Bill Text: NJ A4322 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Authorizes skill-based video games to be played at horse racetracks.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-11-14 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee [A4322 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-A4322-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman RONALD S. DANCER
District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Authorizes skill-based video games to be played at horse racetracks.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act authorizing skill-based video games to be played at horse racetracks and supplementing P.L.1940, c.17 (C.5:5-22 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The Legislature finds and declares that skill-based video games played on video game machines that rely on a player's skill to determine whether the player wins a monetary prize are not a form of gambling that is restricted by the provisions of the New Jersey Constitution.
b. As used in this section,
"Skill-based video game" means a video game that relies on the player's skill in maneuvering through a playing field, in timed increments, to determine whether the player wins a monetary prize;
"Video game machine" means a game machine on which skill-based video games are played; and
"Video game machine room" means a room at a running or harness horse racetrack in this State in which skill-based video games are played on video game machines.
c. The holder of a permit to conduct a horse race meeting may establish a video game machine room at a running or harness horse racetrack in which skill-based video games are conducted with a portion of amounts wagered retained by the permit holder.
d. A skill-based video game player shall be at least 21 years of age.
e. The Division of Gaming Enforcement in the Department of Law and Public Safety shall have jurisdiction over skill-based video games, video game machines, and video game machine rooms at a racetrack in this State. The division shall adopt rules and regulations, pursuant to the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), that: establish the rules of the game; provide for the licensing of a permit holder and of the permit holder's employees who oversee skill-based video games; and establish standards for video game machines and for the size and arrangement of a video game machine room. The division shall approve the amount that a permit holder may retain as compensation from the conduct of skill-based video games. The division shall authorize racetracks to offer any skill-based video game that the division has approved for play at casinos in Atlantic City. The New Jersey Racing Commission shall have no jurisdiction over skill-based video games, video game machines, or video game machine rooms at a racetrack.
f. Skill-based video games,
as conducted and played in a video game machine room at a racetrack in this
State, pursuant to this section, shall not constitute a violation of any criminal
law of this State that addresses gambling.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill authorizes skill-based video games to be played on video game machines in video game machine rooms at horse racetracks in this State. The bill states that the Legislature finds and declares that skill-based video games that rely on a player's skill to determine whether the player wins a monetary prize are not a form of gambling that is restricted by the provisions of the New Jersey Constitution. Accordingly, these games, as conducted under this bill, will not violate any criminal law of this State. The division of Gaming Enforcement will have jurisdiction over skill-based video games at racetracks and will adopt rules and regulations that: establish the rules of the game; provide for the licensing of a permit holder and of the permit holder's employees who oversee skill-based video games; and establish standards for video game machines and for the size and arrangement of a video game machine room. The division will approve the amount that a permit holder may retain as compensation from the conduct of skill-based video games. The division will authorize racetracks to offer any skill-based video game that the division has approved for play at casinos in Atlantic City. The New Jersey Racing Commission will have no jurisdiction over skill-based video games, video game machines, or video game machine rooms at a racetrack. Skill-based video game players must be at least 21 years of age.
