New Jersey lawmakers are pushing forward with a bipartisan bill that would fundamentally reshape how the state handles underage gambling violations. Rather than slapping criminal charges on minors caught gambling or those who permit it, Senate Bill 597 would introduce a tiered civil penalty system instead.

From Criminal to Civil

The proposal, backed by Democratic Senator James Beach of Camden and Republican Vincent Polistina of Atlantic, would amend the Casino Control Act to decriminalise underage gambling offences. Under the current system, anyone under 21 found gambling at a licensed casino or simulcasting facility faces a disorderly persons charge. The new framework scraps that entirely.

Violators would instead face escalating civil penalties: $500 for a first violation, $1,000 for a second, and $2,000 for a third or subsequent breach. New Jersey's legal gambling age remains 21. Nothing changes there.

Broader Scope

The bill casts a wider net. Casino licensees and employees who knowingly allow underage gambling would fall under the same civil penalty regime. Adults responsible for minors who permit gambling would also face fines. There's a useful carve-out, though: casino staff who relied in good faith on proper age documentation and had reasonable grounds to believe someone was 21 would get a defence.

Money for Treatment

Here's where it gets practical. All revenue collected through these fines would be directed toward gambling addiction prevention, education, and treatment programmes. The funds flow into the state General Fund before allocation to the Department of Human Services for compulsive gambling initiatives.

Second Time Around

This isn't Beach and Polistina's first rodeo. They introduced virtually identical legislation as Senate Bill 3972 during the 2024-25 session in December 2024, but it failed to pass before the legislative window closed. They're back with the current measure for the 2026-27 session, this time with additional co-sponsors: Senators Kristin Corrado, Shirley Turner, and John McKeon.

The bill is currently pre-filed and will need to work through the full legislative process before reaching the governor's desk. Atlantic City will be the main focus, given that New Jersey's casino industry is concentrated there. The change is procedural rather than permissive: no new gambling rights for under-21s emerge from this bill.