Bill Text: NJ S826 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission to regulate amusement games operated using crane or claw machines.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-01-09 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee [S826 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-S826-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
218th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2018 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator NICHOLAS P. SCUTARI
District 22 (Middlesex, Somerset and Union)
SYNOPSIS
Requires Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission to regulate amusement games operated using crane or claw machines.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning regulation of certain amusement games and supplementing P.L.1959, c.108 (C.5:8-78 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The commission shall promulgate rules and regulations to establish standards applicable to any crane or claw machine used in the conduct of an amusement game. The standards shall include, but may not be limited to, the mechanical and programming specifications required for each crane or claw machine to ensure that a player has reasonable odds of obtaining a prize, in the commission's determination. The commission shall determine what constitutes reasonable odds with respect to each kind of crane or claw machine based on a review of similar regulations in other states or jurisdictions, industry standards, public comment, input from amusement game licensees and operators in this State, and information from any other appropriate entities or constituencies. The commission shall only issue a certification of permissibility to an amusement games licensee or operator of a crane or claw machine game if the commission determines that the machine is in compliance with the promulgated standards. Upon adoption of the rules and regulations, the commission shall establish a reasonable timeframe for existing licensees to comply with the new crane or claw machine standards.
As used in this section, a "crane or claw machine" means an amusement game equipment that allows the player to maneuver a crane or claw on a rotisserie or device over an intended prize, the outcome of which is determined by chance.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission to regulate amusement games operated using crane or claw machines. These amusement games allow the player to maneuver a crane or claw on a rotisserie or device over an intended prize. The outcome of crane or claw machine games are determined by chance, and are based on the mechanical and programming specifications set for the machines.
Under the bill, the commission is directed to promulgate rules and regulations to establish standards applicable to any crane or claw machine used in the conduct of an amusement game. The standards would be required to include, but may not be limited to, the mechanical and programming specifications required for each crane or claw machine to ensure that a player has reasonable odds of obtaining a prize. The commission would determine what constitutes reasonable odds with respect to each kind of crane or claw machine based on a review of similar regulations in other states or jurisdictions, industry standards, public comment, input from amusement game operators in this State, and information from any other appropriate entities or constituencies.
The bill also requires the commission to only issue a certification of permissibility to an amusement games licensee or operator of a crane or claw machine game if the commission determines that the machine is in compliance with the promulgated standards. However, the bill requires the commission to establish a reasonable timeframe for existing licensees to comply with the new crane or claw machine standards.
