New Jersey lawmakers are seeking to shield vulnerable consumers in the state from targeted advertising that could compound their gambling issues.
The Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee approved AR 150 on Monday, September 14, and the measure comes shortly after the purported misuse of Bryce Harper, a Philadelphia Phillies player, whose image was used to send a personalized video to a high-roller gambler at FanDuel.
Vulnerable Gamblers Ought to Be Protected, Lawmakers Argue
In the video, Harper addressed the gambler by name, referred to his son, and expressed his gratitude. The case has caused a backlash, with Harper appearing mortified at how his cameo was used to fuel the man’s gambling habit.
The man in question claims to have lost around $1.5 million on FanDuel prior to the thank-you video featuring Harper’s image. William Moen, the chair of the committee and sponsor of AR 150, argued that the Harper’s case was illustrative of why further safeguards are needed.
Moen explained that websites that allow for personalized videos of celebrities congratulating anyone – let alone gamblers – led to dangers. More than that, the lawmaker insisted that personalized videos of this kind should not target vulnerable consumers.
The idea of AR 150 is to make such targeted advertising impossible, although it does not clearly specify when a gambler would be proven to be vulnerable. For example, the man who received the Harper video was allowed to continue playing despite his overall spending with the platform.
More Measures Set to Strengthen Safeguards
Another bill backed by the committee was A5210, which is another draft law backed by Moen specifically. The idea behind this bill is to ensure that people who have previously self-excluded undergo mandatory educational sessions before returning to gambling.
The bill seeks to make it obligatory for a person to complete a gambling awareness training before they are taken off a self-exclusion list. The idea has been opposed by one of the trade bodies, the Sports Betting Alliance, but no further input has been provided by the organization so far.
Both A5210 and AR 150 were supported unanimously by the seven-member committee.