New Jersey requires all gambling operators to run three-phase problem-gambling interventions
New Jersey has codified rules requiring every licensed operator to appoint a responsible gaming lead and apply three phases of intervention for at-risk patrons.
Key takeaways
- 01New Jersey's Division of Gaming Enforcement has codified regulations requiring every operator to appoint a responsible gaming lead and apply three phases of intervention for at-risk patrons.
- 02The state also launched RecoverMe, a free cognitive behavioral therapy app for gambling problems, following last year's rollout of the free GamFin financial counseling service.
- 03New Jersey is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear its case against prediction market Kalshi, backed by amicus briefs from 39 states, the District of Columbia and 146 Indian tribes and tribal organizations.
New Jersey has become the first state to make data-driven responsible gaming requirements mandatory for its licensed gambling operators, according to a press release from Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and the Division of Gaming Enforcement. The rules, now codified into state regulations with “the force of law,” require every operator to appoint a responsible gaming lead and respond to at-risk patrons through a structured, three-phase process.
When signs of problem gaming arise, operators must act to ensure early intervention and support, tiered to individual need.
Mandatory thresholds and three phases
Under the regulations, operators must use a set of mandatory patron play thresholds and behavioral triggers to flag patrons who may need support. When a patron meets those criteria, the operator must conduct a due diligence review to check for signs of potential problem gaming. If the review finds signs of harm, the operator must add the patron to its list of at-risk patrons and apply three phases of interventions based on its own assessment of that patron.
DGE said operators already maintained responsible gaming staff and followed similar standards under prior “best practices,” but there was previously no uniform, regulatorily enforceable standard for when further review and phased intervention is required. The state said it is aware of recent press reports that some operators are using aggressive marketing or promotion tactics to target gamblers who are exhibiting signs of a gambling disorder, and pointed to that as one reason for codifying the rules.
RecoverMe app for NJ residents
Davenport and DGE also announced the availability of RecoverMe, a free cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) app for any New Jersey resident or patron seeking help managing gambling problems, made available through an agreement with the app’s operator. RecoverMe uses validated assessment tools, offers flexible, evidence-based therapy sessions, tracks gambling habits, and includes New Jersey-specific services for people in crisis. The app was developed by physicians and combines CBT with mindfulness-based methods. It can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, and the release lists code NJ100 to access the app for free.
RecoverMe is the second free service DGE has offered to residents experiencing gambling problems; last year DGE began offering GamFin, a free financial counseling service connecting patrons and their families with confidential financial counseling.
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Kalshi case before the Supreme Court
The release also tied the new rules to New Jersey’s broader regulatory push: the state is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear its case against prediction market Kalshi, arguing prediction markets must be subject to state gaming laws. A coalition of 39 states and the District of Columbia, 146 Indian tribes and tribal organizations, the NFL, and leading industry organizations have filed amicus briefs supporting New Jersey’s request, according to the release.
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