A proposed law in New Jersey could significantly reshape sports betting practices in the state. Assemblyman Dan Hutchison has introduced Bill A5971, which aims to prohibit “micro-betting” — a form of live, in-play wagering where gamblers bet on the immediate next play or action during a game. If passed, this legislation would bar licensed sportsbooks from offering these fast-paced wagers.
Micro bets typically involve predictions like whether the next pitch will be a ball or strike, or if the next play results in a touchdown. Hutchison, who is also a bankruptcy lawyer, expressed concern about how quickly these types of bets can spiral out of control for vulnerable individuals. “People are constantly making bets, play after play after play, and there’s no let-up,” he said in an interview.
A Growing Concern for Public Health and Sports Integrity
The bill defines micro bets as proposition wagers placed during a live sporting event that focus on single outcomes, rather than the game’s overall result. These rapid bets, the bill argues, encourage impulsive behavior by minimizing the time for reflection or research, fostering “excessive and irresponsible gambling.”
Hutchison explained the rationale behind the proposal: “The pace of micro betting is designed to keep people gambling constantly, making one impulsive bet after another with little time to think. This bill is a commonsense step to slow that cycle down and protect individuals from the financial and emotional harms that can come with excessive betting.”
The legislation would make it a disorderly persons offense for any operator or individual to offer or accept such bets, with penalties ranging from $500 to $1,000 per violation. While enforcement details are still to be defined, the bill clearly seeks to clamp down on a betting format considered particularly risky.
Gambling Helpline Calls Surge Since Legalization
The Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey (CCGNJ), which co-manages the 800-GAMBLER helpline, has flagged micro-betting as one of the most problematic forms of modern wagering. “Microbetting is one of the most troubling forms of betting in the evolving gambling landscape,” said Daniel Meara, the Council’s Prevention and Communications Specialist. He noted that calls to the helpline have surged nearly 300% since the legalization of sports betting in the state in 2018.
CCGNJ supports the bill, emphasizing the risks associated with these rapid-fire wagers.
Threats to Sports Integrity Also Raised
Beyond personal financial risk, the bill raises alarms about the potential impact of micro-bets on the integrity of sports. According to cited studies, over 50% of professional athletes reportedly place bets on sports, with 8% identified as problem gamblers. This overlap, the bill argues, creates opportunities for match-fixing on single plays — a type of manipulation more feasible with micro-betting.
Since becoming the first U.S. state outside Nevada to legalize online sports betting in 2018, New Jersey’s gambling market has expanded rapidly. Now, Bill A5971 could mark a turning point, signaling a more cautious approach as the state responds to emerging evidence of harm linked to certain betting practices.
Source:
“New Jersey bill seeks to ban micro betting in sports gambling”, sports.yahoo.com, Jul 28, 2025
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