ASSEMBLY TOURISM, GAMING AND THE ARTS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 3258

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 1, 2026

      The Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 3258.

      Micro betting has become an increasingly popular practice whereby bettors can wager on each play in a sporting event.  Examples of micro bets include 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 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.

      As amended by the committee, this bill would prohibit sports wagering licensees from offering or accepting any wager on a micro bet online.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

      The bill defines “micro bet” to mean a proposition bet which is wagered live, while a sport or athletic event is ongoing, and concerns the outcome of the next play or action occurring in the sport or athletic event.  The bill defines a proposition bet as a side wager on a part of a sport or athletic event that does not concern the final outcome of the sport or athletic event.  Common proposition bets include how many points a basketball player might score, or whether a football player will score a touchdown or not.

      The bill provides that any sports wagering licensee or person who offers or accepts a micro bet contrary to the provisions of the bill has committed a disorderly persons offense and will be subject to a fine of not less than $500 and not more than $1,000 per offense.

      Under the bill, as amended, a sports wagering licensee will still be permitted to offer and accept wagers on micro bets to patrons physically located in a sports wagering lounge or through self-service wagering machines located in its facility.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2026-2027 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments limit the prohibition on micro bets to those wagers offered and accepted online.