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S 4282

Creates the anti-SLAPP act

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Kevin Parker

The bill bans most paid sweepstakes in New Jersey unless strict safe-harbor conditions are met, and expands penalties and enforcement for unlawful gambling and related cheating or

REFERRED TO JUDICIARY
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Bill Summary · S 4282

Summary — S 4282 (Creates the anti‑SLAPP act)1R

Status: Introduced March 24, 2025; reported out of Senate committees with amendments (May 29, 2025 and June 26, 2025); substituted by A5447 (1R) June 30, 2025. Primary sponsor: Sen. Kevin S. Parker. Referred to Judiciary.

Note: Although the bill title in your prompt reads “Creates the anti‑SLAPP act,” the bill text and committee statements address unlawful gambling (not anti‑SLAPP). This summary reflects the bill content provided.

Purpose / Intent

S 4282 seeks to curtail unlawful gambling operations in New Jersey by (1) expressly prohibiting the “sweepstakes” marketing/gambling model unless narrow conditions are met, (2) expanding criminal definitions and penalties for online gambling and manipulation of contests (including sports), and (3) empowering state enforcement agencies to pursue civil remedies, fines, restitution, and other sanctions.

Key provisions

  • Definitions
    • Defines “sweepstakes,” “game,” “prize or prize equivalent,” and “something of value.” Committee reprint expands definitions to cover virtual facsimiles, games that mimic casino play, and third‑party cash‑out/exchange mechanisms.
  • Sweepstakes prohibition (general rule)
    • Offering or conducting a sweepstakes where a New Jersey resident pays or proffers value to participate is declared unlawful gambling (subject to civil and, where applicable, criminal penalties).
  • Sweepstakes safe harbor (exceptions)
    • Sweepstakes are permitted only if all of the following apply:
    • A free method of entry exists.
    • Any paid entry is ancillary to purchase of food, non‑alcoholic beverages, or merchandise not exceeding $20 (or another DCA‑set amount); coins/tokens/credits that function as cash or entries are excluded.
    • Winners are not determined by sports results or athletic performance (unless entry is exclusively free).
    • Entry materials/websites disclose rules, odds of winning (or unlimited‑entry disclosure), and prizes.
    • Prize value is reportable as New Jersey taxable income.
    • Minors (<18) cannot claim prizes over $1,000 without parental consent.
    • Odds of winning must be identical whether entry was paid or free.
    • Division of Consumer Affairs (DCA) may adopt implementing regulations.
  • Expanded criminal scope & penalties
    • Expands “gambling” to include buying/selling/trading value tied to contingent outcomes (including sports events).
    • Broadens “maintenance of a gambling resort” to include online gambling resorts and increases penalty severity (e.g., degree and fine maximums; fiscal note cites raising maximum fine from $25,000 to $50,000 and setting online resort penalties between $50,000–$100,000).
    • Lowers thresholds (by $500) for certain rigging/improper influencing offenses to elevate penalty degrees.
    • Makes it illegal to rig or improperly influence contests or sports events (bribing players, officials, judges, etc.).
    • Revises cheating/swindling statutes to cover insider information bets and using another person’s gaming account to wager.
    • Prohibits proxy betting where the wagered property is ≥ $1,000 and an agreement to pay ≥10% of proceeds exists; proxy betting and conspiracies are disorderly persons offenses unless the bettor retains sole control.
  • Enforcement powers & remedies
    • DCA enforces sweepstakes provisions; Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) enforces other unlawful gambling provisions.
    • Agencies may: seek injunctive relief; investigate and subpoena; apply for contempt or license revocation; order restitution (including double restitution to seniors); issue cease‑and‑desist orders and seek $25,000 per violation for violations of those orders; impose civil penalties of up to $100,000 (first offense) and $250,000 (subsequent offenses); and place liens on assets of parties fined in prior five years.
    • Each day of ongoing violation is a separate offense for civil penalties.
  • Procedural tools
    • Agencies may pursue summary injunctions in Superior Court, conduct administrative investigations, and promulgate rules under the Administrative Procedure Act.

Who is affected

  • Sweepstakes operators, marketing firms, and businesses using dual‑currency or prize‑for‑purchase models.
  • Online gaming platforms and “online gambling resorts.”
  • Consumers — including protections for minors and seniors (enhanced restitution for seniors).
  • State agencies: Division of Consumer Affairs, Division of Gaming Enforcement, and the Judiciary (increased caseloads).
  • Entities facilitating marketplace exchanges or cash‑out functions for virtual credits.

Fiscal and operational impact

  • Office of Legislative Services: potential indeterminate annual revenue increases (from fines/penalties) and indeterminate State cost increases due to expanded enforcement workload and Judiciary involvement.
  • Exact fiscal effects depend on enforcement frequency and amounts collected.

Legislative timeline / status highlights

  • Introduced in Senate: 03/24/2025 (referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee).
  • Reported with committee amendments: 05/29/2025.
  • Reported to Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee: 06/26/2025.
  • Substituted by Assembly companion A5447 (1R): 06/30/2025.

Related legislation

  • Companion: A5447 (1R)
  • Prior‑session related bills: S1539, S6554, S3417, S4994, S5211, S6784.

If you want, I can draft a one‑page explainer for affected businesses (marketing firms, app developers, casinos) summarizing compliance steps and immediate operational risks.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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