Bill Text: NJ S2643 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Provides that participation by New Jersey residents in contests of skill does not constitute unlawful gambling.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-12-19 - Substituted by A3624/3525 (ACS/1R) [S2643 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2012-S2643-Amended.html

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[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 2643

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

215th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED MARCH 11, 2013

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  ROBERT M. GORDON

District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Provides that participation by New Jersey residents in contests of skill does not constitute unlawful gambling.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As reported by the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee on December 12, 2013, with amendments.

   

An Act providing that participation by New Jersey residents in contests of skill does not constitute unlawful gambling and supplementing Title 5 of the Revised Statutes.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, participation by a New Jersey resident in a contest of skill in which a participant pays an entry fee for the opportunity to win a monetary prize or something else of value shall not be considered a game of chance, shall not constitute unlawful gambling under the laws of this State, and shall not subject the participant or the sponsor of the contest of skill, or any officer, employee, or agent of the sponsor, to any civil or criminal liability under the laws of this State that prohibit gambling.

     For the purposes of this section, "contest of skill" means ¹[any contest where] any baking or photography contest, and any similar contest that is approved as a "contest of skill" by the Attorney General, provided that¹ the winner or winners are selected solely on the quality of an entry in the contest as determined by a panel of judges using uniform criteria to assess the quality of entries.  A "contest of skill" shall not include any contest, game, pool, gaming scheme or gaming device in which the outcome depends in a material degree upon an element of chance.  ¹A "contest of skill" shall also not include any casino game, any sports wager or sports wagering scheme, or any Internet gaming of any kind.¹

 

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately.