This bill amends New Jersey law to include electronic sports events in the realm of sports wagering, thereby authorizing such wagering at designated locations. It introduces a new definition for "electronic sports event," which encompasses competitions involving video games, whether conducted in physical venues or online. The legislation clarifies that these events and their associated wagering will not be classified as authorized games or gambling games under current law. It also outlines the operational conditions for casinos and racetracks, including the necessity of a sports wagering lounge and the requirement for online sports pools to be licensed and approved by relevant authorities.

Moreover, the bill establishes that sports wagering licenses will be issued by the Division of Gaming Enforcement for casinos and by the Racing Commission for racetracks, with the Division also responsible for renewals. It allows for the creation of online sports pools and sets limits on the number of branded websites and mobile applications each licensee can operate. To maintain the integrity of sports wagering, the bill prohibits individuals with affiliations to sports governing bodies from placing wagers on events overseen by those bodies. Overall, the legislation aims to broaden the scope of legal sports wagering in New Jersey while implementing necessary regulatory measures to prevent conflicts of interest.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 5:12A-10, 5:12A-11