New Jersey committee advances bill to make underage gambling a civil offence

A New Jersey Assembly committee approved a bill to change underage gambling from a disorderly persons offence to a civil violation, with a full Assembly vote still pending. The proposal sets fines of $500 for a first offence, $1,000 for a second and $2,000 for subsequent offences, and directs the money to prevention, education and treatment programmes. The Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey conditionally supports the bill but has called for mandatory education.