N.J. bill would add sports-betting surcharge for World Cup transit

A bill filed in the New Jersey Legislature would impose a surcharge on sports-betting receipts to raise money for transit costs tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including matches at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.

The fee would apply to wagers placed at casinos, racetracks and online sportsbooks in New Jersey. Collected funds would be earmarked for state and local transit agencies, including NJ Transit and municipal partners, to cover additional trains, extra bus service, station work and other expenses during the tournament.

Sponsors say the surcharge is designed to cover temporary service increases and infrastructure work such as overtime for staff, crowd-control measures, temporary signage and modest station improvements to handle larger crowds.

Supporters describe the charge as a way to link revenues from betting tied to major events with the public costs those events create and to avoid drawing from the state’s general fund. New Jersey established legal sports betting after a 2018 Supreme Court decision and now has a large legal wagering market across retail and online platforms.

Opponents may cite added costs for bettors and the administrative burden of collecting and distributing a new fee. Gaming industry groups and sportsbook operators have previously opposed additional levies that could affect market competitiveness and customer demand.

The bill must pass committee review, approval by both legislative houses and the governor’s signature before becoming law. The proposal specifies that the surcharge would be collected in the period leading up to and during the World Cup in June and July 2026 to allow transit agencies time to plan and deploy resources.

Transit planners have highlighted challenges for large events, including staffing, coordinating extra runs on commuter lines, managing station entries and exits, and coordinating services with neighboring agencies in the New York metropolitan area. MetLife Stadium’s selection as a 2026 host site means passenger flows will interact with services operated by other jurisdictions.

Next steps include legislative hearings to set the surcharge rate, determine revenue-sharing among agencies, establish oversight mechanisms and fix the fee’s duration. If approved, implementation timelines will be coordinated with NJ Transit and local authorities to ensure funds are available ahead of the tournament.