Responsible gaming

The age rule

In New Jersey, you must be 21 or older to wager at a casino or on sports, including online. Licensed operators must verify identity. Lending an account to someone under 21, or using someone else’s account, is prohibited.

What self-exclusion does

New Jersey’s voluntary self-exclusion program lets a person ask to be barred from Atlantic City casinos and sports-wagering facilities, from internet gaming and sports wagering, or from both. Online registration for internet gaming and sports wagering typically offers minimum periods of one year or five years. Lifetime exclusion requires contacting DGE (in-person or video conference).

Self-exclusion is not the same as closing one account. It is meant to keep you off licensed New Jersey play for the period you choose. After a one- or five-year term, removal is not automatic; you must request it. Read DGE’s current instructions before you enroll.

Limits you can set without self-excluding

Every licensed New Jersey internet gaming and sports-wagering site is required to offer responsible-gaming tools. Typical tools:

• Deposit limits (daily, weekly, monthly)
• Loss or spend limits
• Time or session limits
• Time-outs / cool-off periods
• Operator-level self-exclusion, in addition to the state program

Set limits when you are calm, not after a loss. Tightening a limit is usually immediate; raising one often has a waiting period. That delay is a consumer protection.

Guidance from New Jersey’s Council

The Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey publishes responsible-gambling guidelines, including: don’t gamble to make money; only gamble with money you can afford to lose; set money and time limits and keep them; do not chase losses; do not gamble to escape depression, loneliness, or anger; do not gamble when drinking excessively or using drugs; balance gambling with other parts of life.

Signs that gambling may be a problem include preoccupation, borrowing to gamble, lying about gambling, inability to stop, and thinking about illegal acts to finance gambling. If any of that sounds familiar, call 1-800-GAMBLER. Treatment and meeting information (including Gamblers Anonymous) are available through the Council.

Other U.S. help

• National Council on Problem Gambling
• Gamblers Anonymous
• If you are in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).

ClearWager is not a treatment provider. We publish these official numbers so they are easy to find.