New Jersey’s Division of Gaming Enforcement has fined BetMGM $72,000 for accepting wagers on sports events that were prohibited or not approved in the state. The operator was also ordered to disgorge $8,204.49, bringing the financial sanction to just over $80,000.
The civil order said BetMGM violated the New Jersey Sports Wagering Act by taking bets on prohibited or unapproved events. It cited N.J.S.A. 5:12A-10 and regulations including N.J.A.C. 13:69N-1.1, 13:69N-1.9(k) and 13:69N-1.11(a). Sports Betting Dime, which reported the penalty, said BetMGM did not respond to a request for comment.
The enforcement action covered two distinct compliance obligations. The division’s approved-events guidance requires operators to obtain approval before offering a new event or wager type, while the rules require operators to notify the regulator when first offering a category of event or type of wager. Operators are advised to give at least 72 hours’ notice before a new market is made public.
New Jersey also prohibits wagering on any collegiate event held in the state and on any event involving a New Jersey college team, wherever it takes place. The ban extends to all high-school sporting events. The division may prohibit a market, order wagers cancelled and require refunds where an event would conflict with state public policy.
In 2021, voters rejected a ballot measure that would have allowed betting on all college sports through casinos and current or former racetracks. The proposal failed by 57% to 43%, according to the Harvard Journal of Sports and Entertainment Law.
The BetMGM order followed a separate DGE enforcement action against Caesars Sportsbook over responsible-gaming requirements, as we reported in August.
