A 5447 New Jersey General Assembly · 2024-2025 Regular Session

Prohibits sweepstakes model of wagering; establishes new penalties for unlawful gambling operations and practices; directs Division of Consumer Affairs and Division of Gaming Enforcement to enforce penalties.

This bill prohibits the "sweepstakes model of wagering" in New Jersey, which typically involves people paying to enter contests where they might win prizes. It establishes civil penalties of up to $100,000 for the first offense and $250,000 for subsequent offenses against operators of unlawful gambling operations. The bill creates limited exceptions for sweepstakes that offer free entry options, tie non-free entries to purchasing low-value merchandise under $20, disclose rules and odds clearly, and don't base winners on sports events (unless all entries are free). It also updates gambling definitions to cover online wagering, expands prohibitions against rigging sports events, and assigns enforcement to the Division of Consumer Affairs (for sweepstakes) and Division of Gaming Enforcement (for other gambling violations).
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
Jun 2025
General Assembly Passage
Jun 2025
Senate Passage
Jun 2025
Signed into Law
Aug 2025
Introduced Mar 17, 2025 Signed Aug 15, 2025
Floor votes · Senate Jun 30, 2025 · General Assembly Jun 30, 2025

How they voted

345
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 40
Jun 30, 2025
D Democratic25
25 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican15
9 Yea 5 Nay 1
60% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
10
Key actions
4
Committee
4
Aug 15, 2025
Signed into law
Approved P.L.2025, c.128.
executive
Jun 30, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (Passed Both Houses) (34-5)
upper
Jun 30, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed Assembly (69-10-1)
lower
Jun 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported out of Assembly Committee, 2nd Reading
lower
Jun 19, 2025
Committee
Transferred to Assembly Appropriations Committee
lower
May 8, 2025
Committee
Reported out of Assembly Committee with Amendments and Referred to Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee
lower
May 8, 2025
Committee
Transferred to Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee
lower
Mar 17, 2025
Introduced
Introduced in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee
lower
5 primary · 2 co-sponsors

Sponsors