Seasoned Gaming Watchdog Advocates for Standardized Protections for Adult Youths
In a recent development, David Rebuck, the former Director of the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, has suggested raising the minimum age for playing daily fantasy sports and purchasing lottery products from 18 to 21. This proposal comes as Rebuck expresses concerns about the appeal of sports betting to young adults and the potential risks associated with gambling.
Rebuck, who led the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement for nearly 13 years before retiring in March 2024, is well-versed in the state's gaming regulations. He was responsible for enforcing the Casino Control Act, which governs the nine casinos in Atlantic City.
In a podcast episode, Rebuck discussed the gaming industry more broadly, but specific opinions on uniform age requirements for gambling in New Jersey were not documented. However, he did suggest that New Jersey's gaming regulations need updating, as many of the laws were put on the books decades ago and have become antiquated in today's digital age.
The need for updated regulations is evident in the success of New Jersey's online gaming industry. In 2023, online gaming win reached a record high of $1.92 billion, an increase of 300% from 2019. Over the same period, sports betting revenue grew by 233%, with oddsmakers winning over $1 billion in 2023, a 32% year-over-year surge.
Despite this success, Rebuck is concerned about the potential harm that gambling can cause to young adults. He believes that channels such as controversial so-called skill games, online sweepstakes, and social casinos where no real money can be won are gateways to gambling and addictive behavior.
Rebuck opposes a federal bill recently introduced to Congress that proposes regulatory conditions on states with legal sports betting, including banning all sports betting advertising between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m., and during all live sports programming. He believes that state gaming regulators, not politicians, are best suited to tailor their regulations.
In addition to raising the minimum age for gambling, Rebuck also suggests blocking young adults from these channels for three more years to provide ample time for those 18 to 21-year-olds to better understand the risks associated with the state's many gambling channels. He believes that for some youth, gambling results in at-risk behavior with damaging lifelong consequences.
As the gaming industry continues to evolve, Rebuck's concerns and suggestions serve as a reminder of the importance of responsible gambling regulations. While the industry brings significant economic benefits to New Jersey, it is crucial to protect the state's younger residents from potential harm.
David Rebuck, who previously led the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, has proposed updating gambling regulations in New Jersey, including raising the minimum age for playing daily fantasy sports, purchasing lottery products, and gambling in casinos from 18 to 21. He believes this is necessary to address his concerns about the appeal of sports betting to young adults and the potential risks associated with gambling.
In a podcast interview, Rebuck expressed his opposition to a federal bill that proposes regulatory conditions on states with legal sports betting, believing that state gaming regulators, not politicians, are best suited to tailor their regulations.
Furthermore, Rebuck suggests blocking young adults from channels such as skill games, online sweepstakes, and social casinos for an additional three years beyond the proposed age limit to provide ample time for those 18 to 21-year-olds to better understand the risks associated with the state's gambling channels.
David Rebuck's concerns and suggestions underline the importance of responsible gambling regulations as the gaming industry continues to evolve in New Jersey, aiming to balance economic benefits with the protection of the state's younger residents from potential harm.
