Moriarty Bill Banning Micro Bets Clears Committee

TRENTON – The Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism, and Historic Preservation Committee voted to advance a bill sponsored by Senator Paul Moriarty that would prohibit sports wagering licensees from offering or accepting any wager on a micro bet.

Under the bill, S-2160, a “micro bet” is defined as a proposition bet which is wagered live during a sport or athletic event and concerns the outcome of the next play or action. Micro bets can include, for example, whether the next pitch in a baseball game will be a strike or whether the next play in a football game will be a pass or run.

“Micro betting poses several risks to New Jersey and its residents,” said Senator Moriarty (D-Atlantic/Camden/Gloucester). “For one, micro bets can more easily be rigged than betting on the outcome of an entire game, especially by insiders who may know ahead of time how a micro bet or prop bet could play out, in turn misleading and disenfranchising the average player. They can also be incredibly addictive, as they are made based on short-term outcomes with quick payoffs. This enables bettors to place a higher volume of wagers in a shorter amount of time, leading to a vicious cycle of excessive, impulsive, and financially irresponsible gambling.”

The bill outlines that any sports wagering licensee or person who offers or accepts a micro bet has committed a disorderly persons offense and will be subject to a fine between $500 and $1,000 per offense.