New Jersey Bill Seeks 10% Levy on FIFA World Cup Bets
A New Jersey bill introduced this week would add a temporary stealth tax on World Cup bets placed this summer.
Rep. Michael Venezia introduced HB 4838, a bill that will generate additional revenue from the soccer tournament. The World Cup is June 12–July 20, with MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford hosting eight matches.
At a Glance:
- HB 4838 would tax sports bets 10% to raise World Cup hosting funds
- Hotel and motel occupancy targeted in wide-reaching bill
- New Jersey has had legal sports betting since 2018
- NJ’s MetLife Stadium hosts eight FIFA World Cup matches this summer
10% tax a hammer blow for under-fire gambling operators
Under the terms of the controversial bill, profits from online sports betting would be subject to a 10% surcharge. That would include operators in the Garden State that currently run regulated online sportsbooks.
New Jersey was one of the first U.S. states to legalize online casinos and sportsbooks. Casinos offer a mix of slots, table games, and — since 2018 — sports bets online. There are now over 23 regulated online sportsbooks in NJ.
New Jersey sportsbooks faced a 13% gaming tax after going live in 2018. However, that increased to 19.75% in 2025.
The FIFA World Cup is being jointly hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico this year. Sports betting for the last World Cup in Qatar surpassed $1 billion.
With a home World Cup, expect that total to be smashed this summer. The NJ lawmakers obviously want their cut.
Casinos and racetracks face extra tax under new bill
New Jersey has a handful of racetracks that also house full sportsbooks. These “horse racing permit holders” are also in line to pay the additional tax on profits.
Racetracks in NJ offer retail sports betting, but have partnerships with online sportsbooks. TVG also supplies a dedicated online racebook for residents in New Jersey.
New Jersey racetracks with sportsbooks
- Meadowlands Racetrack (East Rutherford): Partnered with FanDuel Sportsbook
- Freehold Raceway: Partnered with betPARX
- Monmouth Park: Partnered with Caesars Sportsbook
NJ faces enormous transport costs, with World Cup just a month away
The escalating costs for World Cup fans and organizers have been making headlines this year.
Travel to and from the MetLife is one of the flashpoints for soccer fans. NJ Transit has announced it intends to charge fans $150 to travel to and from Manhattan to attend games. That’s an increase of 1,000% on a ticket that shouldn’t cost more than $13.
World Cup-hosting cities in the U.S. are discovering what a poor deal they will have. FIFA will retain much of the revenue from ticket sales and match TV streams.
However, states like New Jersey must pay for their own infrastructure changes. The new surcharge on sports betting may go some way toward covering those costs.
