Previously, Assemblyman Clinton Calabrese introduced Assembly Bill 5196 that looked to introduce a regulatory framework around the sweepstake sector. However, this bill fell short, leading to the introduction of Assembly Bill 5447 this week.
A key difference between the two bills is the lack of definition of sweepstake casinos in Bill 5447, with the latest efforts from Calabrese seeking to prohibit sweepstake games that imitate casino games.
It does also represent something of a shift in gear for Calabrese in New Jersey, which had previously been open to the idea of incorporating sweepstakes into the regulatory framework for casinos.
The latest efforts from Calabrese caused a stir from the sector, with the Social and Promotional Games Association (SPGA) emphasising it “firmly opposes” the latest bill, describing it ..