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NJ has new online portal for people to ban themselves from casinos and online gambling

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NJ has new online portal for people to ban themselves from casinos and online gambling

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State authorities and gambling enforcement officials are introducing an easier way for people to self-exclude themselves from gambling — a process in which a person struggling with a gambling addiction can voluntarily have themselves banned from casinos and online gambling. 

The move is meant to clamp down on problem gambling within New Jersey, even as revenue for casinos, gambling and sports betting continue to climb. 

Rather than having to meet a state official in person or take part in a video conference, the state’s Division of Gaming Enforcement announced this week that it now has a 24/7 online application portal where someone can add themselves to the self-exclusion list. 

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There are separate applications to be added to the list for the state’s brick-and-mortar casinos and for online gambling and sports betting. 

It marks a shift from a previous method the state Attorney General’s Office put in place and touted in 2023, which required an applicant to take part in an online video conference. 

State officials did not explain what prompted this change from the previous system.  

“Making the self-exclusion process more accessible is a critical step in our ongoing commitment to responsible gaming,” said Mary Jo Flaherty, interim director of the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, which regulates New Jersey’s casino, gambling and sports betting industries. 

“This new online option empowers individuals with a private and efficient way to make decisions about their gaming habits, ensuring they have the resources they need to prioritize their well-being,” Flaherty said.

Growing sports gambling addiction among young men

The announcement comes as gambling addiction becomes a growing concern. A Fairleigh Dickinson University poll released in October found that 10% of men aged 18 to 30 reported gambling problems, compared with 3% of the overall adult population.

Sports betting has been legal in New Jersey since the state won a landmark legal challenge before the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018. Since then, state residents have wagered nearly $34 billion. Most of that, including $11 billion between January and November 2024, was bet online or through mobile apps.

Studies have shown that sports betting, now legal in 39 states, is particularly risky, leading to higher rates of debt, lower savings and even bankruptcies, the nonprofit news organization Stateline reported earlier this month.

Experts warn that the convenience of online betting, combined with heavy advertising, has made gambling more addictive, particularly for young men.

In a 2023 study, the Rutgers Center for Gambling Studies found the rate of high-risk problem gambling among the New Jersey population to be 6%, three times the national average. 

As with the FDU poll, Rutgers — which polled 3,512 New Jersey residents — found higher rates of gambling among men than women. Men had double the rate of problem gambling that women had, according to the Rutgers poll. 

Meanwhile, the New Jersey Council on Compulsive Gambling conducted a study this spring with the College of New Jersey which found that 65% of respondents had their first exposure to gambling between the ages of 6 and 16. 

Daniel Munoz covers business, consumer affairs, labor and the economy for NorthJersey.com and The Record. 

Email: munozd@northjersey.com; Twitter:@danielmunoz100 and Facebook

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