New Jersey’s record August total of $248m is a significant milestone, but the scale of gambling revenue has been met with some criticism and proposals to protect players in the future. 

A record of $248.4 million in adjusted gross online casino revenue for August made it the fourth time this year the state posted an all-time monthly high has alerted multiple entities to the growing issue of customer safety.

Regulators and lawmakers believe the boom is fuelling a rise in problem gambling. The fact that there has been a 300% increase in gambling hotline support callers since it was made legal in 2018 suggests that this view has some truth to it.

Now one member of the state is calling for a crucial change in betting practices following a strong proposal by a government agency. 

Legislator wants in-play bets removed

In the case of Assemblymember Dan Hutchinson, he has called for decisive moves surrounding micro-bets to help stop the rise of problem gamblers. 

Hutchinson has cited his main motivation is his work as a bankruptcy lawyer where he has experienced the financial pitfalls that problem gamblers have suffered.

He said that gambling itself is “not healthy” and that gambling operators essentially glorify the business by making it something that “everybody does”.

Speaking to New Jersey Monitor, he said: “That’s the reality of what’s going on. But they don’t make it seem like that when they’re doing these commercials during the football games.

“It’s normal, everybody does it, if you don’t do it, you’re not enjoying yourself. That’s the glamour side of it. I deal with the other side.”

One of the industry’s biggest developments in sports betting in recent years includes prop or in-play betting, which he believes has added to the widespread issue of problem gambling in New Jersey.

“And I’m like, are you kidding me? I mean, they’re betting on the next pitch, the next play, and it’s constant,” he said. “There’s no pause. It’s just not healthy.”

Players to be monitored far more closely

Last week, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement announced that it will seek to provide new rules for online operators aimed at monitoring players more closely and enforcing stronger programmes to help those at risk. This seems to parallel Hutchinson’s views.

Triggers for problem gamblers will be identified including frequent changes to gaming limits, multiple requests for cooling off periods and repeated visits to the self-exclusion page without completing the sign-up process are a few key examples of what it will be searching for.

If identified, there will be a three-step outreach process that, if ignored, could see the player’s account terminated or banned. 

At-risk players who do qualify will be placed on a list and will be shielded from promotional marketing and won’t be taken off the list until a review after six months. 

The rules are open for public comment until  14 November and the division also announced financial support service for residents with gambling-related money problems.