New Jersey senators James Beach and Vincent Polistina are sponsoring a bill that would replace criminal penalties for underage gambling at licensed casinos and simulcasting facilities with civil fines of up to $2,000.

Senate Bill 597 would change how the state handles violations, but not who is legally allowed to gamble: the minimum age would remain 21. The proposal would also expose casino licensees, employees and some adults to fines if they knowingly allow underage gambling.

Fines would rise with repeat violations

Under S597, a person under 21 who enters or gambles at a licensed casino or simulcasting facility would no longer face a disorderly persons offense. Instead, the bill sets a civil penalty of up to $500 for a first violation, up to $1,000 for a second, and up to $2,000 for a third or subsequent violation.

The same escalating penalties would apply to casino licensees and employees who knowingly allow someone under 21 to remain at or gamble in a covered venue. Adults who knowingly allow a person under their lawful care, custody or control to gamble while underage would also fall under the proposed system.

The bill would retain an existing defense for casino employees who relied in good faith on written proof of age and reasonably believed the person was at least 21 based on their appearance and documentation. That provision would preserve a defense in a qualifying age-verification situation; it would not change the proposed penalties for other violations.

Money collected through the fines would go into the state General Fund before being appropriated to the Department of Human Services. The intended use is for qualifying gambling-addiction prevention, education and treatment programs.

A revived proposal for Atlantic City venues

Beach and Polistina introduced a substantially similar measure, Senate Bill 3972, in December 2024 during the 2024-25 legislative session. It did not become law before that session ended, and S597 brings the proposal back for the 2026-27 session.