New Jersey Lawmakers Consider Bill Mandating Monthly Win-loss Notifications
Legislation at the New Jersey statehouse would require online gaming operators to give customers a monthly win-loss statement
Senate Bill 4280, which seeks to strengthen responsible gambling measures in New Jersey, would require sports betting and online casino operators to send monthly push notifications to bettors detailing their wins and losses.
The bill was introduced last week by state Sen. John McKeon and is currently under consideration by lawmakers. It marks yet another player protection measure amidst the widespread growth of online wagering in New Jersey.
If enacted, players would receive monthly reports indicating their total dollar amounts of wins and losses. The reports would be delivered via push notification, which the bill defines as an automatic electronic message sent to a bettor’s device even when the gambling app is not visible or actively open. Players may also choose other methods to receive their reports.
SB 4280 was introduced on May 14 and has yet to advance through committees. It would take effect immediately if it were passed into law.
Increased transparency for bettors
SB 4280 would boost transparency in sports betting and gambling. Responsible gambling advocates have been calling for more transparency tools in a bid to help players better understand their gambling activity.
Based on the measure, online casino and sports betting operators would be required to provide their customers with “regular statements concerning the patron’s winnings and losses,” including, “the total dollar amounts of winnings and losses since the last statement.”
Lawmakers in other states have also considered similar measures as online sports betting and gambling become increasingly popular across the nation.
The NJ bill seeks to amend the state’s sports wagering law as well as the Casino Control Act. Under the new law, the Division of Gaming Enforcement would determine any additional information to be included in the reports and oversee implementation.
A problem gambling state
New Jersey boasts one of the largest online gambling and sports betting markets in the US, with mobile wagering now accounting for the overwhelming majority of sports betting activity.
The state also grapples with one of the highest problem gambling rates in the nation, roughly three times greater than the national average. According to reports, up to 6% of adults in the Garden State could be dealing with problem gambling.
Some casino and sports betting operators already offer optional win-loss statements. The bill, however, would make the statements mandatory and recurring, not requiring players’ consent.
Negative consequence of push notifications
The bill could be a two-edged sword.
On the one hand, the notifications highlight a player’s gambling losses, which could help discourage them from continuing to gamble. On the other hand, the notifications could act as advertisements, prompting players to engage with the apps. In fact, the bill defines the push notifications as messages that “prompt the patron to check or engage with such platform.”
Lawmakers in New Jersey have introduced a range of other bills designed to enhance responsible gambling and protect the integrity of sports. For example, operators are required to include problem gambling messages as well as display the 1-800-GAMBLER helpline in their adverts.
Lawmakers in other states have been taking similar measures, including implementing advertising restrictions, requiring affordability checks, and requiring gambling activity reports.
https://www.playusa.com/news/new-jersey-lawmakers-consider-bill-mandating-monthly-win-loss-notifications/