New Jersey has formally barred its public colleges and universities from entering into advertising and promotional deals with sports betting companies. This move comes as part of a broader effort to curb the growing influence of gambling on college campuses and protect students from potential harm.
Governor Phil Murphy signed the measure into law on July 8, enacting Assembly Bill 4113, which mirrors Senate Bill 2155. This legislation, championed by Senator Joe Cryan and Assemblywoman Linda Carter, aims to eliminate betting-related advertisements from campus life by prohibiting any agreements that would allow gambling brands to promote their services at public educational institutions.
The new law applies to all components of these institutions, including athletic departments and affiliated booster organizations. Advertising is now prohibited across physical locations such as stadiums and arenas, as well as in digital and broadcast content tied to school programs.
Legislative Background and Student Protection Efforts
The decision to outlaw such partnerships was influenced by growing concern about the rise in gambling among young adults, especially college-aged men. A 2024 Fairleigh Dickinson University poll indicated that 10% of young men in the U.S. demonstrate signs of gambling addiction, in stark contrast to 3% among the broader population.
Senator Cryan, who chairs the Senate Higher Education Committee, described this trend as alarming. “The proliferation of sports betting by college students is a troubling trend that can have a destructive impact on their lives,” he said. Cryan emphasized the vulnerability of students to compulsive behaviors, noting how challenging it can be to reverse such habits once they become entrenched.
Assemblywoman Carter, representing Plainfield, explained that the legislation seeks to counter the growth of gambling on campus by cutting off a major avenue of exposure—targeted advertising. Similarly, Senator John McKeon stated that educational environments should not be overwhelmed with gambling-related messages. “Our college campuses should be sanctuaries for learning and for healthy activities for young people,” McKeon said.
National Context and Institutional Scope
New Jersey’s initiative reflects a national reevaluation of how sports betting is integrated into academic settings. States like Michigan, Colorado, and Louisiana have already seen major public universities terminate lucrative agreements with betting operators like Caesars Entertainment and PointsBet.
Even though no current advertising partnerships existed between New Jersey’s public colleges and gambling companies at the time the bill was introduced, lawmakers acted preemptively to close any potential avenues for such deals in the future.
Institutions affected by the new law include major public universities such as Rutgers, Montclair State, Kean University, Rowan, and the New Jersey Institute of Technology. While the law prohibits these schools from signing contracts that offer betting companies access to promote on campus or during school-affiliated events, it does leave room for some academic exceptions. Foundations tied to the institutions may still pursue partnerships for educational purposes, provided these do not involve direct marketing to students.
Ongoing Legislative Push Against College Betting Exposure
New Jersey’s crackdown on gambling in academic spaces builds upon its earlier sports wagering legislation from 2018, which explicitly banned betting on in-state college teams or events held within the state. Though efforts have been made since then to loosen that restriction, including a 2021 ballot proposal, voters have consistently rejected those attempts.
More recently, lawmakers have targeted “player-specific proposition bets” in collegiate sports, arguing that they increase the risk of gambling-related misconduct and undue pressure on student-athletes. Senate Bill 3080, introduced by Senators Cryan and Kristin Corrado, seeks to prohibit such bets. The bill passed unanimously through the Senate’s Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee in June but has yet to move further in the legislative process.
Broader Gambling Policy Shifts in the State
Beyond education, New Jersey has also implemented fiscal changes in its approach to gambling regulation. In a notable shift, the state increased its online gaming tax rate. Originally proposed at 25% by Governor Murphy, the rate was finalized at 19.75% after negotiations with lawmakers and feedback from operators and trade associations. This marks a significant jump from the previous 13% tax on sports betting and 15% on online casinos.
As New Jersey continues to redefine its approach to legalized betting, its latest actions reflect an intensified effort to balance economic opportunity with the need to protect vulnerable groups—especially students—from the risks associated with gambling exposure.
Source:
‘’Cryan-McKeon Bill Prohibiting Sports Betting Partnerships with Public Colleges & Universities Signed’’, njsendems.org, July 08, 2025.
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