Luckily, all popular forms are legal at NJ online gambling sites and land-based establishments, including casinos, sportsbooks, and poker. Bingo and state lottery are also allowed and even at the disposal of a bit younger players than the 3 previously mentioned forms. Free social iGaming is also available on some sites, and many offer games of chance for you to play for free.
Remember, however, that you must be physically within the New Jersey state to play legally for real money at land-based and online places. The legal age to play online casinos and on-site is 21 in most cases and 18 for some verticals.
Online casinos –Legal
The laws of New Jersey are some of the most liberal ones since it was the first state to legalize gambling. Legal online gambling platforms have been operating since 2013. As this practice has existed longer than the rest of the states, the NJ sites are among the best for gaming and betting. The state excels in every aspect compared to the others. The industry of Garden State is flourishing and constantly improving.
New Jersey online portals have the cherry on the pie compared to the other American states. Once you register and start to use one, you can expect the following:
- Many games, rivalling Pennsylvania and Michigan
- The most extensive game library – the best online gambling sites NJ have over 700 games
- Diversity of software providers – on average, 20+
- Most payment methods
- On average 5 more payment methods than in other states – the best platforms offer 15+
However, the bonuses at NJ casinos are like those in other states. Players in the Garden State must be 21 or older to wager real money and have fun online and at physical venues.
Online poker –Legal
The same bill that made casino gambling legal in 2013 ensured poker advancement and gave New Jersey a head start. That was very welcomed news by many people. The game had a big group of fans waiting for its liberation. It is a significant benefit to play your favorite form of gambling on the Internet and not need to go to a physical venue.
888 was one of the first NJ gambling sites that were launched. The brand had a dedicated website especially for this activity, with the functionality of a single account for this game, sportsbook, and other games. That is very convenient and safe time for the regular users.
When it comes to online gambling NJ big brands bring great perks. Such an example is Caesar’s portal which operates in in this state and runs digital tables through the World Series of Poker (WSOP). World Series players can earn points towards the website’s rewards program.
The state provides interstate action. This was the result of the merging of the Delaware, Nevada, and NJ player pools that took place in 2018. The effect it has on them is that they compete for higher prices. More players can participate in the battle and can get more generous wins. If you are interested in improving your skills, facing a stronger competition on this kind of virtual arena is a great way to do it. You can learn new tricks and level-up.
PokerStars – one of the world’s top brands, has been operating here since 2016. For sure you have watched their big events on TV. They are massive, with enormous bets and they are also very entertaining. Players can participate in tournaments. This iconic operator increases the quality of the game in the state a lot. If you want to play it legally, you need to be 21 years old or above this age.
Land-based establishments –Legal
Currently, only Atlantic City has the right to have land-based casinos in New Jersey.
Here are our choices:Borgata Casino
Borgata Casino
Borgata is luxurious and offers plenty of rooms, suites, gaming space, and many other amenities. The combined slot machines in the physical establishment are 3,000. There are video poker games, keno, and the only racebook in Atlantic City. Players in this abundant place can also try their luck with some of the over 180 table games, including poker.
Caesars Casino
Caesars Casinos
Caesars spreads over 150,000 square feet of space hosting over 3,000 combined slots, video keno, and more. Fans of table games will be pleased as there are about 120 of them.
Golden Nugget Casino
Golden Nugget Casino
Golden Nugget has a venue with 1,500 combined slot machines, and video keno. There is a 24K lounge for high-class players and a high-limit room with 100+ machines, in this number, a single-zero Roulette. European Roulette has a house edge of 2.70% with better odds for payout compared to American double-zero Roulette, with a house edge of about 5.26%
Land-based casinos are an alternative to Internet portals, although both activities have their benefits and drawbacks.
Sports betting –Legal
NJ wasn’t the first state to make lawful sports betting, as Nevada made this step decades earlier. Yet, Garden State was the leader in pushing to reverse the restrictive laws regarding gambling in the United States.
