Online casinos and gambling in New Jersey, USA
When Americans think about gambling, Las Vegas, Nevada, is often the first destination that comes to mind. New Jersey is also one of the leading gambling locations in the United States. The state has generally taken a more permissive approach, and sports betting became part of its gambling landscape in 2018.
Atlantic City, New Jersey’s resort city, is home to several well-known casinos and has long appealed to everyday players and high rollers alike. Alongside its in-person venues, online casino gaming has grown in New Jersey, particularly since laws governing online betting were introduced.
Top casinos in New Jersey, USA
Gambling in New Jersey: an overview
New Jersey’s gambling history goes back decades. Casino gambling became legal in late 1976, on the condition that it remain confined to Atlantic City. Before 2011, online gambling was widespread in New Jersey and elsewhere in the USA. Then ‘Black Friday’ led major poker sites, including PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker, to shut down in the United States. A ban on financial institutions processing online gambling payments followed, applying in every state, including New Jersey.
Land-based casinos remained legal, but restrictions on online casinos and sports betting were not lifted until 2013 and 2018, respectively. This followed the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASTPA) and changes to the Internet Gambling bill.
Online casinos must meet a specific requirement: each must be registered with an Atlantic City address licensed to provide gambling services on the premises, and its servers must be located there. This rule led land-based casinos to partner with online casinos. With online gambling newly legalized, New Jersey was expected to add substantially to the $2 billion a year already generated by Atlantic City’s land-based casinos.
New Jersey gambling commission
Since land-based casinos became legal, licensing and audit oversight have been handled by the New Jersey Casino Control Commission and the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement. As regulations expanded to include online casinos and sports betting, both government bodies took on additional responsibilities.
Online gambling in New Jersey
The move towards legal online gambling began in January 2011, when the New Jersey Legislature approved a bill allowing residents over 21 to gamble online. Existing state law restricted gambling to Atlantic City, so the bill required the computer servers to operate in the city. Governor Chris Christie vetoed the measure, believing it would encourage businesses outside Atlantic City to set up gambling hubs for their own benefit.
The legislation was later rewritten to bar businesses outside Atlantic City from advertising online gambling or allowing their facilities to be used for it. The revised bill passed in February 2013 and was signed by the governor.
Instead of allowing new online casinos to open in Atlantic City, the law lets existing casinos add online gambling to their services. It also established a ten-year trial, after which the system was to be reviewed. Online gambling revenue is taxed at 15%, compared with 8% for land-based casinos—a 7% difference. Participants must be over 21 and physically in New Jersey; GPS location services are used to verify this. The Casino Control Commission is responsible for developing online gambling regulations.
Despite these conditions, online gambling was projected to bring in an additional $260 - $400 million in revenue each year once fully established. By June 2017, it had already generated over 100 million dollars. The account expected revenue to grow as online gambling became more accessible to New Jersey residents and gained popularity.
The account lists these online casinos operating in New Jersey and their partners:
- 888 Casino partnered with Caesars from 2013
- Betfair partnered with Golden Nugget from 2013
- Borgata partnered with Casino Borgata from 2013
- Caesars Casino partnered with Caesars from 2013
- Golden Nugget Casino partnered with Golden Nugget from 2013
- Harrah's Casino partnered with Caesars from 2013
- Mohegan Sun partnered with Resorts from 2013
- Pala Casino partnered with Borgata from 2014
- PartyPoker partnered with Borgata from 2016
- PokerStars partnered with Resorts from 2016
- PlayMGM partnered with Borgata from 2017
- Scores Casinos partnered with Borgata from 2017
- SugarHourse partnered with Golden Nugget from 2016
- Tropicana Casino partnered with Tropicana from 2013
- Virgin Casino partnered with Tropicana from 2014
- WSOP.com partnered with Caesars from 2013
How sports betting became legal in New Jersey
The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) of 1992 made sports betting illegal in most states. For years, the law stopped states without existing sports-betting legislation from introducing it. New Jersey challenged PASPA in 2014, launching a legal process that lasted four years. On the 14th of May 2018, the US Supreme Court overturned PASPA.
The ruling cleared the way for New Jersey to pursue regulated sports betting. On the 11th of June 2018, Governor Phil Murphy signed Assembly Bill 4111, making it lawful for New Jersey casinos and racetracks to offer sports betting.
The legalization of sports betting also applies to online casinos. If you are in New Jersey, you may place a bet with an online casino that holds a sportsbook licence.
Casinos and gambling in Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City was the only place where gambling could legally operate in New Jersey. That geographic restriction continued alongside online casinos, and by 2018 the city had 23 online casinos and nine land-based casinos. More than 28 million people visit Atlantic City each year, generating over 3 million dollars in revenue. It is the country’s second-largest gambling market, behind Las Vegas.
Proposals for the New Jersey Casino Expansion Amendment would have permitted casinos outside Atlantic City. The idea met considerable opposition, partly because it was unclear whether expansion would bring in more revenue.
Casinos listed as open in Atlantic City:
- Bally's – open since 1979
- Borgata – open since 2003
- Caesars – open since 1979
- Golden Nugget – open since 1985 (formerly Trump Marina)
- Hard Rock Casino – open since 2018
- Harrah’s – open since 1980
- Ocean Casino – open since 2018
- Resorts – open since 1978
- Tropicana – open since 1981
New Jersey state lotteries
Buying and selling lottery tickets is legal in New Jersey, but tickets must be sold through a verified reseller. The state government operates eight New Jersey lotteries. Draws include:
- Pick-3
- Pick-4
- Jersey Cash 5
- 5 Card Cash
- Pick-6
- Quick Draw
- Cash4Life (International)
- Mega Million
- Powerball
Off-track betting and horse racing in New Jersey
New Jersey has three horse racetracks and five off-track betting (OTB) halls. OTB facilities became legal in 2013. The New Jersey Racing Commission oversees horse betting and permits one race each year to take place on a New Jersey beach.
What is the legal gambling age in New Jersey?
In New Jersey, you must be over 21 to gamble at a land-based or online casino. A minor may accompany you into a land-based casino but cannot take part in gambling. Visitors to land-based casinos should carry valid identification, while online players may be asked for documents to verify their identity. Underage gambling is a misdemeanour and may result in a fine of up to $1,000 and possible suspension of your driver’s licence.
Lottery tickets are different: you can buy them from age 18.
