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State of Play
- New Jersey saw record Super Bowl wagers and is highlighting support resources as mobile betting grows.
- With $168.7 million estimated in Super Bowl bets last year and rising participation among younger adults, the state is urging bettors to use tools and helplines before stakes turn harmful.
New Jersey sportsbooks posted an estimated $168.7 million in Super Bowl wagers last year, a 19% increase from the prior year, per the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement. That amount is expected to rise this year.
With all that sports betting, officials are concerned if bettors will keep responsible gambling in mind when placing wagers. Academic studies amplify the concern: Rutgers found about 5.6% of New Jersey adults fall into a high-risk gambling category (roughly three times the national average), and Fairleigh Dickinson reported 10% of men ages 18–30 meet criteria for problem gambling.
CarePlus’ Christopher Bowen warns that high-profile events and betting apps blur entertainment with gambling, and that promotions, push alerts, and “free bet” offers can quickly escalate casual play into compulsive behavior.
In response, New Jersey expanded access to treatment and created an online self-exclusion portal in 2024 to make voluntary bans easier to submit.
Set time and money limits when betting
For younger men and people aged 21–24 identified as fast-growing bettors, the Super Bowl poses heightened risk. Mobile apps reduce friction to wager – from saved payment methods to push notifications – and early small wins can reinforce repeated betting and bring about chasing losses.
Bettors should set strict time and money limits, remove stored payment options, and consider self-exclusion if patterns emerge.
Operators face reputational and regulatory consequences if problem gambling climbs. They are expected to offer clear self-exclusion pathways, limit promotions to vulnerable users, and support 24/7 helplines.
Several platforms already provide self-exclusion and mail-suppression options (FanDuel and DraftKings among them).
Regulators will continue tracking betting volume and addiction indicators; higher problem rates can spur tighter oversight, mandatory safer-gambling tools, or enforcement actions against noncompliant operators.
Based on reporting by Gene Myers for NorthJersey.com.
