New Jersey is entertaining a bill proposed by Assemblyman Dan Hutchison that would eliminate live betting from state-licensed sportsbooks, addressing the growing concern regarding responsible gambling.
Live-Betting Dead in Jersey?
Microbetting has become a growing force in US sports betting, in which bettors can choose to bet if the next pitch is a ball or a strike. That’s just one example of microbetting, as there are in-game betting props on all sports, but it is important for the customer to be quick because within moments, the props vanish from the menu.
But some believe this is a prime example of impulse betting and instills unhealthy gambling practices. To that end, New Jersey Assemblyman Dan Hutchison recently introduced Bill A5971, which defines microbetting as “a proposition bet placed live during a sporting event that relates to the outcome of the next play or action.”
“The pace of micro betting is designed to keep people gambling constantly, making one impulsive bet after another with little time to think,” Hutchison said in his press release. “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.”
However, in mature markets like Great Britain, microbetting accounts for a significant portion of the revenue generated from sportsbooks, and taking this off the menu in New Jersey will mean less profit for the sportsbooks and, by default, less money to the state that taxes those revenues.
“This legislation isn’t about banning sports betting. It’s about setting boundaries to ensure it’s done responsibly,” Hutchison said in his release. “By banning micro bets, we would be taking a clear stand against predatory practices that push people toward irresponsible gambling habits.”
Supporters Applaud Micro Ban
Naturally, the proposal was lauded by those affiliated with problem gambling recovery resources. Executive Director Luis Del Orbe of the Council of Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey (CCGNJ) is one of those supporters and has made her support for the bill clear.
“The evidence underscores that micro betting can accelerate the path to problem gambling, especially among vulnerable populations such as youths and individuals with a history of compulsive gambling,” said Del Orbe. “We praise the sponsors for their insight and initiative in addressing this critical public health issue. By eliminating micro betting, this legislation would take an essential step toward protecting citizens from the harmful effects of reckless gambling practices.”
Nevertheless, the growing trend of microbetting is certain to trigger industry pushback to the bill, and customers growing accustomed to betting on the next pitch, throw, etc., may also be alarmed at the government’s interference.
Sportradar senior vice president of odds services Karl Danzer has said his company has made several improvements in incorporating AI into its algorithms, with more microbetting offerings than ever before.
“If you look at the first batch of micro-markets that were made available, there wasn’t much on offer beyond ‘who scores next’ betting,” said Danzer. “Now, AI enables the creation of a diverse range of betting markets that operators can use to engage customers more deeply with popular sports.”
