All news

New Jersey bill proposes raising lottery age to 21

The bill could end the 18+ exception for lottery and horse racing, bringing all gambling in the state to 21+.

The New Jersey Senate Chambers.
Todd Betzold

New Jersey could soon be raising the stakes for who gets to try their luck at lottery games and horse racing. A new bill aims to increase the minimum age for wagering on these activities from 18 to 21, aligning them with the age requirements for casinos and sports betting.

This change wouldn't just affect future players — it could also freeze accounts for current bettors under 21, issuing refunds for unused balances. Supporters say the move will help standardize the state's gambling regulations, but it's bound to shake things up for those used to buying lottery tickets or betting on races before their 21st birthday.

The newly proposed bill

Assembly Bill 5197 was introduced on January 16, 2025, by Assemblywoman Garnet R. Hall, a Democrat from District 28 (Essex and Union). This bill is aiming to increase the minimum age for lottery wagering and horse racing from 18 to 21, which would align these activities with other gambling age requirements in the state.

With this bill, any individuals under the age of 21 who have an active horse racing wagering account as of the bill's effective date would receive refunds of their account balances within 30 days. Those accounts would then be frozen, and the individuals would no longer be able to make any wagers until the account holder reaches the age of 21.

The current statute in New Jersey

Under current New Jersey law, individuals 18 or older are allowed to purchase New Jersey Lottery tickets and place wagers on horse races. However, the age limit for most other forms of gambling in the state, including casino games and sports betting, is 21.

Under the current statute, it states that “New Jersey law requires lottery purchasers to be 18 years of age or older.” However, this new measure would effectively eliminate that exception.

This new bill is looking to standardize these regulations and align all wagering to the age of 21. If passed, the new age requirement rules would take effect on the bill's effective date.

What are the age requirements in other states?

This got us thinking, how do other states handle these age requirements? Is it the same across the board or does it vary?

As of this writing, Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah do not offer lottery sales in their states. While some of those states are working to get it approved in the state, nothing has come of it yet.

Of the states that do offer lottery sales to their residents, most have minimum age requirements of 18 or older. There are, of course, exceptions to this rule. In Nebraska, lottery players are required to be 19 years of age or older. Meanwhile, in four states — Arizona, Iowa, Louisiana, and Mississippi — players are required to be 21 years of age or older.

If New Jersey lawmakers pass this new bill, that last list would grow to five states that require lottery players to be 21 years of age or older to purchase lottery tickets.

Enjoy playing the New Jersey Lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.

Comments

0
Loading comments

Related articles

A lottery player using a lottery ticket machine to play Mega Millions.
Mega Millions prizes skyrocket 347% after controversial changes

Twenty drawings in, new Mega Millions delivers $112 million in non-jackpot prizes.

Samantha Herscher profile pic

Samantha Herscher

The Texas Lottery Commission deliberating about the banning of lottery courier services in the state.
Unregulated & unstoppable: Lottery couriers operate in legal gray areas

As lottery apps proliferate across the U.S., the Texas scandal exposes the dangerous gap in regulations.

Samantha Herscher profile pic

Samantha Herscher

Lottery balls inside a lottery machine.
The lottery will survive, but it must modernize

Lottery industry veterans discuss the current state of lottery games and what players can expect in the future.

Brant James profile pic

Brant James

A calendar with the Mega Millions logo and a marking on Friday the 13th.
Can Friday the 13th be lucky again? $264M jackpot up for grabs

Some call it cursed, but Friday the 13th has delivered millions in Mega Millions winnings. Could this be your turn?

Todd Betzold profile pic

Todd Betzold

Recent articles

View All
Parker's #94, located at 230 Church Street in Georgetown.
Woman charged with lottery fraud over a scratcher worth just $25

Investigators say she took the scratcher while on the job and then cashed it in at another location.

Todd Betzold profile pic

Todd Betzold

The Rhode Island Numbers logo over a blue background with dollar signs.
Why 1-2-3-4 just made thousands of Rhode Islanders rich

Sequential numbers just paid out nearly 500% across Rhode Island.

Samantha Herscher profile pic

Samantha Herscher

An EuroMillions playslip.
Winner hits biggest jackpot in EuroMillions history

Irish luck? An unidentified player in Ireland takes home 250 million Euros.

Halley Bondy profile pic

Halley Bondy

The Florida Lottery Pick 3 logo, along with the number 666.
Florida Lottery draws 6-6-6, but it's all luck for Pick 3 winners

Is the universe playing tricks? One of the most feared numbers just brought in nearly $2 million.

Todd Betzold profile pic

Todd Betzold