TLDR
- New Jersey’s Senate committee advanced SB 2160 on March 23, which would ban micro bets on the next play or action in a sporting event
- Sponsors Senator Moriarty and Senator Diegnan say micro bets raise integrity and addiction risks due to their speed and structure
- Violations would be treated as a disorderly persons offense with fines between $500 and $1,000 per offense
- DraftKings reported live betting made up over half its handle during its Q1 2025 earnings call
- MLB has already introduced nationwide limits on pitch-level wagers, capping bet sizes at $200
A New Jersey Senate committee voted on March 23 to advance a bill that would ban micro betting in sports wagering across the state.
Senate Bill 2160 would prohibit sportsbooks in New Jersey from offering or accepting wagers on the outcome of the very next play or action in a game.
The bill was moved forward by the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism, and Historic Preservation Committee. It is sponsored by Senators Paul Moriarty and Patrick Diegnan.
Examples of micro bets listed in the bill include wagers that the next pitch in a baseball game will be a strike or that the next football play will be a run or a pass.
If the bill becomes law, violations would be classified as a disorderly persons offense. Fines would range from $500 to $1,000 per offense.
Senator Moriarty said micro bets can be more easily rigged than bets on the outcome of an entire game. He pointed to the risk of insiders who may know ahead of time how a specific play could unfold.
He also said the quick-payout nature of micro bets allows bettors to place a higher volume of wagers in a shorter amount of time. This, he argued, leads to impulsive and financially irresponsible gambling.
Senator Diegnan added that micro bets create endless opportunities to bet during games. He called this an “incredibly slippery slope” that frequently leads to addiction and major financial losses.
In-Game Betting Already Dominates Sportsbook Activity
While New Jersey does not publish data specific to micro betting, the wager type falls under the broader category of in-game betting. Research conducted for New Jersey regulators by Rutgers University in 2020, 2021, and 2023 found that two-thirds of bettors place in-game bets.
The same research found that high-intensity bettors account for more than 50% of all in-game bets. It also found that in-game betting increases the likelihood of overspending.
The growth of in-game betting has been reflected at the operator level. During its Q1 2025 earnings call, DraftKings CEO Jason Robins said live betting accounted for over half of the company’s handle.
In mature European markets, in-game bets reportedly account for over 60% of total bets placed.
MLB and Other States Are Also Taking Action
New Jersey is not alone in targeting micro betting. New York has also moved to address live betting practices. Across the country, regulators have increasingly scrutinized proposition bets, especially those involving individual college athletes.
Several states have already restricted or banned certain college prop bets. Others are considering similar limits.
At the league level, MLB reached agreements with betting partners in November to introduce nationwide limits on pitch-level wagers. Those limits include capping bet sizes at $200 and excluding them from parlays. MLB said micro bets posed heightened integrity risks because a single player can manipulate them.
MLB said the new measures cover 98% of the betting market.
SB 2160 now moves to the New Jersey Senate floor for a second reading. Lawmakers can pass it as is to third reading, pass it with amendments, or re-refer it to another committee.
