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A 5362

Establishes city community improvement projects

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Alicia Hyndman

Prohibits New Jersey casinos and their partners from using free-to-play casino-style games to solicit future real-money wagering; rewards unrelated to wagering remain allowed.

REFERRED TO CITIES
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Bill Summary · A 5362

Summary — A5362 (2025)

Establishes limits on casino licensees’ use of “non‑wagering casino games” to solicit future wagering.

Purpose / intent

The bill is intended to stop a marketing practice in which casinos (or parties acting for them) operate free-to-play games that simulate real casino games, award fictitious points or credits, and use those rewards to encourage future real-money gambling. It aims to curb “practice” or grooming of players (including underage users) through simulated games that promise later redemption or preferential terms tied to wagering.

Key provisions

  • Prohibits a casino licensee — including its agents, employees, contracted operators, or any party with which it has a relationship — from conducting a “non‑wagering casino game” that:
    • provides a reward for immediate or continued participation, and
    • serves to solicit future participation in wagering activities.
  • Defines “non‑wagering casino game” as any in-person or internet game that offers an experience equivalent to, or with similar odds as, a game that ordinarily requires a casino license, but which does not require an initial monetary investment by participants (i.e., free-to-play simulations).
  • Floor amendment clarifies that the bill does not limit a casino licensee’s ability to offer rewards unrelated to wagering (examples: complimentary hotel stays or event tickets) based on participation in non‑wagering games.

Who is affected

  • Casino licensees in New Jersey and their affiliated agents, vendors, and third‑party operators.
  • Developers/operators of free‑to‑play/simulated casino-style apps or promotional games when used in coordination with a New Jersey casino.
  • Consumers, particularly those who use free casino-style games (including minors or underage individuals), since the bill targets practices that can incentivize later real‑money wagering.

Enforcement / statutory change

  • Amends section 100 of P.L.1977, c.110 (C.5:12‑100) (Casino Control Act). Enforcement would occur under the regulatory framework of the Division of Gaming Enforcement and related statutory/regulatory mechanisms (the text does not specify new penalties).

Legislative status & timeline

  • Introduced in the Assembly: Feb 25, 2025
  • Referred to Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee; reported favorably: May 8, 2025
  • Assembly floor amendment passed (Quijano): May 22, 2025
  • Passed Assembly: Jun 30, 2025 (56–24–0)
  • Received in the Senate: Oct 20, 2025; referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee
  • (Also noted as “Referred to Cities” on Feb 13, 2025)
  • Primary sponsor: Assemblywoman Alicia Hyndman
  • Related: Companion bill S3062; prior-session S4040

Potential impacts / considerations

  • Limits use of free-to-play casino-style games as direct marketing funnels to real-money gambling, likely requiring changes to casino promotional strategies and third-party free-game offerings affiliated with casinos.
  • Preserves casinos’ ability to give non-wagering promotional rewards tied to participation in such games (per amendment).
  • Aimed at consumer protection (including youth protections) but may raise compliance questions for platform developers and marketing vendors about what constitutes solicitation of future wagering.

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

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