No—S597 does not propose escalating fines on Atlantic City casinos or other venues. The introduced New Jersey bill would instead replace a criminal offense for a person under 21 who gambles at a casino or simulcasting facility with civil fines that rise for repeat offenses. The measure was introduced and referred to committee on January 13, 2026; the available official record does not establish that it became law.
Who would face fines under S597?
The proposed penalties apply to a person who gambles at a casino or simulcasting facility while under 21. The venue is where the conduct occurs; the introduced text does not assign these fines to the casino or facility. The bill’s description and introduced text are available from the New Jersey Legislature’s S597 bill record and introduced bill text.
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What penalties would the bill establish?
According to the introduced text, current law treats gambling at a casino or simulcasting facility while under 21 as a disorderly persons offense. S597 would change that classification to a civil fine, with proposed maximums increasing by offense number:
| Offense | Proposed maximum civil fine |
|---|---|
| First | Up to $500 |
| Second | Up to $1,000 |
| Any offense thereafter | Up to $2,000 |
These are ceilings in the bill text, not guaranteed amounts a person would be assessed. The proposal changes the described consequence from a disorderly persons offense to a civil penalty; it does not describe escalating venue fines.
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Where would collected fines go?
The introduced text says fines collected would be used for prevention, education, and treatment programs for compulsive gambling, including programs such as those provided by the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey. It does not establish a more specific allocation formula in the material available in the bill text.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is S597 law in New Jersey?
The Legislature’s bill record reports that S597 was introduced in the Senate and referred on January 13, 2026, to the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee. That record supports describing S597 as a proposal at that stage, not as enacted law. The linked official record is the place to check for later action; the cited status is as of January 13, 2026.
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