Fresh from setting a new annual gaming revenue record, the state of New Jersey has reintroduced Senate Bill 1500. Sponsored by Sen. Joseph P. Cray, the bill would see sweepstakes casinos designated as iGaming platforms, meaning they would face the same legislation, taxation and regulations as real money online casinos.
The move is particularly notable considering Governor Phil Murphy signed a bill banning sweepstakes casinos in August 2025.
Retabled New Jersey 2026 bills
New Jersey has been busy in 2026, despite only being a couple of weeks into the year. A handful of bills aiming to shore up sports betting have been retabled.
- SB 2334 would introduce a $250,000 sports betting license fee.
- SB 2160 aims to ban micro bets and play-by-play wagers.
- SB 1170 would ban player-specific college sports bets.
- SB 2356 and SB 1444 look to restrict certain gambling advertising practices and ensure the use of appropriate content.
- Senate Concurrent Resolution 31 (SCR31) discusses the possibility of allowing slot machine gambling at race tracks outside Atlantic City. The revenues raised would go towards retirement systems and local retail venues.
Like all the other proposals, SCR31 has been tabled previously. It failed in 2016, losing a public vote 77% to 23%.
However, that was before New York awarded three new casino licenses – their proximity means the three new venues will directly compete with Atlantic City's existing casinos.
Sweeping regulation
The one Bill that really stands out, primarily due to its timing, is SB 1500. This Bill would regulate dual-currency sweepstakes casinos. The online venues would be governed the same as real money online casinos in the State.
Sites would be required to conduct proper age and ID verification checks, while servers have to be located in Atlantic City, to comply with existing iGaming legislation.
Furthermore, revenues would be subject to iGaming taxes, potentially raising additional revenue for the state.
The bill is notable because it effectively contravenes a decision made by Governor Phil Murphy in August 2025.
Murphy signed Assembly Bill 5447, banning the operation and use of dual-currency sweepstakes casinos within New Jersey.
The Bill was passed with a 34-5 majority, marking New Jersey's entry into a group that includes Idaho and Washington in banning online sweepstakes venues.
Regulated gambling in The Garden State
New Jersey has one of the most evolved gambling markets in the US. It first regulated land-based casinos in 1977, with Resorts Casino opening its Atlantic City doors a year later.
Having followed Delaware into regulated iGaming, New Jersey has also added online casinos to its arsenal.
In more than 45 years of regulated gambling, the Garden State has raised over $12bn in taxes and fees.
In 2025, New Jersey set an annual revenue record, raising $6.9bn from all gambling sources. This included $2.9bn from remote gambling – an increase of 22% compared to the previous year.
Whether regulating sweepstakes casinos would add to existing tax revenue isn't clear, considering there are already 30 iGaming platforms, but it would help to shore up player protection and responsible gambling.
