Last updated: December 19, 2024
New Jersey lawmakers are pushing to decriminalize underage gambling, proposing fines instead of criminal charges for those caught gambling under the legal age of 21. The bill, introduced by Senator Vincent J. Polistina, aims to modernize regulations and use fine revenue to fund gambling harm prevention and education programs.
In New Jersey, underage gambling is termed a crime, thus meaning people involved in it have suddenly been held responsible in some immeasurable capacity, which should instead rest with business owners who had allowed things to occur at their site first.
However, it seems that part of this situation is being altered because the legislators in New Jersey are urging that those people who are caught for gambling at an age below 21 should be given only a fine and subjected to civil proceedings rather than being termed criminals under the current laws.
The bill, first introduced by Senator Vincent J. Polistina earlier this year, would do away with an archaic and unduly harsh practice.
Any organizations or individuals who may have assisted minors in accessing a gambling venue would also face fines. The law that the lawmakers proposed sets fines at $500 for first-time offenders, $1,000 for second-time offenders, and $2,000 for third-time offenders and beyond.
Although the punishments may not seem too harsh, they should be sufficient to deter minors who would otherwise be afraid of incurring such financial penalties.
In the meanwhile, the New Jersey Council on Compulsive Gambling has been working to create awareness about the risks inherent in gambling, prevent those risks, and will only benefit from the monies raised through fines.
Assemblyman Don Guardian said his over the new measure, with views suggesting he generally maintains an approach to be on a much stricter side. That, however, being noted there was something in particular-the fact that the revenue earned by penalizing those for such minor infractions will go straight to a list of programs regarding issue gambling, harm minimization, and education.
The proposed law for the decriminalization of underage gambling in New Jersey will be given a comprehensive vote in the Assembly, then sent for examination in the House of Representatives and then to the Senate before presentation to the desk of Governor of New Jersey Phil Murphy who will then deliberate about it. Of course, the idea of decriminalizing underage gambling remains a far cry.
Even in places like New South Wales, and Australia, regulatory authorities fine underage access to gaming venues but do not call them criminals. Nevertheless, in infrequent instances involving repeat offenders, individuals may be incarcerated for a duration of up to 12 months. A lawmaker testified before the New Jersey Assembly panel deliberating the measure said that expansion of gambling would require more vigorous steps in education and mitigation.
