proposals targeting gambling marketing and strengthening self-exclusion protections brought additional attention to whether existing consumer safeguards are adequate.
The new requirements create clearer expectations for licensed operators. Rather than relying entirely on internal responsible gambling policies, they must now assess specific customer behaviour and follow established procedures.
It remains to be seen whether other states will follow New Jersey’s lead. However, the move marks a shift toward requiring sportsbooks to take more direct responsibility for identifying potentially problem gambling behavior.
