New Jersey lawmakers propose new rules for dormant gambling accounts

New Jersey lawmakers have introduced a bipartisan bill that could change the way unclaimed money from inactive online gambling accounts is managedThe goal is to funnel these funds into the state’s unclaimed real estate program after a three-year dormant period.

The legislation, led by Representatives Joe Danielsen and Robert Auth as reported by Shore News Networkwith additional support from Representatives Sean Kean and John DiMaio, aims to improve accountability in the fast-growing online gambling sector.

If passed, The measure would reclassify unused account balances as unclaimed property under the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act. Give account holders a structured way to get their money back while preventing operators from mismanaging or retaining dormant funds.

The proposal comes amid rising revenue in New Jersey’s online gambling industry. The latest numbers from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement show the state’s iGaming sector generated $213.6 million last monthsurpassing the record of $208 million set in September and surpassing October’s casino revenue, which totaled $208.7 million.

As online gambling continues to outperform its land-based counterpart, Managing dormant accounts has become a priority for both lawmakers and regulators.

According to the proposed rules Online gambling operators must attempt to contact users with inactive or self-excluded accounts by mail, email and telephone and encourage them to withdraw their remaining balance. If account holders cannot be reached or choose not to act, the funds will be transferred to the government’s unclaimed property program after three years of inactivity.

This shift would ensure that unclaimed funds are protected and accessible through a centralized government system. The initiative strengthens accountability while giving dormant account holders a better chance of getting their money back, even if they forget about itargue supporters of the bill.

Although the bill has received bipartisan support, His path to law remains uncertainas additional provisions or changes could emerge during legislative discussions.