Lawmakers are eyeing changes to give account holders more time to reclaim forgotten balances and to ensure operators don’t pocket a share of the unclaimed cash.
Two bills — Senate Bill 152 (S152) and Assembly Bill 397 (A397)—propose extending the recovery period for dormant accounts from one year to three, while redirecting all unclaimed funds to the state’s unclaimed property fund.
Under the current rules, funds in accounts classified as abandoned after one year are divided between the operator and the Casino Control Fund. The proposed bills would overhaul this system, transferring all dormant account funds to a centralized state-managed account. This would give account holders three years to reclaim their money and impose stricter requirements on operators to notify users about their dormant balances.
The legislation also reflects a growing push to hold operators accountable, with proponents framing the changes as a way to ensure that every effort is made to reconnect players with their forgotten funds.
A Familiar Debate
This isn’t the first time New Jersey lawmakers have taken up the issue. Both S152 and A397 were introduced in January 2024 but stalled in committee, echoing similar proposals that failed to gain traction in 2022.
However, new momentum may be building. The rapid expansion of New Jersey’s online gambling market has brought fresh urgency to the debate, with advocates highlighting the potential for increased transparency and fairness in how unclaimed funds are managed.
Neither bill has been scheduled for a vote, and significant movement is unlikely before 2025. If interest grows, hearings and committee discussions could bring the measures closer to becoming law.
