New Jersey officials are two months into a nearly year-long campaign to promote responsible betting as the number of people gambling continues to climb.
Online advertisements began appearing during the NCAA basketball tournament in March and will run through Super Bowl LIX in February, the state office of the Attorney General said. Ads are being timed to run around the ongoing NBA and Stanley Cup playoffs as well as the two major upcoming horse races, the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes.
About 5.6% of people who wager in New Jersey are considered to be at high-risk of problem gambling, far above the national average of 1% to 2%, officials said, citing a 2023 Rutgers University study. About 19% of high-risk gamblers are between the ages of 18 and 24.
In addition, the proportion of gamblers who gambled both online and in-person has nearly doubled from 19% to 36% since 2017.
Online betting in New Jersey became legal in 2013 with online sports betting being launched in the state 2018.
“Legalization has moved gambling out of the shadows, and for most people, legalized gaming does not create a health issue,” Attorney General Matt Platkin said in a statement. “However, it is incumbent upon us to provide stronger solutions for those who do struggle with gambling, whether that means through comprehensive prevention and support strategies, such as our responsible gaming initiatives, or stronger treatment and recovery services for problem gamblers.”
New Jersey has taken several steps to address problem gambling, including making it easier for people to self-exclude themselves from betting; naming a statewide coordinator in charge of all responsible gambling efforts; setting advertising standards for casinos and sports betting companies; and working with companies to use technology to monitor online betting and to offer assistance to at-risk patrons.
The Rutgers study found that 61% of New Jerseyans took part in at least one gambling activity in the previous 12 months, down from 70% in the previous 2017 report.
It also found that participation in sports betting increased from 15% in 2017 to over 19% in 2021, and that the percentage of people doing all their gambling online tripled over that period, from 5% to 15%.
The state is spending $300,000 on the campaign. Anyone needing assistance is encouraged to call the Division of Gaming Enforcement’s self-exclusion toll-free hotline 833-788-4343.
Among the strategies suggested for gamblers by the DGE are becoming more self-aware of their behavior, taking more breaks from gaming or deciding to stay away from a game for a longer period.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report
Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.
If you or a loved one has questions or needs to talk to a professional about gambling, call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit 1800gambler.net for more information.
