Responsible Gaming in New Jersey
If you have checked out any online sportsbooks or casinos licensed and regulated by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, you should have seen a distinctive green and yellow circular logo prominently displayed on the website. This is the mark of responsible gaming. It shows that the site in question takes gambling addiction, and prevention of addiction, seriously.
If you want to know more about how casino and sportsbook operators keep players safe online, we have broken down all aspects of responsible gambling in NJ below.
Age verification
We will start by looking at the most important part of any gambling site: the legal gambling age. In New Jersey, this is 21 years old and above. Reputable NJ operators will verify a player’s age by requesting personal documents. This procedure is known as KYC (Know Your Customer) and is standard behavior across all regulated sportsbooks and casinos.
Usually, a site will ask for a copy of your ID, such as your driver’s license. Some sites also ask for your social security number, or the last four digits, to confirm your identity. You may also be required to supply proof of address and financial records as part of KYC. All of which goes toward ensuring only players of legal age are allowed to register with an online gambling site.
User limits
Although some sportsbooks and casinos offer low minimum deposit limits to entice players, many of those same sites also allow players to set their own.
For example, you might choose to set a daily deposit limit of $20, a weekly limit of $60, or a monthly deposit limit of $100. This means that you can control your bankroll and gambling habits, rather than being tempted to deposit another $5 or $10.
Reputable gambling sites also allow players to set wagering limits so that once they reach the specified threshold (e.g., $100 a month), they will not be able to place any further bets. You may even find a New Jersey gambling site that lets you set limits on acceptable losses, as well as limit what and how many types of games you can play.
Timeout/Reality checks
Any gambling site that takes support for gambling addiction in New Jersey seriously will also offer time limits. These can include session times, so you control the amount of time you can gamble for, and timeouts.
Timeouts lock you out of your online gambling account, and as with other limits, the period you choose can vary. Timeouts are especially useful for giving yourself a break, whether for a few days, a month, or even longer.
Reality checks are notifications you can enable that remind you of how long you have been playing. They also often let you see at a glance how much time and money you have spent on specific games and sports.
It is perfectly natural to get caught up in the moment, especially if you are on a winning streak, but a reality check helps to stop a fun 30 minutes from turning into a money-draining two hours.
Self-exclusion
If you feel that you may need gambling help in New Jersey, the definitive option is to self-exclude. Most gambling sites offer an exclusion program, but the state of NJ also has its own program.
You can contact the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey and request a one-year, five-year, or lifetime exclusion period on either internet gambling sites only, or internet sportsbooks and casinos, plus all land-based Atlantic City casino facilities.
There are also slight variations on internet gambling self-exclusion, such as only banning yourself from sites you have already registered with. If you are unsure as to which option would be best for you, you can also talk to a self-exclusion program representative. We have details on this and how to contact the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey below.
Location checks
KYC can also be used as a means for a site to check where a player is located. As a general rule, you can sign up for an account with New Jersey sportsbooks and casinos if you are not a resident of the state, but you will need to be physically present in NJ to gamble on the site in question.
However, one of the most common ways that a NJ site checks a player’s location is through geolocation. Reputable gambling sites will use companies such as Locaid, GeoComply, and XYverify to see your location. These companies can also tell if a player is trying to use a VPN to fool the site.
Location checks help ensure that problem gamblers do not subvert licensing jurisdiction and sign up with NJ sites when they are supposed to be on a timeout or self-excluded. In other words, location checks stop players from pretending to be in another state just to register with NJ sites, or from trying to access NJ from outside the state.
Giving back
The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement publishes an annual Gaming Industry Economic Impact Report. This document lays out the revenue funds made from various gambling-related areas, from total gaming taxes to forfeited winnings and fines.
These funds go into a special Casino Revenue Fund account, created and established by the Department of the Treasury. Each fiscal year, $100,000 of these funds go into compulsive gambling treatment programs in New Jersey.
The Casino Revenue Fund also provides exclusive reductions in rentals, property taxes, electric, telephone, gas, and municipal utilities charges of eligible senior and disabled New Jersey residents. The Casino Revenue Fund also goes towards additional or expanded health services and benefits, or transportation services and benefits, for disabled and senior citizens in the state.
Integrity
Offering information on how to get help with gambling addiction in New Jersey is only part of how NJ sites factor responsible gaming into their business. The other end of the gambling spectrum involves the casino games and sports events themselves. All sites overseen by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement implement procedures to ensure that games are safe, fair, and not rigged.
With regards to sports, this means that regulated sites will not offer unfair or inaccurate odds. For casino games, this means that virtual titles (like slots) will use an RNG (Random Number Generator) to ensure no two games play the same way twice. Games will also be tested by verified, independent companies like eCOGRA and iTech Labs. The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement itself also tests games on accredited sites.
What Is Problem Gambling?
Gambling should always be viewed as entertainment first. If wagering starts to feel less like fun and more like you are chasing a win, then you may need to seek gambling help in New Jersey. Gambling can be harmful, but the good news is there are plenty of organizations in the state that can give support for gambling addiction in New Jersey.
We touched on self-exclusion above, which you can do either via a NJ sportsbook, casino, or by contacting the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey, by telephone at 609-441-3846 or online via the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey website.
You will find a host of useful information related to self-exclusion and problem gambling through the above link, including a list of 20 questions prepared by Gamblers Anonymous. These can help you identify whether or not you are experiencing problems with gambling, as they include questions such as asking if you gamble to cover debts, borrow money to wager, if gambling affects your home life, etc.
We have problem gambling and help in New Jersey contact details below for various organizations.
Help Available in New Jersey
If you are a resident of New Jersey and are looking for numbers to call in NJ, and relevant websites related to support for gambling addiction in New Jersey, we recommend the following:
- 800-Gambler – The main site for the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey. It includes information on a free 24/7 hotline and gambling addiction resources such as prevention programs, treatment, public awareness and information, intervention and outreach, advocacy, and professional training.
- The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement Responsible Gaming Links – The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement is not only the state’s legal licensing department, but it also features a range of reputable gambling organizations you can contact. These include Gamblers Anonymous and the National Council on Problem Gambling.
- Lastly, 1-800-GAMBLER is one of the main telephone helplines you can call if you need support for gambling addiction in New Jersey. This number is linked with the NJ Casino Control Commission, the site of which also details other helpful responsible gambling in NJ advice.
FAQs
What procedures does an online gambling site have in place to check that I am eligible to play?
All reputable sportsbooks and casinos use the KYC (Know Your Customer) procedure, which involves verifying a player’s identity via document checks. Required documents usually include a driver’s license, proof of address, and Social Security Number.
Sites in New Jersey also use location checks/geolocation to verify that players are in the state when they access a gambling site.
What limits can I set to help control my gambling?
All reputable sites will let you set deposit, withdrawal, and time limits. You will also often find sportsbooks/casinos offer timeouts, reality checks, and wagering limits.
Do I have to be a resident of New Jersey to use a gambling site in the state?
No. You can register for a NJ sportsbook or casino from another US state, but you will need to be physically present in New Jersey to use the gambling site.
How do I know a NJ sportsbook/casino is legitimate?
The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement is the official regulatory body of NJ gambling sites. Look for its name on the site; usually, this will be shown in the footer of each page with the terms and conditions.
Is there a difference between being excluded from gambling sites and self-exclusion?
Yes. Self-exclusion is voluntary. You can request that a sportsbook or casino exclude you for one year, five years, or forever. Players who have been excluded from gambling sites had no say in the matter. You can find more information on both types of exclusion through the links mentioned above.