New Jersey Online Casino Real Money – Gambling Laws in The Garden State
New Jersey online casinos allow you to experience even more gambling options beyond the nine Atlantic City casinos and right from the comfort of home.
With so many options, choosing the right one for you can be challenging. Don’t worry. This page will guide you through the state’s gaming offerings and provide legal context.
I’ll discuss The Garden State’s gambling laws while showing you which forms are legal and which are banned.
Summary of NJ Gambling Laws
The state’s legislature legalizes most forms of gambling. Twenty-one is the minimum age for casino gambling, poker, and sports betting. If you bet on horse racing or the lottery, the legal age drops to eighteen.
| Gambling | New Jersey |
|---|---|
| Is Online Gambling Legal? | Yes |
| Playing at Online Casinos | Yes |
| Legal Age Online | 21+ |
| Land-Based Casinos | Yes |
| Legal Age Land-Based | 21+ |
| Online Sports Betting | Yes |
| Charitable Gambling | Yes |
| State Lottery | Yes |
| Social Gaming | Yes |
Is Gambling Legal in NJ?
Most forms of gambling are legal in The Garden State, which allows brick-and-mortar casinos, retail sportsbooks, and pari-mutuel betting on horse races. Online and mobile casinos, poker sites, and sportsbooks are also allowed.
| Gambling | Georgia Legal Status |
|---|---|
| Online Casinos | Legal (Online casinos, poker sites, and sportsbooks) |
| Casino Gambling | Legal (9 land-based casinos in Atlantic City, NJ) |
| Poker | |
| Horse Racing Betting | Legal (3 horse tracks in New Jersey) |
| Dog Racing Betting | Banned |
| Lottery | Legal |
| Daily Fantasy Sports | Legal (Regulated by the Fantasy Sports Unit) |
| Sports Betting | Legal (Retail sportsbooks and mobile sports betting apps) |
| Charitable Gaming | Legal |
| Social Gaming | Legal (Except in bars and other places where liquor is sold) |
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Where to Gamble in NJ
The state’s association with gambling dates back to 1967 when voters approved land-based casinos. On the digital front, NJ was the second state to legalize and license online casinos, and it won the US Supreme Court case that legalized sports betting.
Here’s a summary of the many forms of legal gambling currently available.
Land-Based Casinos in New Jersey
Atlantic City is home to nine brick-and-mortar casinos.
Resorts Casino opened in 1978, followed by Caesars Atlantic City and Bally’s Atlantic City in 1979. Harrah’s opened in 1980, followed by Tropicana in 1981 and Golden Nugget in 1985.
Hard Rock Atlantic City, formerly the Trump Taj Mahal, opened in 1990.
Borgata, the most lucrative Atlantic City casino, opened in 2003. Ocean Casino Resort opened in 2012.
Horse & Dog Tracks
Pari-mutuel betting on horse racing is still legal in New Jersey, while dog racing is banned.
Monmouth Park in Oceanport and Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment in East Rutherford are the main venues for horse racing.
Monmouth Park features thoroughbred racing, while Meadowlands Racing features thoroughbred and harness racing.
Meadowlands is home to the Hambletonian, the world’s most famous trotting race. Freehold Raceway is home to harness racing. It offers both trotters and pacers.
Online Sports Betting
Sports betting was allowed in June 2018.
Currently, the state licenses 16 top online sports betting operators.
Bettors can choose from an ample sportsbook offering that includes state and offshore sites as well as land-based establishments.
Bingo Halls and Charitable Gambling
Bingo halls and charitable gambling are legal. Charitable gaming organizations can offer bingo and raffles, though they must procure separate licenses.
The Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission (LGCCC) licenses and regulates charitable gambling in the state.
Social Gaming at Home
State law allows private home games for social purposes. The organizer cannot charge a fee, collect a rake, or have an advantage over other players.
Thus, games like blackjack and roulette would be banned, though poker nights at private homes are popular.
One statute prohibits gambling at liquor establishments, so bars and many restaurants cannot have poker or casino nights.
Poker Rooms and Clubs
Online poker is legal, with plenty of offshore and state-based sites offering games for real money.
