A637

ASSEMBLY, No. 637

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2020 SESSION

 


 

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman   RALPH R. CAPUTO

District 28 (Essex)

Assemblyman   RONALD S. DANCER

District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)

Assemblyman   ERIC HOUGHTALING

District 11 (Monmouth)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblymen Armato and Mazzeo

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

        Revises permit and license processes for sports pools operators and online sports pool operators; revises definitions of certain sports events; allows for transactional waiver for sports wagering lounge.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

        Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

   


An Act concerning sports pool operators and wagering on sports, and amending P.L.1977, c.110 and P.L.2018, c.33.

 

        Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

        1.       Section 92 of P.L.1977, c.110 (C.5:12-92) is amended to read as follows:

        92.   Licensing of casino service industry enterprises. a. (1) Any business to be conducted with a casino applicant, racetrack, or licensee by a vendor offering goods or services which directly relate to casino, racetrack, sports wagering, or gaming activity, or Internet gaming activity, including gaming equipment and simulcast wagering equipment manufacturers, suppliers, repairers, and independent testing laboratories, and companies that supply sports wagering equipment or services, shall require licensure as a casino service industry enterprise in accordance with the provisions of this act prior to conducting any business whatsoever with a casino applicant, racetrack, or licensee, its employees or agents; provided, however, that upon a showing of good cause by a casino applicant, racetrack, or licensee, the director may permit an applicant for a casino service industry enterprise license to conduct business transactions with such casino applicant, racetrack, or licensee prior to the licensure of that casino service industry enterprise applicant under this subsection for such periods as the division may establish by regulation.   Companies providing services to casino licensees regarding Internet gaming shall, notwithstanding any other provision of P.L.1977, c.110 (C.5:12-1 et seq.), be responsible for the full cost of their licensure, including any investigative costs.

        In the case of conducting an online sports pool, as that term is defined in section 1 of P.L.2018, c.33 (C.5:12A-10), a vendor that holds an existing casino service industry enterprise license shall, upon the approval of the division, expand on any initial license granted by the division prior to offering goods or services directly related to sports wagering or online sports wagering activities or operations.   The approval shall be in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth by the division.

        (2)     In addition to the requirements of paragraph (1) of this subsection, any casino service industry enterprise intending to manufacture, sell, distribute, test or repair slot machines within New Jersey, other than antique slot machines as defined in N.J.S.2C:37-7, shall be licensed in accordance with the provisions of this act prior to engaging in any such activities; provided, however, that upon a showing of good cause by a casino applicant or licensee, the director may permit an applicant for a casino service industry enterprise license to conduct business transactions with the casino applicant or licensee prior to the licensure of that casino service industry enterprise applicant under this subsection for such periods as the division may establish by regulation; and provided further, however, that upon a showing of good cause by an applicant required to be licensed as a casino service industry enterprise pursuant to this paragraph, the director may permit the casino service industry enterprise applicant to initiate the manufacture of slot machines or engage in the sale, distribution, testing or repair of slot machines with any person other than a casino applicant or licensee, its employees or agents, prior to the licensure of that casino service industry enterprise applicant under this subsection.

        (3)     Vendors providing goods and services to casino licensees or applicants ancillary to gaming, including, without limitation, junket enterprises and junket representatives, and any person employed by a junket enterprise or junket representative in a managerial or supervisory position, non-casino applicants or licensees required to hold a casino hotel alcoholic beverage license pursuant to section 103 of P.L.1977, c.110 (C.5:12-103), lessors of casino property not required to hold a casino license pursuant to section 82 of P.L.1977, c.110 (C.5:12-82), and licensors of authorized games shall be required to be licensed as an ancillary casino service industry enterprise and shall comply with the standards set forth in paragraph (4) of subsection c. of this section.

        b.       Each casino service industry enterprise required to be licensed pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection a. of this section, as well as its owners; management and supervisory personnel; and employees if such employees have responsibility for services to a casino applicant or licensee, must qualify under the standards, except residency, established for qualification of a casino key employee under this act, P.L.1977, c.110 (C.5:12-1 et seq.).

        c.         (1)  Any vendor that offers goods or services to a casino applicant or licensee that is not included in subsection a. of this section including, but not limited to casino site contractors and subcontractors, shopkeepers located within the approved hotels, gaming schools that possess slot machines for the purpose of instruction, and any non-supervisory employee of a junket enterprise licensed under paragraph (3) of subsection a. of this section, shall be required to register with the division in accordance with the regulations promulgated under this act, P.L.1977, c.110 (C.5:12-1 et seq.).

        (2)     Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection, the director may, consistent with the public interest and the policies of this act, direct that individual vendors registered pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection be required to apply for either a casino service industry enterprise license pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection a. of this section, or an ancillary casino service industry enterprise license pursuant to paragraph (3) of subsection a. of this section, as directed by the division, including, without limitation, in-State and out-of-State sending tracks as defined in section 2 of the "Casino Simulcasting Act," P.L.1992, c.19 (C.5:12-192); shopkeepers located within the approved hotels; and gaming schools that possess slot machines for the purpose of instruction.   The director may also order that any enterprise licensed as or required to be licensed as an ancillary casino service industry enterprise pursuant to paragraph (3) of subsection a. of this section be required to apply for a casino service industry enterprise license pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection a. of this section.   The director may also, in his discretion, order that an independent software contractor not otherwise required to be registered be either registered as a vendor pursuant to subsection c. of this section or be licensed pursuant to either paragraph (1) or (3) of subsection a. of this section.

        (3)     (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2011, c.19)

        (4)     Each ancillary casino service industry enterprise required to be licensed pursuant to paragraph (3) of subsection a. of this section, as well as its owners, management and supervisory personnel, and employees if such employees have responsibility for services to a casino applicant or licensee, shall establish their good character, honesty and integrity by clear and convin