Online Gambling in New Jersey

Online Gambling Laws in New Jersey

The state of New Jersey boasts one of the most impressive online and domestic gambling industries across the US. From sports to poker, lotteries to fantasy sports betting, all of the most popular forms of gambling are legal here.

On this page, we’re going to break down each law applicable to online gambling in New Jersey, providing in-depth information on the entire structure of the states’ legislation and how users can remain safe when playing. Without waiting any longer, let’s jump right in.

Now considered a haven for online gambling, New Jersey’s entry into the online betting industry wasn’t completely smooth sailing. Essentially, New Jersey’s land-based gambling scene was forced upon them by relaxed regulations regarding domestic gambling in other states, providing platforms for players that would otherwise venture to NJ to gamble.

In 2013, Gov. Chris Christie signed into law a bill that legalized online gambling for licensed online casinos in New Jersey. Each registered online casino was required to join forces with existing land-based casinos in NJ, and while some people may assume this would harm potential creative freedom, the results speak for themselves. Without the revenue acquired from online gambling, New Jersey’s casino industry would have seen continued drops.

Nowadays, NJ has one of the healthiest online casino and sports betting industries in the country. The demise of PASPA in 2018 worked in the states’ favor, as lawmakers immediately pushed legislation forward to legalize sports betting both online and in-person.

Are There Any Limitations As To What I can Bet On?

Yes. Bettors are not allowed to place wagers on New Jersey college sports teams, high-school-sports, or any type of college-level event. Additionally, betting at unregulated and unlicensed online casinos is not only discouraged but also illegal.

Who Are The Regulators in New Jersey?

The NJDGE regulates all forms of gambling in the state of New Jersey. This body, also known as the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, pushes online casinos to protect customers, ensure fair play, and keep the gambling industry as healthy as can be. To do so, the NJDGE rolled out a number of requirements that online casinos must meet to be granted a license by the state. These are:

• The casino must be certain that users are at least 21 years of age before signing up and playing at the site.
• All games must be submitted to the NJDGE for audit.
• Online casinos must ensure that all players are within New Jersey’s state lines when playing real money games.
• The online casino is required to pay a 15% tax on all revenues earned to the state.
• The site has to release all records of funds to and from the platform for audit.
• The casino needs to pay for licensing and other legal fees to obtain a license.

Comparing Legal and Illegal Operators in New Jersey

The allure of playing at illegal, offshore gambling sites was at its peak in the mid-2000s when the UIGEA cracked down hard on transactions between gambling sites and banks.

Users felt as though they didn’t owe the powers that be anything, which resulted in swathes of players creating accounts at potentially dangerous, unlicensed, offshore gambling sites. With the growing regulation of online casinos and sports betting sites in the US, players don’t need to put themselves in such risky situations any longer.

Legal, licensed domestic gambling sites are put through rigorous testing to ensure their site meets each requirement put forward by the NJDGE. These services must be up to scratch at all times, otherwise, they face the humiliating sentence of having their gambling license revoked and their name dragged through the mud. As you can see, there are consequences for misbehavior for licensed NJ betting platforms.

There are no such penalties for offshore betting sites. They are not beholden to US laws and regulations, meaning players are not necessarily guaranteed safety. These platforms don’t need to keep customers’ information secure, nor do they feel any obligation to support customers that run into issues on their sites.

On top of that, offshore casinos are unlicensed by US standards. Without a license, there’s no way to make sure their games are fair. With little-to-no regulation of offshore casinos, why take the risk?

Sports Betting in New Jersey

Sports betting was officially made legal in New Jersey soon after the fall of PASPA (Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act). Despite NJ attempting to take down PASPA in 2011, it wasn’t until 2017 that the fight against it gained traction.

The Act was deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court on May 14th, 2018, and lawmakers in New Jersey worked towards legalizing sports betting immediately. There are almost 20 sportsbooks available in New Jersey right now, all of which can be accessed by players in the state.

Wagers are commonly placed on major US sports leagues such as the MLB, NBA, NFL, and NHL. Other sports available include but are not limited to UFC, Golf, Tennis, Soccer (MLS and International Leagues), and popular amateur collegiate events. In 2019, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement even allowed wagers on the Academy Awards to be placed.

There is a betting restriction on any college or university that calls New Jersey home, such as Rutgers or NJIT. No bets are allowed on these teams or any other New Jersey college games taking place with any affiliation to the state of New Jersey.

Moneyline, point spread, over/under, propositions, and future bets are all available in New Jersey.

Betting on horse races is also entirely legal in New Jersey, and there are pushes from lawmakers in the state to further enhance the range of betting opportunities available for customers as we speak. Legislation with regards to allowing fixed-odds horse racing wagering has been a long time coming and it will go hand-in-hand with the current form of betting permitted: pari-mutuel betting.

