Retired Gambling Director Calls for Minimum Age Change

Retired New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement director David Rebuck has stated he believes there should be a standard gambling rule. Rebuck was the director for about 13 years, and he believes the rule should also include entering casinos, buying lottery tickets, and even fantasy sports. 

While Rebuck was director, the Casino Control Act was passed. This laid the groundwork for brick-and-mortar casinos throughout Atlantic City. Today, there are nine retail casinos in the city. 

This comes during the apprehension of New York Governor Kathy Hochul to issue three expedited licenses to downstate casinos.

Rebuck’s Concern

In speaking about this, Rebuck stated that the rules and regulations need to be updated compared to when he was director. He mentioned that they could be outdated due to the many changes in the gambling industry, the most prominent of which is sports betting with younger adults. 

Rebuck thinks the legal age to participate in fantasy sports, the lottery, and even enter casinos should be 21. 

Fantasy sports doesn’t fall under the Casino Control Act because it’s considered a skill game. There are other forms of gaming, like sweepstakes/social casinos, that are also outside of the Casino Control Act. 

Rebuck thinks increasing the age will help young adults by putting off gambling for three additional years. 

“Revising the age sends a powerful message that all gambling is an adult privilege. For some youth, gambling results in at-risk behavior with damaging lifelong consequences,” Rebuck said in an essay. 

“Minors and 18 to 21 years old will undeniably benefit from the extra time to fully understand and prepare for any form of legal gambling engagement in the future,” Rebuck continued.

Gambling Market in New Jersey Surging 

Rebuck comes from a New Jersey market that saw online casinos bring in over $1.9 billion in 2023 and, through August 2024, has brought in $1.52 billion, which will crush the $1.92 billion record from 2023. 

Casinos brought in $482.7 million in 2019, so it’s been a massive increase since then. 

Since its launch, sports betting has generated over $4 billion in revenue and over $519 million in taxes for the Garden State.  

Fairleigh Dickinson Study and Recent Federal Bill

A federal bill recently introduced related to sports betting advertising would ban advertising between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. and during all live sports. However, Rebuck doesn’t support this, stating that regulators should handle it. 

“It’s mind-boggling to me the arrogance of saying ‘we know more than you do,’” Rebuck commented.

New Jersey-based Fairleigh Dickinson University conducted a study in Sept. 2024 that determined 10% of all young male adults exhibit some level of gambling addiction compared to a 3% mark for the general US population.