New Jersey releases Responsible Gaming Task Force report
Published:
Apr 24, 2025
,
05:35 p.m.
ET
Key Points:
New Jersey’s Responsible Gaming Task Force has released a detailed report outlining new strategies to address gambling harms.
Young men under 25 are the fastest-growing demographic for problem gambling, particularly with online sports betting.
Since online sports betting was legalized in 2018, helpline outreach in NJ has increased by 277%, with parent-reported calls about their children rising 800%.
The prevalence of high-risk problem gambling in NJ is 3 times the national average, disproportionately affecting Black, Hispanic and low-income communities.
New initiatives include standardizing responsible gaming resources, expanding mental health treatment access and improving funding models.
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New Jersey has long been a trailblazer on the legalized gambling front. Not only did the Garden State lead the charge in overturning the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018, they then became the first state to hit a $1 billion monthly sports betting handle.
But with all the increased tax revenue and economic success has come a darker side. A troubling 2023 report from the Rutgers University Center for Gambling Studies revealed the growing toll of problem gambling in New Jersey. The report found that the prevalence rate of high-risk problem gambling in New Jersey was 6%, which is 3 times higher than the national average.
Other key findings from that report include:
Young people, especially men under 25, were identified as an increasingly vulnerable group. Between 18 and 24 years of age, roughly 19% were found to be at high risk for gambling disorder, despite many being underage.
2/3 of high-risk gamblers had children or teens at home, amplifying the potential for intergenerational patterns of gambling behavior.
Black and Hispanic individuals, as well as households earning under $15,000 per year, had the highest rates of high-risk problem gambling.
Recognizing this, Governor Phil Murphy’s administration convened a Responsible Gaming Task Force in June of 2024. A result, released in April 2025, was a sweeping report offering over a dozen recommendations to make gaming in NJ safer and more sustainable.
This article unpacks key insights from the Task Force’s recent findings, explores the state’s rapidly changing gambling landscape and provides resources for individuals and families affected by gambling-related harm. Whether you're a practitioner, policymaker or concerned parent, the data and takeaways here aim to inform and empower action.
Key learnings from NJ Responsible Gaming Task Force report
The Task Force was formed under Executive Order No. 360 and includes seven members, with the Attorney General serving as Chair. This force thus represents the Office of the Attorney General, as well as the Department of Human Services, the Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE), and others. The report offers a detailed review of existing responsible gaming (RG) and problem gambling (PG) programs, an overview of responsible gaming in other jurisdictions, the impact of gaming on underage and vulnerable populations, education, prevention, treatment for problem gaming and funding to prevent and treat problem gaming.
Perhaps more importantly, the report outlines recommendations that address standardization & streamlining, prevention & education, tools & treatment and funding – areas of particular concern.
Standardizing and Expanding RG Resources
Responsible gaming efforts in New Jersey are currently fragmented. The Task Force recommends a centralized framework with consistent tools and messaging across all gambling platforms, including:
A unified website with resources and support
Standardized self-exclusion tools across operators
Annual studies on gambling trends and harms
Updated advertising regulations
Requirements for all operators (including iGaming and sportsbooks) to offer deposit, loss, and time limits
A new board to oversee grant funding for RG programs
Prevention & Education
The report highlights the need for early, targeted prevention, including age-appropriate educational campaigns and stricter advertising guidelines:
Integrating gambling education into elementary school programs like D.A.R.E.
Mandatory RG education for underage gaming participants
Increased state funding for prevention campaigns
Tools & Treatment
The Department of Human Services’ Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) currently oversees funding for treatment and prevention. The report calls for increased financial support and, to expand treatment access, the Task Force recommends:
Allowing certified addiction counselors to treat gambling-specific disorders without a co-occurring condition
Removing the oral exam requirement for ADC licensing
Increasing the number of professionals trained in gambling addiction
Funding
The report recommends a reassessment of how RG programs are funded, including:
Raising outdated penalty caps
Dedicating a share of fines from fantasy sports, bingo, raffles and other games to RG services
Using operational fees from unregulated verticals to bolster treatment and prevention
The rise of unregulated and illicit gambling
The Task Force also flagged a concern that exists outside the state’s RG requirements and oversight – 28% of New Jerseyans engaged in unregulated or illicit gambling in the past two years. Unregulated or illicit gambling constitutes as using sweepstakes-style gambling apps, placing bets through VPNs or proxy apps to bypass state restrictions and gambling through unauthorized bookies on social media.
Four main forms of unregulated gaming generate the most complaints to the state:
Sweepstakes casinos that mimic real-money games but operate without regulation or consumer protection.
Prediction markets for event-based betting, such as elections or entertainment outcomes, which have popped up on platforms like Kalshi and Robinhood.
Skill-based game wagering, such as online solitaire tournaments.
Illegal online casinos and sportsbooks
These platforms contribute nothing to RG funding, offer little or no player protection measures and are often designed to appeal to younger users. These unlicensed operators present serious risks, particularly to individuals under 21, and could undermine the state’s broader RG efforts
Increases in Problem Gambling outreach in NJ
Since New Jersey legalized sports betting in 2018, problem gambling outreach has increased notably. Ahead of the 2025 Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles, Luis Del Orbe, Acting Executive Director at the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey, said:
“We have definitely seen an increase of approximately 277% to the calls, and when it comes to the youth, that has gone up tremendously.”
Helpline data paints a worrying picture:
100% of “recent calls” were from individuals under 25, primarily young male sports bettors.
Parents seeking help for their children increased their outreach by 800% over the past seven years.
Del Orbe also noted that problem gamblers are losing more than money – that suicide ideation is part of the suffering, and the 2023 report from Rutgers backs this up. High-risk gamblers often face much more than financial loss, with significant rates of suicidal ideation (28%), suicide attempts (20%) and self-injury (26%).
Problem gambling was also associated with high levels of binge drinking, drug use and tobacco consumption. These co-occurring issues underscore the need for integrated, evidence-based treatment models, including modern solutions such as the virtual care options offered by Birches Health:
New Jersey’s legal gambling landscape today
New Jersey sportsbook lounges are open at many Atlantic City casinos, while the most popular sportsbook is a FanDuel lounge at the Meadowlands Racetrack adjacent to MetLife Stadium, about eight miles from New York City. New Jersey is also one of just seven states that offers legal online casino (iGaming). That full suite of online gambling options, from slots and table games to live dealer experiences, has brought in significant amounts of additional gaming profits.
New Jersey is a giant in the national gaming industry, rivaling even Nevada in betting volume and innovation.
With nearly $4.7 billion in total sports betting revenue collected, New Jersey's gaming sector is both profitable and powerful, but the state clearly understands that its success brings increased responsibility to properly protect constituents.
Gambling Addiction treatment options in NJ
The Task Force report is a critical first step, but for many families, action is needed now. From the boardwalks of Atlantic City to the suburbs of northern Jersey, Birches Health offers accessible, insurance-covered treatment for gambling addiction throughout the state. With licensed, gambling-certified therapists available statewide, Birches provides confidential and personalized care for anyone struggling with their gambling - whether it’s with online casinos, sports betting or other products.
As a proud partner of the New Jersey Council on Problem Gambling and a listed provider on the 1-800-GAMBLER helpline site, Birches is committed to making help both available and affordable. No matter where you are in New Jersey, support is just a call or click away.
To connect with Birches Health, there are multiple options:
Call 833-483-3838
Email help@bircheshealth.com
