Bill banning micro betting in New Jersey picks speed

• Bill S2160 proposes to restrict the offering of micro betting in New Jersey
• The two primary sponsors of the bill, Senators Paul Moriarty and Patrick Diegnan, highlight the dangers of micro betting
• The proposal was greenlighted to advance by the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee

A proposal seeking to prohibit "micro bets" that enable bettors to wager on the outcome of specific actions or the next play during a sports event, is gaining traction in New Jersey.

Earlier this week, the draft bill hit a major milestone after clearing a committee and if it becomes a law, it may change the way New Jersey bookmakers offer sports betting services to customers across the state.

Micro betting in New Jersey in the sights of a new draft law

The proposal, Bill S2160 (S-2160), was pre-filed for introduction in the 2026 New Jersey Legislative Session early in January.

After it was introduced in the Senate, the bill was referred to the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee.

Ultimately, under S-2160, the highly popular micro betting activity would be prohibited.

Examples of micro betting include placing a wager on the next pitch in a baseball game, the next play in a basketball or football game, and so on.

While micro bets are similar to prop bets, the latter type of wager often has a broader focus.

Still, micro bets are easy to make and enable bettors to place a high volume of such wagers in a short period.

Traditional sports betting on the outcome of a specific sports event offers limited options, whereas micro betting grants bettors a range of wagers on the next play of a game.

Micro bets are highly addictive, bill's primary sponsors warn

Senators Paul Moriarty and Patrick Diegnan, two of the primary sponsors of the draft bill that seeks to ban micro bets in New Jersey, highlighted the risks associated with such wagers.

"Betting and gambling are already addictive, but goading players with the possibility of endless opportunities to bet during games makes micro bets significantly more dangerous," Sen. Diegnan explained in a press release.

"Through micro bets, bettors have the opportunity to spend more money and more time on gambling, an incredibly slippery slope that frequently leads to addiction and major financial losses," he continued.

On the other hand, Sen. Moriarty acknowledged the risks related to micro betting for New Jersey residents.

"For one, micro bets can more easily be rigged than betting on the outcome of an entire game, especially by insiders who may know ahead of time how a micro bet or prop bet could play out, in turn misleading and disenfranchising the average player," he explained.

What's more, Sen. Moriarty acknowledged the addictive nature of micro bets or prop bets that promise quick payoffs thanks to short-term outcomes and ultimately result in a higher volume of wagers, which may lead to problem gambling.

In a vote on Monday, the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism, and Historic Preservation Committee agreed to advance S-2160.

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