A New Jersey lawmaker is aiming to halt microbetting, a rapidly increasing trend in sports gambling. Assemblyman Dan Hutchison, a Democrat, introduced Bill A5971 on Friday to prevent state sportsbooks from providing wagers on individual plays, pitches, or other in-game actions that occur within seconds.
The Bill, dubbed a “Commonsense Step”
Microbetting, enabling users to bet on the outcome of the next pitch in baseball or the next play in football, has grown in popularity, but Hutchison argues its structure promotes nonstop, impulsive betting. “The pace of micro betting is designed to keep people gambling constantly, making one impulsive bet after another with little time to think,” Hutchison stated. He described the bill as a “commonsense step to slow that cycle down and protect individuals from the financial and emotional harms that can come with excessive betting.”
Sportsbooks continuing to offer microbets could face fines ranging from $500 to $1,000 for each violation, classified as disorderly persons charges. This proposal represents one of the latest efforts by the Garden State to control its rapidly expanding gambling industry. Recently, lawmakers increased tax rates on online sports betting and iGaming and enacted a ban on sweepstakes-style casinos.
At the start of the month, Governor Phil Murphy signed a bill that prevents sportsbooks from forming deals with public colleges and universities. The state is also working on restricting prop bets on college athletes.
Microbetting, however, is a growing segment of the sports betting market that major operators are increasingly interested in. DraftKings purchased microbetting platform Simplebet last year for around $80 million. At the end of 2022, Caesars Entertainment secured a multi-year agreement with the same leading micro-betting provider.
“It’s About Setting Boundaries”
Hutchison seems determined to proceed, arguing that these bets are not only harder to regulate but also more prone to corruption. He cited “several reported cases” of athletes allegedly altering their play to affect microbet outcomes. Although specifics were not provided, Major League Baseball recently started an investigation into Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz for two suspicious pitches. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred remarked that some microbet types “strike me as unnecessary and particularly vulnerable.”
“This legislation isn’t about banning sports betting,” Hutchison stated. “It’s about setting boundaries to ensure it’s done responsibly.” He also noted a 277% increase in calls to New Jersey’s problem gambling helpline since sports betting was legalized, a rise echoed by the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey. “Eliminating micro betting,” said Council executive director Luis Del Orbe, “would take an essential step toward protecting citizens” from the potentially harmful effects of reckless forms of gambling.
- SCCG Management. The Gambling Industry’s Global Connector. Access Here.
- Source: SCCGManagement.com