***Golden Nugget owner Tilman Fertitta owns the Houston Rockets and therefore NBA wagers are prohibited at the Golden Nugget Sportsbook.

Legal Online Sportsbooks in New Jersey

Playing at regulated, legal sportsbooks means that users’ details remain safe, the odds are fair, and players can rest assured that their needs will be met. Below, we’ve outlined each online sportsbook in New Jersey with a license:

DraftKings Sportsbook NJ

Launched in August 2018, DraftKings is widely regarded as the best destination for all-things sports betting-related. With bonuses galore and odds refreshed on a constant basis, DraftKings is arguably the finest sportsbook New Jersey has to offer.

Caesars Sportsbook NJ

Partnered with Monmouth Park, Caesars is a worldwide household name when it comes to sports betting. The sportsbook has a downloadable app, so users are able to enjoy sports betting at the touch of a button when they’re on the go or at home. Having launched in 2018, Caesars has only gotten bigger and bigger with each passing year.

FanDuel Sportsbook NJ

Having obtained a license from the NJDGE, FanDuel is a popular choice amongst sports bettors in New Jersey. The site offers a wide range of options in terms of sports, and now with an app that can be downloaded to iOS and Android mobile devices, the accessibility of the platform will only expand. Teaming up with Meadowlands Casino allowed FanDuel to set up shop in New Jersey, and they haven’t looked back since.

FoxBet Sportsbook NJ

Similar to the previously mentioned sportsbooks, FoxBet also opened its doors in 2018. The sports betting site doesn’t have quite as many features compared to Caesars app or FanDuel’s service, but it’s still a solid option. New customers can get in on some cool promotions, while the in-play betting feature greatly enhances the experience at FoxBet for all users.

BetMGM Sportsbook NJ

Borgata Casino partnered with BetMGM a few years ago and we’ve since rapid growth in the number of players creating accounts at the site ever since. Available on iOS, Windows, Linux, and more, BetMGM is open to many different types of sports betting, including in-play. Deposits are made easy via Mastercard, PayPal, or Visa, and the bonuses we’ve seen look great.

PointsBet Sportsbook NJ

Another site that’s made Meadowlands its home, PointsBet isn’t quite as popular as the other sportsbooks in New Jersey. In spite of this, we’re still impressed by the offers on display, as well as the inclusion of in-play betting as one of its primary features. The site can be enjoyed from iOS, Android, and Windows devices.

SugarHouse Sportsbook NJ

A clean-looking sportsbook, SugarHouse sets its prices according to its partner, Kambi. Here, players can take part in moneyline bets, parlays, and prop bets, as well as being provided with the cash-out feature. Although it’s not a new addition to the world of online gambling, we feel players deserve cash-out as an option at the bare minimum. 

Unibet Sportsbook NJ

Right off the bat, the first thing we noticed about Unibet was its smaller welcome offer. That said, the platform works exactly as we’d expect from a respected, well-known sportsbook. Minimum deposits start at $10, which isn’t bad at all, while the vast array of betting features such as futures, props, moneyline bets across, baseball, soccer, football, basketball, and more, impressed us.

Bet365 Sportsbook NJ

Launched back in 2019, Bet365 is relatively new to the New Jersey online sports betting scene. The sportsbook offers a wide range of bets, from soccer to baseball, and more, while also offering the basic features you’d expect from a household name, like cash-out and in-play betting. Depositing and withdrawing are easy tasks thanks to the impressive number of methods allowed, and the app can be downloaded to iOS and Android devices alike.

Domestic NJ Sportsbooks

There are 8 physical casinos in Atlantic City that have sportsbooks and sports bets of all types are available to be placed.

Moneyline Bar and Book

• Borgata Casino
• Online App: Borgata Online Sportsbook

Wild Wild West Sportsbook

• Casino: Bally’s Casino
• Online App: Caesars Online Casino Sportsbook

The Sportsbook

• Casino: Golden Nugget Casino
• Online App: Golden Nugget Online Casino and Sportsbook

Hard Rock Sportsbook

• Casino: Hard Rock Casino
• Online App: Unibet Online Casino and Sportsbook

The Book

• Casino: Harrah’s Casino
• Online App: Harrah’s Online Sportsbook

Caesars at Ocean Casino

• Location: Ocean Resort Casino
• Online App: Caesars Online Sportsbook

DraftKings at Resorts Atlantic City

• Location: Resorts
• Online App: DraftKings Online Casino and Sportsbook

Caesars at Tropicana

• Casino: Tropicana
• Online App: Caesars Online Sportsbook

Due to the pandemic, it’s unclear which sportsbooks and casinos are still in operation as of today. Most gamblers place their wagers online via mobile apps that are available for each sportsbook.

