NJ Bill Would Swap Criminal Penalties for Underage Gambling With Civil Fines

Bill Targets Casino Control Act

Senate Bill 597, a bipartisan proposal introduced in New Jersey, seeks to fundamentally alter how the state handles underage gambling violations. The legislation would amend the state’s Casino Control Act to replace criminal charges with a system of escalating civil fines. The bill is currently pre-filed for the 2026-27 legislative session and must navigate the legislative process before it can reach the governor for signature.

The measure is backed by Sens. James Beach (D-Camden) and Vincent Polistina (R-Atlantic), with co-sponsorship from Sens. Kristin Corrado, Shirley Turner, and John McKeon. Under the proposed framework, individuals under the age of 21 who enter or gamble at a licensed casino or simulcasting facility would no longer face a disorderly persons offense. Instead, the focus shifts from criminal prosecution to civil monetary penalties.

Escalating Fine Structure

The bill establishes a tiered penalty structure for underage gambling violations. A first offense would carry a civil fine of up to $500. A second violation would increase the penalty to $1,000, while a third or subsequent violation would result in a fine of up to $2,000. These fines are designed to serve as a deterrent without creating criminal records for young people who violate the legal gambling age.

New Jersey’s legal gambling age would remain 21 under the proposal. The legislation explicitly states that it would not legalize gambling for anyone under 21. However, the responsibility for enforcement and prevention is also extended to industry participants and guardians. Casino licensees and employees who knowingly allow someone under 21 to remain in or gamble at a facility would face civil penalties. Similarly, adults who knowingly allow a person under their lawful care, custody, or control to gamble while underage would also be subject to civil penalties.

To protect employees who act in good faith, the bill retains a specific defense. Casino employees who relied on a written representation of age and reasonably believed the person was at least 21 based on appearance and documentation would be shielded from liability. This provision aims to ensure that staff are not penalized for errors in judgment when they have followed standard identification procedures.

Proceeds Directed to Treatment

A key component of the bill is the allocation of funds collected from these civil fines. Money generated from the penalties would be directed toward gambling addiction prevention, education, and treatment. The funds would first go into the state General Fund before being appropriated to the Department of Human Services. From there, the money would support qualifying compulsive gambling programs, linking the enforcement of gambling age laws directly to public health initiatives.

Senate Bill 597 is a return of a previous legislative effort. A substantially similar proposal, Senate Bill 3972, was introduced by Beach and Polistina in December 2024 during the 2024-25 legislative session. That previous measure failed to become law prior to the end of the session. The reintroduction of the bill in the current 2026-27 session indicates a continued bipartisan interest in reforming the legal approach to underage gambling in New Jersey.

Atlantic City is identified as the primary location affected by these changes, as it is home to New Jersey’s licensed casino industry. The bill’s passage would require changes to how casino operations handle age verification and violation reporting, shifting the administrative burden from criminal courts to civil enforcement mechanisms.

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