TRENTON – New Jersey’s public colleges and universities would be prohibited from partnering with sports betting operations under terms of legislation sponsored by Senator Joe Cryan and Senator John McKeon that was approved by the Senate today and sent to the Governor.
The bill, S-2155, would ban contractual agreements between sports betting companies and New Jersey institutions of higher education, including their athletic departments and booster clubs, that would otherwise allow for advertisements or promotions for gambling services.
The surge in gambling advertisements and partnerships, particularly those targeting college campuses, has contributed to the increase in gambling among students, Senator Cryan said.
“The proliferation of sports betting by college students is a troubling trend that have can have a destructive and long-lasting impact on their lives,” said Senator Cryan (D-Union), the chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee. “Young people are especially vulnerable to compulsive gambling and can have a difficult time breaking the habit once it becomes ingrained. They should be protected from the negative influences of advertisements that promote the practice. Our state college campuses should be places for learning, not underage gambling.”
The sports wagering partnerships that would be banned are contracts between a gaming company and a public college or university for access to advertise in the schools’ stadiums and other facilities, as well as digital and broadcast content. The bill would protect students from being exposed to gambling-related ads on campus, including team facilities and arenas, Senator McKeon said.
“Our college campuses should be sanctuaries for learning and for healthy activities for young people,” said Senator McKeon (D-Essex). “They should not be inundated with messages that entice them into gambling habits that can put them into debt and have corrosive effects on their psychological and emotional well-being.
The Senate vote was 38-0.
It was previously approved by the Assembly with a vote of 75-0.