New Jersey lawmakers have advanced SB 2160, which would ban “micro bets” on the outcome of the next play in a game.
A New Jersey Senate committee has advanced a bill that would ban “micro bets”, which allow a bettor to wager on the outcome of the very next play or action to occur in a game. Sponsors of the bill claim these types of bets raise integrity and addiction risks.
The Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism, and Historic Preservation Committee voted on March 23 to move forward with Senate Bill 2160, sponsored by Senators Paul Moriarty and Patrick Diegnan.
Lawmakers Cite Integrity and Addiction Risks
SB 2160, a carryover from 2025, lists examples of micro bets, including wagers that the next pitch in a baseball game will be a strike or that the next football play will be a run or a pass.
If enacted, the bill would prohibit New Jersey sportsbooks from offering or accepting such bets. Violations would be treated as a disorderly persons offense, with fines ranging from $500 to $1,000 per offense.
Sponsors said the structure and speed of micro betting create heightened risks compared to traditional wagering.
Sen. Moriarty said the bills pose several risks to 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. They can also be incredibly addictive, as they are made based on short-term outcomes with quick payoffs. This enables bettors to place a higher volume of wagers in a shorter amount of time, leading to a vicious cycle of excessive, impulsive, and financially irresponsible gambling.”
Diegan added:
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.”
“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.”
Micro Betting Tied to Growth of In-Game Wagering
While New Jersey does not publish data for micro betting, the wager type is part of the broader rise of in-game wagering, which has become a core component of sportsbook offerings.
There are no recent reports of micro betting specifically. However, research conducted for New Jersey regulators by Rutgers University in 2020, 2021, and 2023 consistently shows that in-game betting represents a significant share of activity.
The latest report shows that two-thirds of bettors place in-game bets. It found that high-intensity bettors place more than 50% of all in-game bets and that in-game betting increases the likelihood of overspending.
The importance of in-game betting is reflected at the operator level. During the Q1 2025 earnings call, DraftKings CEO Jason Robins said that live betting accounted for over half of the operator’s handle.
Meanwhile, according to various reports, in-game bets account for over 60% of total bets in mature European markets.
Part of Broader Scrutiny on High-Risk Bet Types
New Jersey is one of a few states targeting micro or live betting, along with neighboring New York. However, it aligns with a broader regulatory focus on high-risk bet types, such as proposition bets (props).
Lawmakers across the U.S. have increasingly scrutinized prop bets, particularly those involving individual college athletes. Most cite concerns around integrity and problem gambling.
Across the U.S., regulators and lawmakers have increasingly scrutinized proposition bets, especially those involving individual college athletes, citing similar concerns around integrity and problem gambling. Several states have already restricted or banned certain college prop bets, while others are considering prohibitions or additional limits.
Scrutiny has also emerged at the league level. In November, MLB reached agreements with betting partners to introduce a nationwide limit on “pitch-level” wagers. That includes capping bet sizes at $200 and excluding them from parlays. MLB said that micro bets posed “heightened” integrity risks because a single player can manipulate them.
MLB said the new measures represent 98% of the betting market.
Next Steps
SB 2160 now moves to the Senate floor for a second reading. Lawmakers can pass it as is to third reading, pass it with amendments, or re-refer it to another committee.
If enacted, New Jersey would become among the first states to directly restrict micro betting, potentially setting a precedent as regulators continue to evaluate high-frequency wagering products.
The post New Jersey Lawmakers Advance Bill to Ban Micro Betting in Sports Wagering appeared first on Gambling Insider.
