ASSEMBLY TOURISM, GAMING AND THE ARTS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 5362

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MAY 8, 2025

The Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 5362.

Under this bill, a casino licensee, through its agents, employees, or any contracted operator, or any party with which the casino licensee has a relationship, to conduct a non-wagering casino game that provides a reward for immediate or continued participation or that serves to solicit future participation in wagering activities.

     As used in this bill, “non-wagering casino game” means any game, conducted in person or via the Internet, which offers participants an experience equivalent to, or with similar odds of winning as, a game that ordinarily requires a casino license to be conducted, except that the game does not require any initial monetary investment on behalf of the participants to play.

     This bill is intended to address a practice whereby casinos may engage with applications with games that simulate the experience of playing real casino games, but for fictitious points or credits rather than real world things of value.  The participants in these games, some of whom may be underage at the time, are incentivized to “practice” playing the games with the promise that one day they may be able redeem those points or credits for better terms, or something else of value, received from the casino licensee.  This bill would make it unlawful for any casino licensee to engage in this practice.