The New Jersey Assembly has unanimously passed a bill that prohibits sportsbooks from partnering with college sports programs and colleges. Assembly Bill 4113 has received 75 votes in the Assembly and is now on its way to the Senate Higher Education Committee.

A bill that would prohibit sportsbooks from collaborating with both colleges and college-based sports programs for advertising and marketing has moved forward in New Jersey. The state Assembly has unanimously passed Assembly Bill 4113 with 75 votes, sending it to the Senate Higher Education Committee for further consideration.

Aimed at protecting students from gambling exposure

The primary goal of Assembly Bill 4113 is to protect students from gambling advertisements on college campuses, at university athletic facilities, and in online college content.

"Simply put, advertisements for sports betting on a college campus are unnecessary and can create harmful consequences," said Assemblywoman Linda Carter, the bill's primary sponsor. "We must protect our students from the risks of gambling addiction by keeping these types of promotions off of campuses, where young adults are most vulnerable."

Exceptions and amendments

This version of the bill carries over from last year, retaining amendments that clarify its scope. It states that a sports betting partnership at public higher education institutions is an agreement between a sportsbook or an intermediary and a college, including a booster club or its athletic department. Such agreements grant sportsbooks access to advertise within stadiums, facilities, broadcast and digital sports content, and other promotional avenues.

However, an amendment allows an exception for foundations affiliated with higher education entities, provided that the sportsbook partnership does not involve direct marketing or advertising to students on or off campus. Additionally, another amendment permits partnerships if they are formed for experiential learning opportunities to students or for other academic purposes.

Jennifer Keyes-Maloney, Executive Director of the New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities, previously noted that these amendments help strike the 'proper balance' between student protection and the acknowledgement that the industry could present valuable career opportunities.

A shift away from college-sportsbook partnerships

At one point, up to five colleges had signed agreements with sportsbook operators, but public backlash led to the termination of all those deals. None of the affected schools were in New Jersey. Since then, no institution has reattempted forming such a partnership. The American Gaming Association explicitly prohibits its partners from working with colleges and universities in this capacity.

For Assembly Bill 4113 to become law, it must still pass in the full Senate and be signed by Governor Phil Murphy.

Gambling regulations remain a key issue in New Jersey

New Jersey already has one of the strictest regulations regarding college sports betting, prohibiting wagers on any collegiate games hosted in the state or in-state college teams. Last year, lawmakers considered a proposal to extend this ban to include college player prop bets, though no further action was taken.

Meanwhile, other gambling-related bills have been introduced in the current legislative session. Bill A5207 from Assemblyman Brian Bergen seeks to prohibit the "posting, distributing, broadcasting, or disseminating" of online advertisements associated with sports betting. However, that bill, passed to the Assembly Tourism, Gaming, and Arts Committee in January, has yet to make further progress.

As the debate continues for stricter prohibitions in New Jersey, lawmakers remain focused on balancing gambling industry interests with consumer protections - particularly when it comes to college students, who are considered especially vulnerable to gambling risks.