Land-based poker clubs aren’t allowed, as poker rooms would profit from organizing games, which is banned.
Despite this, Borgata, Tropicana, and Harrah’s have dedicated poker rooms.
Of the three, Borgata is the most famous and popular. It hosts big WTP events like the Borgata Poker Open and the Borgata Winter Poker Open.
Eight-Liners
Eight-liners aren’t legal. You must visit one of the nine Atlantic City casinos to play slot-style gaming machines.
Nearby Pennsylvania allows truck stop gaming machines if that’s something that interests you.
Casino Cruises
Three casino cruise companies operate out of Bayonne, New Jersey, just across New York Harbor.
Royal Caribbean, Cape Liberty Cruise Port, and Adventure of the Seas are the three operators. Their cruises range from 5 to 10 days—parking fees near the terminal range from $30 to $90 daily.
New Jersey Real Money Online Casino Games
Garden State residents can enjoy various online slots, table games, and live casino games.
If you’re new to the casino experience, read through the description below to learn your options.
Online Slots
Online slots are by far the most popular game. For this reason, sites constantly add new games from top software providers to expand their catalogs and keep players interested.
This adds to the variety, as you can enjoy 5-reel video slots, 3-reel classics, licensed slots, mobile slots, progressive slots, and Hot Drop Jackpots while playing hundreds of titles.
Online Poker
The Old Line State is a hub for online poker, with the state’s poker sites hosting several major yearly tournaments.
Three Atlantic City casinos have dedicated poker rooms: Borgata, Tropicana, and Harrah’s Atlantic City. Players need to be 21+ to partake in the action legally.
Blackjack
Online casinos offer a half-dozen to a dozen online blackjack variants apiece, along with live dealer blackjack.
All nine Atlantic City casinos have blackjack tables, with most having a minimum bet of $15, though Tropicana and Borgata have $10 tables, and Bally’s blackjack starts at $25. High roller tables start at $100 a hand.
Live Dealer Games
Live dealer games are a standard inclusion in any high-quality site. The list of supported casino games includes Live Blackjack, Live Roulette, and Live Baccarat (Punto Banco).
Players should look for sites with games from Visionary iGaming (ViG) and Fresh Deck Studios, as these are the best in the game.
Other Available Games at New Jersey Online Casinos
Roulette, Baccarat, Keno, and Bingo are offered alongside the most popular categories. Craps is also popular online, while it’s common for sites to feature dozens of Video Poker variants.
Below, you can click on each category to learn more about the vast online casino offering.
Top Bonuses at Gambling Sites for New Jersey Players
Our picks for the top bonuses at gambling sites that accept New Jersey players offer a variety. One features bonus money over your first three deposits. The other offers a combination of bonus cash and free spins. Between the two, you should find the bonus type you prefer.
New Jersey Online Gambling Laws
As already mentioned, Garden State has a permissive stance towards most forms of gambling, as the state’s voters approved land-based casinos way back in 1976.
2012 saw a new statewide vote, where residents approved online casinos and poker sites. These rolled out during the following year, helping fill the state’s coffers through new online gambling revenue.
Retail and online sportsbooks where allowed after the US Supreme Court struck down the PASPA ban on sports betting in 46 US states.
Is Online Gambling Legal in New Jersey?
The Casino Control Act of 1977 defined legal and illegal forms of gambling in the state. Anytime state leaders have changed the gambling laws since it has been through amendments to this act.
That includes the 2013 law, which legalized online casinos and poker sites, and the 2018 law, which legalized retail sportsbooks, online sportsbooks, and mobile sports betting apps.
Due to the aforementioned revisions, online gambling is legal. If you want to learn the full scope of the state’s online gambling laws, you should read Chapter 5:12 of the Casino Control Act.
NJ Only Punishes Operators & Payment Processors
State gambling laws punish gambling operators who take illegal bets, as well as payment processors who handle illegal gambling payments.
Though state officials warn state gamblers about using offshore sites, individuals face no prosecution.
NJ Taxes on Gambling Winnings
The federate tax rate on gambling winnings is 24%, while the NJ tax rate for gambling winnings is 3%.
