TRENTON, N.J. — Gov. Mikie Sherrill has signed bipartisan legislation designed to prevent the unauthorized resale of restaurant reservations by third-party brokers, according to bill sponsor Sen. Kristin Corrado.
The new law prohibits third-party reservation websites and mobile applications from advertising, listing or selling restaurant reservations without a written agreement from the restaurant.
The legislation also establishes civil penalties for companies that violate the law.
“We’ve seen reservation scalping during major sporting events around the country and as New Jersey prepares to host the World Cup, we’re taking action to prevent that from occurring here in the Garden State,” said Sen. Corrado. “Third-party reservation brokers have sold tables that they do not own for outrageous prices, often without the knowledge of a restaurant or small business. This new law protects patrons from price-gouging and ensures that the benefit of major events goes to our local businesses, not opportunistic middlemen.”
According to lawmakers, third-party reservation marketplaces have grown in popularity in recent years, allowing reservations to be resold without restaurant authorization.
Officials said the practice can leave restaurants with empty tables and lost revenue if reservations go unsold or are canceled at the last minute.
Lawmakers pointed to incidents surrounding the 2025 Super Bowl in New Orleans, where restaurant reservations were reportedly resold for more than $2,000 through third-party platforms.
New Jersey joins other states, including Illinois and New York, that have adopted similar restrictions on reservation resale services.
