Lawmakers and Regulators Impose Stricter Responsible Gambling Standards in New Jersey and the Philippines

Key Points

• Lawmakers introduced bills to ban gambling promo texts/push notifications, restrict credit card deposits, enforce betting limits, and strengthen responsible gambling oversight with fines for violations.
• PAGCOR is tightening online gaming rules with stricter ID verification, potential ad bans, stronger KYC checks, and expanded responsible gambling safeguards.

Yesterday’s introduction of four new Senate bills kicks off New Jersey’s latest responsible gambling drive. Online casinos and sportsbooks are facing a more restrictive environment for advertisements, the payments and general operations, thanks to a push spearheaded by Andrew Zwicker and Paul Moriarty in the name of enhanced consumer protections. S 3401 came from Zwicker’s own desk while Moriarty submitted S 3419, S 3420 & S 3461 for the senate to have a look at. The Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee received all four bills. A series of gambling industry scandals motivated this regulatory response.

The legislation would prevent online gambling operators from sending promotional push notifications entirely. Text message marketing would meet the same fate under these proposals. Casino licensees, internet gaming affiliates, and sports wagering licensees cannot use these channels per S3401. Violations trigger $500 minimum fines for each prohibited communication sent. Moriarty put together S3419 and S3420 to put the brakes on online sportsbooks. Now thanks to S3419 account limits are the law of the land. And to make it all work, you’ll need clear policies on stuff like time limits, betting caps, and how much you can take in and out of your account. First the Division of Gaming Enforcement takes a gander and gives the thumbs up. And to make sure everyone’s on the same page, S3419 lays down rules for letting the public in on what the limits are for account holders.

Operators provide written explanations whenever account limitations affect customers under S3419. Division of Gaming Enforcement guidelines dictate periodic limitation review schedules. Annual reporting documents how often operators apply different limitation types. The Assembly introduced companion legislation A4002 through Dan Hutchison, Michael Venezia, and Cody Miller. Promotional restrictions in S3420 protect responsible gaming program participants from marketing. Self-exclusion users, time-limited players, and deposit-restricted customers cannot receive promotions. Bonuses, incentives, credits, and complements become off-limits for these players. Minimum $500 fines apply to each promotional violation. Moriarty received questions from Gambling Insider about S3420’s potential drawbacks. Concerns centred on whether players might avoid responsible gaming tools. The senator provided no response before publication.

Credit Card Restrictions and Progressive Interventions

The 26-page S3461 bill contains Moriarty’s most sweeping regulatory changes. Credit card gambling deposits would end for online casinos and sportsbooks. New Jersey’s current laws allow these credit card transactions. Know Your Customer protocols and responsible gaming standards gain legal force through S3461. Data analysis helps operators spot patrons displaying problem gambling signs. Every operator assigns a responsible gambling lead employee for program management. At-risk patron identification, record keeping, and resource provision define this role. Promotional campaigns exclude customers flagged through this monitoring system.

Phased interventions address problem gambling through escalating response measures. Educational materials and information represent first-stage interventions for players. Direct contact attempts follow when initial measures show limited effectiveness. Temporary suspensions restrict account access during behaviour periods. Complete account closure paired with professional referrals marks intervention endpoints. All intervention activities require documentation for regulatory review purposes. Withdrawal cancellations receive specific attention to reduce impulsive gambling behaviours. Operators and regulators share authority to strengthen risk detection triggers. Gender data collection supports state-level problem gambling trend tracking requirements.

Additional gambling bills remain pending before the same Senate committee. Corrado’s S3200 creates a sports integrity violation reporting hotline system. Harassment related to sports wagering becomes grounds for Division-imposed bans. Microbetting prohibition efforts resumed after last year’s legislative failure. Moriarty partnered with Diegnan to reintroduce the ban as S2160. Both measures await State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee action.

PAGCOR Advances Online Gaming Controls in the Philippines

Senate testimony revealed the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation’s regulatory enhancement plans yesterday. Alejandro Tengco addressed the Senate Committee on Games and Amusement about online gaming. Erwin Tulfo chairs this committee examining sector-wide risks and concerns. Online gaming access by minors troubled senators throughout the hearing proceedings. Money laundering potential and identity fraud risks demanded regulatory attention. Primetime gambling advertisement bans already exist for television and radio broadcasts. Total advertising prohibition discussions continue between PAGCOR and gaming operators. All time slots might lose gambling advertisements under consideration.

PAGCOR coordinates with the Ad Standards Council on digital channel advertising rules. The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Centre blocks illegal operators from market access. Previous registration systems contained loopholes permitting premature platform access for players. Jessa Mariz Fernandez confirmed that these vulnerabilities no longer exist in current systems. The Electronic Gaming Licensing Department head explained new verification requirements. Know-your-customer documentation precedes all deposit activities on licensed platforms. Names, contact details, government IDs, and verification photos become mandatory. Players must photograph themselves holding their identification documents.

Strengthened Responsible Gaming Programs and Industry Data

Quarter-end deadlines drive PAGCOR’s responsible gambling enhancement timeline forward. Addiction warnings will appear in multiple languages for diverse audiences. Messages emphasise gambling’s addictive nature and the importance of knowing limits. Self-exclusion systems and certified treatment facilities already serve problem gamblers. Enhanced KYC procedures and outdoor advertising removal demonstrate regulatory commitment. Confidential counselling through a developing 24-hour helpline will support players. Families affected by problem gambling can also access these services. Government banking partnerships ensure transactions occur only through licensed platforms.