New Jersey May Allow Esports Players to Bet on Their Own Performance

New Jersey lawmakers are set to review a bill that would permit professional esports players to place wagers on their own performances and team results, according to Gambling News.

While esports betting is already legal in the state, the proposed legislation would introduce a major shift in the current regulations. Reports indicate that adult gamers would be allowed to bet on their own matches, though safeguards would be put in place to prevent match-fixing.

In practice, this could work as follows: a player might bet on reaching a specific milestone in a game. The available betting market would offer a “Yes” option (indicating the player will achieve the goal), but no “No” option, removing the ability to bet against oneself. The same system would apply to team-based wagers.

Theoretically, this setup could further incentivize players to perform at their peak. At the same time, there would be no incentive to underperform, as placing bets on negative outcomes wouldn’t be an option.

However, a potential loophole remains. A player could intentionally perform poorly over time, influencing bookies to adjust their odds downward. Then, once the odds are favorable, the player could place a high-stakes bet and cash in by playing at their true skill level.