ASSEMBLY TOURISM, GAMING AND THE ARTS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 4947

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MARCH 7, 2019

      The Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 4947.

     This bill provides that the Division of Gaming Enforcement or the New Jersey Racing Commission, as appropriate, will impose the following penalties on the holder of a sports wagering license or the operator of a sports pool or online sports pool that the division or commission determines has accepted wagers on a prohibited sports event:

     payment of an amount equal to all wagers improperly accepted on the prohibited sports event; and

     payment of not less than $20,000 and not more than $100,000; and

     suspension of the licensee or operator from the conduct of sports wagering for a period of not more than 10 days.

     All monetary penalties imposed under this bill by the Division of Gaming Enforcement will be paid by the licensee or operator to the division for deposit in the Casino Control Fund.  Moneys in the Casino Control Fund are appropriated for operating expenses of the Casino Control Commission and the Division of Gaming Enforcement.  All monetary penalties imposed under this bill by the New Jersey Racing Commission will be paid by the licensee or operator to the commission for deposit in the State general fund and appropriated each fiscal year to the Racing Commission to be used for the expenses of that commission

     Existing law defines a “prohibited sports event” as “any collegiate sport or athletic event that takes place in New Jersey or a sport or athletic event in which any New Jersey college team participates regardless of where the event takes place.  A ‘prohibited sports event’ does not include the other games of a collegiate sport or athletic tournament in which a New Jersey college team participates, nor does it include any games of a collegiate tournament that occurs outside New Jersey even though some of the individual games or events are held in New Jersey.  A prohibited sports event includes all high school sports events, electronic sports, and competitive video games but does not include international sports events in which persons under age 18 make up a minority of the participants.”