- A bill that would implement an additional 10% tax for bets placed on the World Cup is being discussed in the New Jersey Assembly.
- Assembly Bill 4828 would temprarily tax New Jersey sports betting operators on these wagers, plus other surcharges on lodging, transportation, and more.
- The temporary increase would raise New Jersey’s tax rate to 29.75% and net an expected $2.4 million in taxes to offset costs of hosting eight World Cup matches.
TRENTON, N.J. – New Jersey wants to profit off of sports bettors and consumers when they host eight FIFA World Cup games this summer. Representative Michael Venezia’s Assembly Bill 4838 would temporarily increase the state’s 19.79% legal sports betting tax rate by 10% for the event, plus adding other surcharges on transportation, lodging, souvenirs, and more.
This would be the first sports betting bill that temporarily raises betting taxes surrounding a specific event. If Assembly Bill 4838 passes, the state could profit an extra $2 million from the five-week period.
Projections for the American World Cup betting handle are floating around $3 billion, and with New Jersey already claiming roughly 8% of all US online sports betting wagers, that produces an expected $240 million handle in New Jersey.
The proposed tax rate increase would apply to the state’s hold percentage, which averaged 9.7% in 2025. If New Jersey saw a similar 10% hold on their expected $240 million handle for betting on soccer during the World Cup, they would earn $24 million and an extra $2.4 million from the tax rate increase.
New Jersey Price Gouging On World Cup
Assembly Bill 4838 looks to gain extra money from NJ sportsbooks, but the bill also takes advantage of consumers.
The bill also proposes a 3% charge on food and beverages, admission “to a place of amusement”, and “receipts from every sale within the district of tangible personal property.” It includes an additional 2.5% tax on hotels and a transportation tax of $0.50 per rider on “prearranged rides”, presumably like Uber or Lyft.
The World Cup will run from June 11 through July 19, with New Jersey hosting eight games that includes the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium. The Americans have long +6000 odds to win the event, with France and Spain tied at +500 to hoist one of the greatest trophies in sports.
