NJ’s Micro-Betting Concerns Go National Amid MLB Scandals and Ohio Pushback

New Jersey’s micro-betting concerns spark national action as MLB scandals and Ohio’s pushback drive calls for tighter sports wagering rules.

Photo by HE Photography/Shutterstock

Two New Jersey lawmakers have introduced bills that would ban micro-betting in the Garden State. Assemblyman Dan Hutchison(D-4) introduced Assembly Bill 5971 in July, and Sen. Paul D. Moriarty introduced Senate Bill 4794 last month.

Banning gamblers from making these small bets during game action is starting to reach a national level, especially after multiple gambling scandals unfolded this year.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine was instrumental in convincing Major League Baseball to reduce micro-betting options for next year. Now, bettors using New Jersey sportsbooks will see less of those types of betting markets during MLB games.

MLB cuts down on micro-bets

In the wake of the Cleveland Guardians scandal involving pitchers Luis Oritz and Emmanuel Clase, the MLB and gambling operators have agreed to reduce the amount of micro-bets available during games.

Micro-betting is placing wagers on in-game events, like betting on whether the next pitch in an MLB game is going to be a ball or strike, or whether the next play in a football game will be a run or pass.

Ortiz and Clase were indicted for rigging “next pitch” micro-bets. Now, operators are only accepting individual pitch wagers as high as $200 and excluding them from parlays.

DeWine told the Associated Press that he is pushing for a full ban on prop betting.

“It needs to be holistic; it needs to be universal. They’re just playing with fire. I mean, they are just asking for more and more trouble, their failure to address this.”

DeWine also said he regrets signing off on legal sports wagering in Ohio.

NJ allows out-of-state college props

New Jersey allows prop betting on professional sports, as do most states. However, NJ also accepts prop wagers on out-of-state college games.

For example, operators are allowed to offer over/under on points in a game that features Duke vs. Kentucky. Schools such as Rutgers, Seton Hall, and Monmouth cannot be bet on at all in the Garden State.

Sen. Kristin Corrado (R-Passaic) introduced Senate Bill 3080 in April 2024 that would prohibit “sports wagering licensees from offering player-specific proposition bets on college sports.” It moved through the Senate in June but hasn’t moved since.

The bill would create another layer of protection for college athletes, extending to all college student-athletes that compete in the state.

New Jersey has made the protection of student-athletes a priority. Other states are following the Garden State’s lead.