As sports betting become more common, state lawmakers are seeking to tightly regulate partnerships between sportsbooks and New Jersey’s colleges and universities.

The Assembly Higher Education Committee advanced a bill Monday that would ban most partnerships between sports betting groups and state colleges and universities, with an amendment that would permit associations that provide “experiential learning opportunities” for students.

Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly (D-Passaic), a co-sponsor of the bill, says it balances the line between providing opportunities for students and protecting students who could fall prey to gambling addiction.

“Both sides of the aisle, we realize that we have to put guards up to protect our residents,” Wimberly said. “One illegal situation is one too many … I think we all would agree that we should head things off before they get to a point that it becomes an issue.”

“Allowing this balance in terms of ensuring that our students remain as safe as possible, but at the same time recognizing that this can be a valuable career for them, is that balance,” said Jennifer Keyes-Maloney, executive director of the New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities. “We appreciate the work that the sponsor did to try to find that proper balance.”