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New Jersey Bill Would Ban Microbetting

Sports Writer

Publish Date: Jul 30, 2025

Fact checked by: Sara Jane Gamelli

Key Points

So-called micro-bets tied to the situation from the next play in a sporting event could be banned under proposed bill
Bill comes as MLB investigates two players for possible involvement in a gambling scheme
New Jersey would become first state to explicitly ban micro bets through legislation

Betting on whether the next football play will be a pass or a run could become illegal in New Jersey under a new bill aimed at curbing what its sponsor calls a dangerously impulsive form of sports wagering.

The legislation, introduced by Assemblyman Dan Hutchison, would ban sportsbooks from offering or accepting “micro bets,” a product described as rapid-fire wagers placed on the immediate outcome of a single action within a live game.

The bill, A5971, takes aim at a practice that has grown alongside the state’s booming sports betting market.

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These types of bets, such as wagering on the result of the next pitch in a baseball game, stand in contrast to traditional wagers on a game’s final score. Critics argue their fast pace encourages a continuous stream of gambling with little time for reflection.

“The pace of micro betting is designed to keep people gambling constantly, making one impulsive bet after another with little time to think,” said Hutchison, a Democrat representing parts of Atlantic, Camden and Gloucester counties. “This bill is a commonsense step to slow that cycle down.”

Beyond the risk of addiction, Hutchison also raised concerns about the integrity of sports

He argued that individual plays are easier to manipulate than the outcome of an entire game, pointing to recent cases where athletes were investigated for allegedly altering their performance to satisfy the terms of a micro bet.

Last month, pitcher Luis Ortiz of the Cleveland Guardians was suspended pending an investigation into his performance throwing pitches for balls and the suspicious gambling activity around those micro bets.

His teammate, Emmanuel Clase is also under investigation for a gambling allegation.

Problem Gambling assistance on the rise in some states

The push for the ban comes amid a dramatic rise in gambling-related issues. The Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey reported a 277% increase in calls to its problem gambling helpline since the state legalized sports wagering.

Luis Del Orbe, the council's executive director, praised the bill, saying it addresses a "critical public health issue." He noted that micro betting can “accelerate the path to problem gambling, especially among vulnerable populations.”

No research has yet been completed that determines the impact of prop bets, micro-bets, or proliferation of sports betting on gambling addiction.

If passed, the law would make offering a micro bet a disorderly person’s offense. Licensed sportsbooks found in violation would face fines between $500 and $1,000 for each illegal wager, in line with existing penalties for unauthorized gambling.

Hutchison stressed that the goal is not to eliminate sports betting, but to create safer parameters.

“This legislation isn’t about banning sports betting,” he said. “It’s about setting boundaries to ensure it’s done responsibly.”

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