New Jersey was one of the first states to enhance the online betting scene back in 2018 significantly. It is the first state to break the billion-dollar mark in revenue, followed by Nevada. Yes, people here love wagering on football, basketball, baseball, ice hockey, and soccer. There are quite good teams here like the New Jersey Devils, New York Giants, New York Red Bulls, Gotham FC, and more. NJ gambling sites offer you countless types of bets that will make your experience very interesting. If you are new, you can check first the moneyline wager, point spread, and totals, and later on jump to parlays.
Wagering is legal for almost everything apart from events that involve local college events or teams. At an Internet platform, you can bet on professional outside-the-state college events, e-sports, and international events. The most popular wagering activities are football, baseball, and basketball, which you can bet on in online casinos in NJ.
The better New Jersey gambling sites should be able to offer over 30 different sports. You also need access to great features such as cash out, bet builders, and live data for in-play bets.
Overall, most sports are available on NJ online casino sites, the top operators are accessible, and there are VIP rewards. You must be at least 21 to wager from online websites and physical venues in the state.
Lottery –Legal
New Jersey has a state lottery and sells tickets to games of chance, including lotto and scratch-off cards. The most impressive win from the state’s lottery was the mind-boggling prize of $ 33 million, which took place in 2018. This type of gambling in the state has been running since 1970, and now it offers 8 draw games, though no official website operates exist.
Revenue from the NJ gambling is used for retirement benefits for teachers, firefighters, and community servants. We expect the lottery to expand soon.
To be eligible to play the lottery on online portals and brick-and-mortar premises, you must be 18 years or older. You can try your luck in lottery draws using licensed NJ online casinos or land-based venues.
Horse racing –Legal
New Jersey authorizes live horse racing and simulcast wagering. In the whole US, this king of gambling has been popular since centuries. It is a pure adrenaline rush, to see the animals run on the track, and fill the vibration of their feet, hitting the ground with an incredible power. The state currently has 3 physical tracks:
- Freehold Raceway – a half-mile racetrack operating since the early 1800s, which is quite impressive.
- Monmouth Park – located in Oceanport, New Jersey. In the facility, you can watch and place bets on thoroughbred racing. Its 1- and 1/8-mile racetrack has been functioning since 1870, and Monmouth Park hosts a William Hill sportsbook.
- Meadowlands Racing and Entertainment – a live horse racing complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey. It opened in 1976 and featured thoroughbred and harness racing as well.
Social casinos –Legal
Social NJ online casinos are an excellent pick for players who aren’t yet prepared to take the plunge and gamble for real money. With these, you can play games without risking any money to learn the rules and specifics of games. For some it is the test ground, on which they learn. They try different strategies and try all the features of the games. For others, it is the only thing they need. Just some fun time, without thinking about money or taxes from winning.
Greyhound race betting –Not Legal
Greyhound contests, also known as dog racing, is illegal in New Jersey, except for sled competitions at fairs. If you are a fan of it, you should check West Virginia. There it is still allowed, and you can enjoy watching it live. The sport is in decline for quite some time, and it is possible that it will eventually disappear.
Bingo–Legal
The Garden State allows charitable gambling forms such as raffles and bingo games run by educational, religious, and philanthropic organizations. Charities are permitted to hold bingo games and raffles.
The charitable gaming industry is estimated to be worth over $80 million annually. Players of bingo must be of 18 years of age or older to be allowed to take advantage of Internet and on-site activities.
Keno –Legal
Playing keno machines is allowed in some taverns and bars. The Division of State Lottery has approved them. It is not so popular, but still many people find it quite entertaining.
E-sport –Legal
In June of 2021, the lawmakers passed a bill to make esports part of Garden State’s legal sports betting industry. As a result, licensed operators can accept bets on esports up to $100 and a possible winning of up to $500. This is the future. The US is still lagging behind, be we hope to see new NJ gambling sites that offers it in the future. Some online events attract more viewers than traditional sports events, so why not to improve it? Probably we are just a few years away from the wider adoption in the country.