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New Jersey Sports Betting

Nick Chappell Tue 11/12 5:42pm PT

New Jersey was among the first states to legalize sports betting in 2018 following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling removing the federal prohibition that had prevented states other than Nevada from doing so. The state’s casinos and racetracks moved quickly, immediately opening sportsbooks to provide sports bettors a wealth of options in the Garden State.

In fact, the rest of the United States has New Jersey to thank for the current expansion of legal sports betting throughout the country. It was New Jersey that first challenged the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 and then repeatedly appealed rulings upholding it. Finally the case was heard by the U.S. Supreme Court who in May 2018 delivered its favorable ruling to strike down PASPA.

New Jersey Sports Betting

Today all nine of the casinos operating in Atlantic City have both retail and online sportsbooks. Sports bettors in New Jersey can also place wagers at two racetracks, Monmouth Park in Oceanport and The Meadowlands in East Rutherford. In terms of both revenue and the “handle” or amount wagered every month, New Jersey now rivals Nevada as the biggest state for sports betting in the country.

Here’s a comprehensive look at sports betting in New Jersey with information about how it works and the many places where you can wager on your favorite sporting events.

New Jersey Sports Betting Information

If you are a resident of New Jersey or even just visiting the state, you can bet on sports as long as you are at least 21 years of age.

New Jersey has fast become one of the most popular states for sports betting with a rapidly-growing number of retail and online options. Like other states, those in New Jersey can either place bets at any of the sportsbooks located at Atlantic City casinos or at the state’s two racetracks.

Bettors can also register accounts at any of the many available online sportsbooks. It is possible to register and even fund online sportsbook accounts from outside of New Jersey, but you will need to be within state lines in order to place a wager.

The types of sports betting options available run the gamut, including traditional single-game wagers on spreads, moneylines, and totals, game and player props, parlays and teasers, futures bets, in-game or “live” betting, and more. You can bet on collegiate and professional sports, including both American and international events. The only restrictions are you cannot bet on high school sports, nor can you bet on collegiate events happening in New Jersey or happening anywhere if they involve New Jersey schools.

New Jersey Online Sportsbooks

New Jersey allows casinos and racetracks to apply for licenses to open and operate retail sportsbooks. Each that does become a sports wagering licensee is then allowed to provide up to three individually branded sports wagering websites or “skins.” With nine casinos and five racetracks (one of which is now defunct), that means at present there can be up to 42 online sportsbooks in the state, and in fact New Jersey is already nearing half that total (see below).

Gross revenue for sports betting in New Jersey is taxed at 8.5% for the retail sportsbooks and 13% for online sportsbooks. For both there is an additional 1.25% “investment alternative tax” which goes to tourism and marketing programs in Atlantic City.

Active New Jersey Online Sportsbooks

bet365

A prominent player in U.K. sports betting, bet365 brings many years of online experience in that market to New Jersey with a great alternative for seasoned sports bettors with lots of detail and information at the ready. A consistently high number of ongoing promotions also make bet365 an attractive option.

Fanatics

The nation’s best sportsbook, Fanatics, is now available in the Garden State! Fanatics will replace Pointbet in the region and offer NJ players both a sportsbook and casino experience. They also have a great offer where if you sign up, you can use the Bet and Get up to $1,000 in No Sweat Bets offer!

BetMGM

The first Borgata-partnered online sportsbook initially launched as playMGM, then once MGM partnered with European-based industry giant GVC Holdings to create Roar Digital, the site and app were rebranded as BetMGM. Reviews of the online sportsbook, linked both to the MGM online casino and online poker room, have been uniformly positive.

New players in MI, NJ, PA, and WV are also eligible for this great casino offer: Bet $10 on sports, get $100 in bonus bets, and get $150 in casino bonus!

Caesars Sportsbook NJ

Caesars Entertainment engaged in a major takeover operation with the famed UK bookmaker William Hill in early 2021. The company officially rebranded its William Hill products as Caesars Sportsbook in August of the same year. The new, revamped Caesars, with Will Hill bones, is amongst the best products in the state.

Golden Nugget Sportsbook

A longtime fixture in the casino industry as well as in New Jersey, the Golden Nugget online sportsbook is also expertly powered by SBTech.

Borgata Sportsbook

Borgata‘s self-branded online sportsbook offers an alternative to its BetMGM product. There are differences between the two skins, although both offer users the ability to move with ease between the sportsbook, casino, and poker rooms.

BetRivers (formerly SugarHouse)

Powered by Kambi, the BetRivers online sportsbook is like DraftKings (also Kambi-powered) in the way it offers a higher-than-average variety of betting options. The online sportsbook is integrated with the online casino, with users able to enjoy a rewards bonus in each.

ESPN BET

PENN Entertainment’s situation is one of the more interesting ones at this time, as the company has announced a partnership with ESPN. ESPN BET is now available in this state and in all legal sports betting states.

New users at ESPN BET are offered a Bet $10, Get $100 in Bonus Bets plus ESPN+ with the promo code SAOBONUS.

The most recognizable sports entertainment brand in the United States is one of the biggest moves we’ve seen in an era with sports betting legal.

FanDuel

FanDuel operates both the retail and online sportsbooks for The Meadowlands racetrack. Like DraftKings, FanDuel had a lot of experience with online and mobile gaming with DFS before jumping into online sports betting, and that experience shows with the very functional, user-friendly experience the online sportsbook provides. Integrated with FanDuel’s daily fantasy site.

Unibet

A pioneer in online gaming in Europe since the late 1990s, Unibet is a relatively newcomer in America though brings a great deal of experience to the table. This background is shown via the variety of betting options, including those involving live betting, teasers, and odds boosts. Lots of promotions make it an attractive choice as well.

Hard Rock Sportsbook

Following a limited launch, the Hard Rock Atlantic City online sportsbook finally became fully available in late 2019. The usual array of sports and markets are available, although at present the promotions are limited when compared to other online sportsbooks.

SuperBook Sports

Many bettors consider the SuperBook at the Westgate in Las Vegas to be one of the best retail sportsbooks in the country. It is certainly one of the biggest, offering a mammoth screen and almost unlimited sports betting opportunities. SuperBook Sports has sought to use that experience to create an online sportsbook, and so far they have been pleased with the results, particularly in NJ, where many of their customers are familiar with the brand after visiting the SuperBook during trips to Las Vegas.

PlayUp Sportsbook

Another Australian-based operator, PlayUp has had limited success here in America, currently operating in Colorado and New Jersey. Internal management struggles didn’t help matters either (the former CEO is suing the company), but the sportsbook itself is financially sound and the app is decent, if unremarkable. Still, PlayUp is worth checking out for line shopping and the promotions offered.

Betway

Another popular European operator, