Posted on: September 30, 2024, 01:30h.
Last updated on: September 30, 2024, 01:30h.
A veteran gaming regulator who managed one of the biggest gambling markets in the country suggests that states should have consistent minimum ages for participation, whether it’s entering a casino or purchasing a lottery ticket.
After leading the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) for almost 13 years, David Rebuck retired in March. Responsible for enforcing the state’s Casino Control Act, Rebuck believes that New Jersey’s gaming regulations need to be updated to keep up with the digital age where billions are being wagered online annually.
Rebuck is concerned about the attraction of sports betting to young adults.
He also points out that sports betting has made gambling more mainstream, leading him to suggest that New Jersey increase the minimum age for participating in daily fantasy sports and buying lottery products from 18 to 21 to align with entry age requirements for casinos, sports betting, and regulated iGaming platforms.
Uniform Age
In New Jersey, fantasy sports are considered games of skill and are not regulated under the Casino Control Act. This exemption also applies to skill games, online sweepstakes, and social casinos where no real money can be won.
Rebuck sees these avenues as gateways to gambling and addictive behavior, suggesting that delaying entry for 18 to 21-year-olds would give them time to understand the risks associated with various gambling options in the state.
According to Rebuck’s regulatory essay, revising the age requirement sends a strong message that gambling is for adults only, as some young people engage in risky behavior with long-term consequences.
Rebuck emphasized that minors and young adults would benefit from the extra time to comprehend and prepare for legal gambling activities in the future.
Internet Gaming Keeps Growing
Online gaming continues to thrive in New Jersey.
In 2023, remote gamblers wagered $1.92 billion on internet slot machines and table games, setting a new high for online casinos in the state. By the eighth month of 2024, iGaming revenue had increased by 23% to over $1.52 billion.
Five years ago, iGaming revenue was $482.7 million, making it a 300% growth in online gaming in a short period.
The sports betting sector is also expanding rapidly. Operators recorded over $1 billion in revenue in 2023, a 32% surge from the previous year. In 2024, they have already made $715.8 million in revenue, nearly 20% more than the same period in the previous year.
Sports betting revenue was just under $300 million in 2019, marking a 233% increase over five years.
Rebuck opposes a recent federal bill introduced to Congress that would impose regulatory conditions on states with legal sports betting. The proposed guidelines include restrictions on sports betting advertising during certain hours.
He believes that state gaming regulators are better suited than politicians to tailor regulations to individual states.
Rebuck commented on the issue, saying, “It’s mind-boggling to me the arrogance of saying ‘we know more than you do.'”