NJ bans reservation resale

New Jersey is moving to outlaw the resale of restaurant reservations without a restaurant’s permission, targeting a fast-growing scalping market before the 2026 World Cup. (njleg.state.nj.us) The bill, A3318, passed both houses of the Legislature on March 23, 2026, and the state bill tracker lists it as “Passed both Houses.” The measure would bar third-party services from advertising, listing, promoting, or selling a reservation unless they have a written agreement with the restaurant. (njleg.state.nj.us) (pub.njleg.state.nj.us) The legislation says the agreement must authorize the platform to include that restaurant’s reservations on its website, app, or other platform. In practice, that would shut down listings created without a restaurant’s consent. (pub.njleg.state.nj.us) New Jersey lawmakers are acting as the FIFA World Cup approaches in June 2026, when North Jersey is expected to see a surge of visitors tied to matches at MetLife Stadium. Local coverage of the bill linked the timing directly to concerns that high-demand tables could be flipped the way concert or sports tickets are. (magic983.com) (nj.com) The business model is simple: a reseller grabs a hard-to-book time slot, posts it on a marketplace, and charges a diner to take over the booking. New Jersey Monthly reported that some reservations at popular New Jersey restaurants were being offered for hundreds of dollars through sites including Appointment Trader. (njmonthly.com) Supporters say restaurants lose control when outside platforms list tables the restaurant never agreed to sell. Senator Kristin Corrado said after the Senate vote that the bill was meant to protect “restaurants and patrons” from unauthorized reservation sales by third-party services. (senatenj.com) News reports have described the legislation as bipartisan, with sponsorship from both parties in Trenton. The Assembly bill lists primary sponsors William B. Sampson IV, Katie Brennan, Clinton Calabrese, Kristin Corrado, and Joseph Lagana. (njleg.state.nj.us) (nj.com) As of April 21, 2026, the bill has not yet become law on the Legislature’s tracker, which still shows it awaiting final action after passage. If Governor Mikie Sherrill signs it, New Jersey restaurants would gain a legal veto over whether outside platforms can sell their tables at all. (njleg.state.nj.us) (magic983.com)