New Jersey politicians double down on attempt to ban micro betting

By Tom Nightingale, SBC Americas

A New Jersey Senator has filed a bill that would ban in-play prop bets on the next action in a sporting event.

Sen. Paul Moriarty‘s S4794 has been referred to the Senate Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee for discussion. It defines a “micro bet” as a proposition bet wagered live during an athletic event and concerning the outcome of the next play or action occurring in the sport or athletic event.  

S4794’s text lists examples such as 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.

The bill would ban all micro bets, as defined. Any person or sportsbook in New Jersey that offered or accepted such bets would be committing a disorderly persons offense and would be subject to a fine of between $500 and $1,000 per offense.

What S4794 would not do is ban all prop bets. Other “side wagers” that do not concern the final outcome of the game, such as how many points a basketball player might score over the course of an entire game or whether a football player will score a touchdown or not, would not be covered by the proposed ban.

A further step in the Garden State

Moriarty’s bill is a firmer step forward than Rep. Dan Hutchison’s A5971, which was pre-filed in late July without any official text listed. Draft language of A5971 viewed by SBC Americas is the same as in Moriarty’s Senate bill.

The pair of bills express concern over the potential risks that micro bets pose to both gamblers and the integrity of sports.

“Over the last several years, sportsbooks have developed new methods of wagering which are more enticing and engaging for bettors, but carry additional risks to the bettor’s health and well-being, and the integrity of sports more broadly,” reads the text.

“The pace at which sporting events are played, and therefore the pace at which micro bets can be placed, limits the ability of bettors to research and consider their wagers before placing them and enables bettors to place a higher volume of wagers in a shorter amount of time, contributing to excessive and irresponsible gambling.”

Micro betting is a contentious proposition

Notably, the bills also note that there have been several reported cases of professional athletes being investigated for altering their performance in relation to micro bets.

That situation rather accelerated between the pre-filing of the Senate bill and the Assembly bill being referred to committee, with the NBA scandal allegedly involving Terry Rozier dominating headlines across mainstream media. The respective commissioners of the NBA and MLB, which is still investigating its own prop betting controversy, have both questioned whether micro betting should be allowed.

In fact, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said last week that the major U.S. sports leagues are working together to push for national action to limit micro betting, led by MLB chief Rob Manfred. The Columbus Dispatch reported that Manfred’s office told DeWine that it believes it has an agreement with most sportsbooks to ban such wagers.