eSports Betting to be legalized in New Jersey

30.01.2020, 17:13

Since the federal ban on sports betting has been lifted in 2018, more than 20 states have legalized some sort of sports betting and New Jersey was among the first ones in their region. It seems that they plan to remain the leaders since they are making plans to legalize esports betting as well.

The New Bill

A new bipartisan bill has been sent for consideration to the State House this Tuesday. According to the bill, it would be possible to bet on video games. Still, there are some restrictions such as the prohibition of betting on high-school organized tournaments or tournaments where the adults are in a minority. Additionally, the bill provides a list of particular events that would be allowed to bet on.

The bill is not the first step that the state ventured in whilst considering legalizing esports gambling. In November 2019, the Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) of New Jersey has allowed sportsbooks to accept bets on the League of Legends World Championships as long as the competitors are at least 18 years old.

What Next

The new bill proposes to step outside the tournaments and allow further esports betting. The supporters of the bill believe that it is important for New Jersey to remain as the leader in the region since gambling is one of the most lucrative industries worldwide. After other forms of gambling, for the supporters, it is logical time to legalize esports gambling. Assemblyman Ralph Caputo, one of the main supporters and sponsors of the bill says: “The time is right for New Jersey to expand legal wagering beyond traditional sports.”

The bill has only been drafted and is therefore in its initial stages but it is expected that it will soon become law. David Rebuck, the director of the Division of Gaming Enforcement implies that “The Division of Gaming Enforcement fully supports the proposed bill.”