Casinos don’t keep track of your table game winnings, but players are expected to keep track and report them to the IRS themselves.
*Please be advised that the information provided on this page does not constitute legal advice. Our team strongly recommends you seek professional counsel from a qualified attorney regarding your specific questions or concerns on the topic.
New Jersey Online Gambling vs. Neighboring States
The Garden State set the standard for gambling laws in the northeastern United States by regulating most forms of gambling before its neighbors. Here is a comparison between them and nearby states.
| US State | Playing at Online Casinos | State Regulated Casinos | Social Casinos | Online Sports Betting | Lottery | Fantasy Sports | Charitable Gaming |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| New York | Legal | Not Legal | Gray Area | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| Pennsylvania | Legal | Legal | Not Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| Delaware | Legal | Legal | Not Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
Most states adjacent to New Jersey have similar gambling laws. New York, Pennsylvania, and Delaware have different approaches to social gaming, but otherwise are the same.
New York allows private home games but bans blackjack, roulette, and other games with a built-in house edge.
Tips For Playing at NJ Online Casinos Safely
New Jersey residents who play at online casinos should remember a few safety tips while playing. We advocate for responsible gambling and treating it as entertainment.
Take Welcome Bonus Cash
Bonus money effectively lowers the house edge when you play. Read the terms and conditions to learn about wagering requirements, game contribution rates, max bet stipulations, max cashout terms, and required promo codes.
Report Your Gambling Earnings
If you win an online slots jackpot of $2,500 or more in New Jersey, you must report the winnings to the IRS and the New Jersey Department of the Treasury. Such jackpots are called “handpays”.
Manage Your Bankroll
Use casino bankroll management methods to limit the size of your bets and the length of your gaming sessions. Assure bets don’t comprise more than 1% to 3% of your bankroll. Apply loss limits, win goals, and time limits on your sessions.
Play for Fun and Entertainment
Gambling is entertainment, just like movies, concerts, and sporting events. Consider gambling losses an entertainment cost.
Use disposable income only. Don’t play casino games to make money, as the house has the edge. Thus, having fun should always be the priority.
Learn What Self-Exclusion Is
Know what self-exclusion is and use it if you experience problem gambling. Make a calm decision between gaming sessions to ensure you don’t make mistakes during the thrill of the game.
New Jersey self-exclusion laws assure you can control problem behavior by taking the decision to play at a casino out of your hands.
Pros & Cons of Gambling in New Jersey
Whether you prefer online casino or land-based gaming, gambling is easy to access.
Here are a few facts that NJ players should know before playing.
Pros
- Nearly two dozen trusted online casino operators.
- Big bonuses from trusted online casinos like Bovada and DuckyLuck.
- Hot Drop Jackpots and progressive slots at Bovada, Ignition, Slots.lv, and Cafe Casino.
- No deposit bonuses from operators like Red Dog and Lincoln Casino.
Cons
- No operators feature Live Craps.
- Wagering requirements of 35x or more are high.
- More casinos should offer no-deposit bonuses.
Future of New Jersey Online Gambling: Our Prediction
NJ has a well-developed set of gambling laws, as the state legalizes, regulates, and taxes most forms of gambling—including online and mobile casinos.
In the coming years, players can expect the state to tweak its laws to make gambling safer for its residents. Lawmakers will focus on internet gaming since it is the least-developed gaming industry sector within the state.
New gambling laws might involve virtual sports betting, Esports betting, virtual casino games, and more refined interstate poker statutes. Further out, legislation might involve the impact of generative AI on the industry.
In most cases, expect the state to legalize and tax the latest forms of online gambling.
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New Jersey Online Gambling FAQs
Can Other States Residents Play at New Jersey Online Casinos Through a VPN?
Although a VPN will technically give you access to official New Jersey gambling sites. I don’t recommend you do so, as you’ll have a hard time verifying your identity, which can prevent you from cashing any winnings.
Do you have to be a NJ resident to gamble online in the state?
Both residents and visitors are legally allowed to gamble online within state borders. Visitors should consider that they shall also pay the 3% tax for gambling winnings earned in New Jersey.
