A New Jersey bill that would prohibit partnerships between sportsbooks and universities – with some exceptions – passed out of an assembly committee on Monday (23 September).
The NJ bill, A4113, was originally introduced last session, but did not gain traction. On Monday, the Assembly Higher Education Committee voted out an amended version. In general, the proposal would make it illegal for sportsbooks or “intermediaries” (think affiliates or booster clubs) to make deals with public institutions of higher learning.
This means that state universities, like Rutgers, could not partner with sportsbooks. But the bill does not address private universities or colleges, of which there are 13. Among them in Division I are Fairleigh Dickinson, Monmouth, Princeton and St John’s.
The bill passed unanimously on Monday, with little discussion and few public comments.
The amended bill would allow university-gambling relationships that don’t involve direct marketing or advertising to students. ..