New Legislation Would Ban Live Betting And Microbetting In Both States

New York and New Jersey are two of the most lucrative sports betting states when it comes to generating revenue. Between the two states, more than $2.2 billion in sports betting revenue has been generated in 2025.

However, if lawmakers in each state have their way, soon, one of the major drivers of that revenue could be eliminated as a sports betting option.

In New York, legislation was recently put forward that would curtail in-play wagering on sporting events. There is already a bill being considered by the New Jersey State Assembly that would place a prohibition on microbetting.

New Jersey lawmakers want to eliminate microbetting

Dan Hutchison isn’t anti-sports betting. The New Jersey lawmaker is clear on that subject.

He doesn’t want to eliminate popular online and mobile sports betting in New Jersey. However, what he would like to do is place a prohibition on microbetting on sports among the state’s gamblers.

Hutchison has introduced Bill A5971. The legislation would prohibit sports wagering licensees in New Jersey from offering or accepting microbets. These bets are an increasingly common form of live wagering on individual plays during a sporting event.

Microbetting allows gamblers to place rapid, real-time wagers on outcomes like whether the next football play will be a run or a pass, or if the next pitch in a baseball game will be a strike. Unlike traditional wagers, which typically focus on the final score or broader outcomes, microbets concern the next immediate action in a live event. This encourages a high volume of fast-paced gambling with little time for deliberation.

“The pace of microbetting is designed to keep people gambling constantly, making one impulsive bet after another with little time to think,” Hutchison said in a statement. “This bill is a commonsense step to slow that cycle down and protect individuals from the financial and emotional harms that can come with excessive betting.”

If passed into law, the bill would explicitly prohibit any licensed sportsbook operator from offering or accepting these types of wagers.

“This legislation isn’t about banning sports betting. It’s about setting boundaries to ensure it’s done responsibly,” Hutchison said. “By banning microbets, we would be taking a clear stand against predatory practices that push people toward irresponsible gambling habits.”

New York is seeking a ban on in-play wagering

In New York, Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal has introduced Assembly Bill A9343. This bill would prohibit any casino, mobile sports wagering licensee, or mobile sports wagering operator from accepting in-play sports wagers from sports bettors in the state.

Introduced late last week, the bill was referred to the Racing and Wagering Committee of the New York Assembly.

Unlike Hutchison, her New Jersey counterpart, Rosenthal is clearly in the anti-gambling camp. In the past, she has called for the banning of horse racing.

She has also been a proponent of the social harms that can be caused by problem gambling. Rosenthal co-sponsored legislation that successfully established a Problem Gambling Advisory Council in New York.

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