Most partnerships between public colleges and sportsbooks are now prohibited in New Jersey after Governor Phil Murphy signed bill A4113 into law on July 8.
With the move, New Jersey follows several other states, such as Colorado, Louisiana, and Michigan, that have banned similar partnerships.
The new law comes into effect immediately.
The new ban applies to all public higher-education institutions in New Jersey. This includes community colleges, state universities (such as Rutgers), and their athletic and booster organizations.
It took over a year for A4113 to pass after its introduction in April 2024. It defines “sports wagering partnership” as any agreement (directly or through intermediaries) that gives sportsbooks access to advertising in colleges. Such examples include stadiums, digital or broadcast content, and any other channels owned by public universities.
An amendment from September 2024 does allow partnerships solely for academic or experiential learning purposes. Student internships, or partnerships facilitating coursework and research, are permitted.
Senator Joe Cryan, who sponsored the Senate companion bill, S2155, highlighted that the surge in gambling ads and partnerships, particularly those targeting colleges, has contributed to an increase in gambling among students.
Cryan, the chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee, added that the new law will protect students:
“Young people are especially vulnerable to compulsive gambling and can have a difficult time breaking the habit once it becomes ingrained. This will help protect them from the negative influences of advertisements that promote the practice. Our college campuses should be places for learning, not underage gambling.”
Senator McKeon echoed that sentiment. He stressed that college campuses “should be sanctuaries for learning… not inundated with messages that entice them into gambling habits that can put them into debt.”
Prohibiting sportsbook partnerships is one part of a larger effort led by New Jersey lawmakers to safeguard young people from the influence of betting.
Another measure under consideration is banning all prop bets on college sports. Last month, the proposal, introduced by Sen. Kristin M. Corrado in April, passed unanimously with a 5-0 vote in the Senate’s State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee.
The bill, S3080, would prohibit all sportsbooks in New Jersey from accepting wagers on prop bets involving any “collegiate sport or athletic event.” If passed, New Jersey would join states like New York and Massachusetts that have banned such bets.
Alongside these efforts, legislators are taking a broader approach to regulating and tightening gambling advertising.
One proposal, co-sponsored by Assembly members Calabrese and Hall and Senators McKeon and Burgess, targets ads placed in or near schools and colleges. It also prohibits marketing that predominantly appeals to individuals under the age of 21.
The bills also require the Division of Gaming Enforcement to conduct a 12-month study analyzing how advertising language and presentation influence bettor behavior, especially among young people.
Meanwhile, Sen. Cryan has introduced or supported multiple bills aimed at responsible gambling. One such proposal, S2156, seeks to regulate online gambling advertising more strictly.
It would require the Division of Gaming Enforcement to ensure ads are not deceptive or fraudulent. The regulator would also ensure that they do not target individuals who are underage or are self-excluded. However, the bill has not made any progress since its introduction.
Other efforts by Cryan include a 2023 companion bill to an Assembly proposal that would’ve required colleges engaged in sports wagering partnerships to establish a gambling education program.
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