Assemblyman Dan Hutchison, a Democrat from New Jersey’s 4th District, is proposing a ban on “microbetting,” reasoning that this form of sports wagering encourages impulsive gambling and can lead to financial hardship.

Assemblyman Proposes Bill to Ban Microbetting in new Jersey

These wagers let bettors place money on specific moments or statistics within a game instead of the game’s final outcome. For example, bettors can wager on a player’s point total, the result of a coin toss, or the speed of a single pitch, etc.  Hutchison, a South Jersey bankruptcy attorney, said he has witnessed firsthand how rapidly sports betting can get out of hand.

Hutchison described one client whose bank statements revealed numerous FanDuel bets despite assurances that the gambling would stop. The client ultimately fell behind on bankruptcy and mortgage payments and now faces the loss of his home, a situation Hutchison called “terribly upsetting.” He explained that his proposal aims to reduce “excessive and impulsive gambling,” emphasizing the need to safeguard citizens from the addictive, “dopamine-type” effects associated with this kind of betting.

Hutchison’s struggle against microbetting in New Jersey is not new, as the lawmaker introduced Bill A5971 in the summer, aiming to restrict the practice. Microbetting represents a rapidly expanding segment of the sports betting market that is increasingly attracting interest from major industry operators. If, however, the bill passes, sportsbook operators that continue to offer microbets could face fines of between $500 and $1,000 for each violation. 

Others Call for More Regulation

Dr. Harry Levant, a certified gambling counselor and director of gambling policy at the Public Health Advocacy Institute, described microbetting as “a dangerous and defectively designed gambling product.” Levant argued that the practice is “out of control,” noting that it allows people to wager on nearly every instant of play. He warned that the human brain is not equipped to manage an addictive product delivered at such high speed through artificial intelligence.

Meanwhile, Steve Maltepes, known in the betting world as “The Philly Godfather,” has spent nearly four decades in the sports gambling industry. He argued that banning microbets would drive bettors to unregulated offshore markets, which are precisely the outlets regulators aim to avoid. Maltepes emphasized that keeping sports betting revenue within the states is crucial for funding tax revenue, streets, and schools.

Both Hutchison and Levant stressed that they are not opposed to legalized sports betting overall but contend that stricter regulations are necessary, particularly for microbetting.