Online Casinos in New Jersey

Playing at online casinos in New Jersey has been legal for almost a decade, with the form of gambling signed into law back in 2013. Nine months later the first online casinos began opening their doors, and ever since then, we’ve seen several thousands of players create accounts across the various platforms allowed to supply internet gambling services.

So long as the user is at least 21 years old, it’s legal to play at any of NJ’s online casinos. Games such as roulette, blackjack, baccarat, and more are all found at New Jersey’s online casino sites.

DraftKings Casino NJ

With nearly 100 different games ready to be played at any time of the day or night, it’s no surprise that DraftKings is so popular amongst regulars of the online casino scene. Both iOS and Android devices are supported by the online casino, with blackjack, roulette, slots, and other types of games all available in New Jersey right now.

SugarHouse Casino NJ

Well, SugarHouse isn’t shy when it comes to games. That’s for sure. The online casino - partnered with Golden Nugget - is jam-packed with around 600 games. The reasoning for this is that games are added on a monthly basis, providing players with fresh titles consistently. Players aged 21 and older can begin playing at SugarHouse today, with the possibility of joining their loyalty program always an option too.

Borgata Online Casino NJ

Available across all the main platforms like iOS, Android, and Windows, Borgata has 250 games in all. Users have the opportunity to enjoy the likes of blackjack, slots, and other popular genres, as well as participating in top deals throughout the year. Admittedly, there’s a bit of disparity between the app and the site, so moving between your desktop and mobile could be an issue. For the most part, though, Borgata is a solid option.

BetMGM Casino NJ

Another online casino that’s loaded with games, BetMGM pulls no punches when it comes to features. There’s a downloadable app, a whole host of offers available all the time, the best slots, and so much more. For loyal customers, the M Life program serves as an incentive to keep playing in search of cool rewards.

Unibet Casino NJ

Unibet partnered with Hard Rock Casino & Resort in 2018, and since then the online casino has gone from strength to strength. Unibet saw immense success during its European ventures, and since moving to the States users have been just as pleased, it seems. There are welcome bonuses to be earned, bets to be placed and hundreds of games to enjoy at Unibet.

Caesars Casino NJ

Unsurprisingly, Caesars Casino is partnered with the Caesars Casino & Sportsbook placed in New Jersey. At the online casino, games like blackjack, roulette, video poker, slots table games, and other popular gaming types are found, accompanied by helpful bonuses. Sign up at Caesars today for a sensational boost, if you’d like.

Virgin Online Casino NJ

In a partnership with Tropicana Atlantic City, Virgin is a hot topic in the state of New Jersey at the moment. Although it’s not a big name like some of the others we’ve mentioned earlier, Virgin holds its ground against competitors in the field. With such a grand mix of table games, in particular, New Jersey’s player base appears to have selected Virgin Casino as one of their favorites for the time being. Slots and blackjack are also available, among others.

Tropicana Online Casino NJ

There are just over 240 games ready to be played by users at Tropicana’s online casino site in NJ. Having been granted a license nearly a decade ago, Tropicana has somewhat struggled to compete with the best in the state, yet the site has still maintained a solid player base throughout the years. Profits have been marginal, which may be caused by the seemingly insane promotions advertised by the online casino. Nevertheless, it’s certainly an interesting option in New Jersey.

Golden Nugget Casino NJ

When we started looking through the number of games on show at Golden Nugget, just one word came to mind: wow. The online casino is making its way towards a whopping 700 games. Not just that, but the lucrative offers provided to customers, partnered with its ease-of-use, makes Golden Nugget the perfect destination for anyone new to the online casino industry. Experienced players will be pleased to hear that a VIP program is also on the table.

Poker in New Jersey

At the time of writing, New Jersey is home to seven online poker sites. Of these, two share player pools. This means that players from one site can play with players from the other site, boosting the number of players active at any one time.

Other poker networks are active amongst some of the other sites, with up to three player pools shared between the services. Online poker is legal, as well as live poker. The minimum age for poker is 18 in the state of New Jersey.

Lottery in New Jersey

State lotteries can be enjoyed consistently in New Jersey. The process of purchasing lottery tickets online is quick and easy, while other types of games are also available through supported apps and websites.

Players also have the right to remain anonymous if they bag a huge win, which is something relatively new to the state of New Jersey.

Not only can you indulge in the lottery online, but there are also scratch cards and other real money games to be played - all of which are legal and regulated. Players must be 18 years old to play lottery games in NJ.

Bingo in New Jersey

Bingo is a legal form of gambling in New Jersey as long as it’s a normal part of the betting site or land-based casino offerings. Additionally, bingo can be played in non-profit charitable events as a means of raising money.

Since New Jersey is one of the very few states that permits bingo in its gambling form, the game is hugely popular in the state. The minimum age limit with regards to playing bingo in New Jersey is 21 years old.