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S 4646

Relates to multiple violations of the highway construction or maintenance work area photo speed violation monitoring system

2025 Regular Session Introduced by April Baskin and 6 co-sponsors

Creates the NJ Unified Responsible Gambling Evaluation Board to study gambling, coordinate prevention/treatment, publish reports, and run a central public hub for resources.

COMMITTED TO RULES
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Bill Summary · S 4646

Summary — S.4646 (2025): Establishes the New Jersey Unified Responsible Gambling Evaluation Board

Status: Introduced (6/23/2025); Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee. Listed as COMMITTED TO RULES. Primary sponsor: Sen. Jeremy Cooney; cosponsors: George Borrello, Patricia Fahy, April Baskin, Leroy Comrie, Pete Harckham. Companion: A4011.

Purpose / Intent

S.4646 creates the New Jersey Unified Responsible Gambling Evaluation Board to centralize study, coordination, public education, and policy recommendations relating to responsible gambling and problem gambling across the State. The board is intended to assess current gambling practices, evaluate prevention and treatment programs, identify trends (including youth-targeted social gambling), and provide a publicly accessible hub of resources.

Key provisions

  • Establishes the New Jersey Unified Responsible Gambling Evaluation Board "in, but not of," the Department of Law and Public Safety.
  • Membership (7 ex‑officio seats): Attorney General (chair), Chair of the Casino Control Commission, Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs, Director of the Division of Gaming Enforcement, Director of the Division of State Lottery, Executive Director of the New Jersey Racing Commission, and Commissioner of the Department of Human Services. Each may send a designee. The Attorney General serves as chair. The chair may appoint a secretary (not required to be a board member).
  • Compensation: Members serve without compensation; may be reimbursed for necessary expenses within available appropriations.
  • Duties — at minimum the board shall:
    • Study rates and methods of gambling (in-person and online), types of gambling, underage/illegal gambling, and prevalence of problem gambling.
    • Review and assess responsible gambling practices used by casinos, sportsbooks, racetracks, the State Lottery, and other operators.
    • Evaluate effectiveness of gambling education, prevention, and treatment programs.
    • Identify gambling trends (including emerging social gambling that may affect youth) and examine responses in other states.
    • Compile public and private resources and information across agencies and sectors.
  • Authority: May request information or assistance from any State department, office, division, agency, or instrumentality and consult outside experts and regulated entities.
  • Reporting: Annual report to the Governor and Legislature detailing activities, findings, and recommendations (submitted pursuant to existing statutory reporting procedures).
  • Public website: Board must establish and maintain a website serving as a centralized hub. Required content includes:
    • The board’s annual report and other statutory gambling-related annual reports (e.g., Internet gaming, sports wagering).
    • Any other operator-required annual reports.
    • A list of State‑funded gambling addiction education, treatment, and prevention programs.
    • Instructions for self‑exclusion requests, links to Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services and Council on Compulsive Gambling, private‑sector research/resources, and other relevant information.
  • Requirement: State agencies/entities responsible for regulating gambling or providing services to problem gamblers must prominently link to the board’s website.

Timeline / Effective date

  • The act takes effect immediately upon enactment.
  • Board activities commence following its establishment; reimbursements and staffing depend on available appropriations (no specific funding provided in text).

Who is affected / Potential impact

  • State gambling regulators and enforcement bodies (Casino Control Commission, Division of Gaming Enforcement, State Lottery, Racing Commission, etc.) will coordinate with and be subject to requests from the board.
  • Gambling operators (casinos, sportsbooks, racetracks, online operators) could see policy or regulatory recommendations based on board findings and may be consulted.
  • People at risk of or experiencing problem gambling will gain a centralized information and resource hub (self‑exclusion guidance, treatment links).
  • The board may influence future statutory or regulatory changes, program funding priorities, prevention and treatment strategies, and public education efforts.

Notes / fiscal considerations

  • Members are unpaid but eligible for expense reimbursement "within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available" — implementation may require appropriation of resources for staff, website maintenance, research, and outreach.
  • The bill centralizes information and coordination but does not itself mandate specific funding increases or regulatory changes.

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

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