New Jersey Responsible Gaming Task Force Recommends Ads Come With Warnings
The New Jersey Responsible Gaming Task Force has established a thorough approach to tackle problem gambling and encourage responsible gaming throughout the various legal gambling options in the Garden State.
Established by Gov. Phil Murphy’s (D) 2024 Executive Order No. 360, the NJ Responsible Gaming Task Force was tasked with advising the governor and the attorney general’s offices on ways to improve responsible gaming initiatives and protections while reducing the societal dangers of gambling. The 109-page report from the task force, released on Monday, proposes a range of changes.
"New Jersey has long been a leader in the gaming industry, and with that leadership comes the responsibility to ensure the well-being of our residents,” said Murphy. “I appreciate the task force’s efforts to create a safer and more supportive gaming environment, particularly for our most vulnerable communities.”
The task force was made up of seven members, chaired by Attorney General Matt Platkin. The other six members of the task force included Casino Control Commission Chairman James Plousis, Division of Gaming Enforcement Interim Director Mary Jo Flaherty, Consumer Affairs Director Cari Fais, Racing Commission Acting Executive Director Sara Ben-David, State Lottery Executive Director James Carey Jr., and Human Services Assistant Commissioner Renee Burawski.
Results of the Task Force
Following months of examination, the New Jersey Responsible Gaming Task Force returned to Murphy with an array of suggestions on how the state can enhance its efforts to combat gambling-related issues.
One of the recommendations is that New Jersey mandates all gambling ads include warnings informing consumers that these products may lead to addiction. “The task force stated that the regulations should permit various versions of these messages to avoid ‘message fatigue,’ as repeated exposure to the same warning diminishes its impact.”
The task force recommended that the state ought to evaluate limiting the quantity, placement, and frequency of gambling ads. The task force stated that the state needs to factor in the First Amendment when assessing the legality of such a policy.
The research also determined that all gambling advertisements must explicitly indicate the minimum age required to engage — 21 for Atlantic City, iGaming, and sports betting, and 18 for the lottery, fantasy sports, bingo, and parimutuel betting.
The task force indicates there may be advantages to setting the minimum age for all types of gambling at 21.
“The differences in age requirements across the forms of gaming creates a fragmented regulatory framework where younger individuals are exposed to gaming activities that could normalize risky behaviors and potentially lead to future gambling problems,” the report read. However, it continued, “At this time, the task force recommends further evaluation of the benefits and drawbacks of imposing a uniform gambling age of 21.”
Basic Education
The task force believes it would be prudent for public schools to teach young students, including those in elementary grades, about the risks associated with gambling. The panel stated that education on responsible gaming should start in elementary school as a norm, and identified teenage gamblers must finish educational courses.
Another suggestion is to standardize coverage for gambling addiction and improve accessibility to services.
“This includes a recommendation for statutory changes that would allow licensees of the Alcohol and Drug Counselor Committee to treat problem gambling without a co-occurring disorder,” the report explained.
Smoking Excluded
Those against the current permission for indoor casino smoking in Atlantic City expressed concern about the issue not being addressed by the task force. Advocates for smoke-free environments claim that requiring smokers among gamblers to step outside to smoke is a responsible gaming measure the state could adopt. It would also safeguard employees and nonsmokers from harmful secondhand smoke.
"Buried in a footnote of the report is a quiet admission that smoking and problem gambling go hand-in-hand, but the governor completely sidesteps the issue in his recommendations to address it. This is what hypocrisy looks like,” said Pete Naccarelli, a longtime table game dealer in Atlantic City who co-founded Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects.
“You can’t claim to care about responsible gaming while turning a blind eye to the toxic environment that pushes the people most at risk of gambling addiction to gamble longer and puts workers’ lives at risk. If New Jersey is truly serious about responsible gaming, it’s time to stop dancing around this issue and finally end indoor smoking in casinos,” Naccarelli added.
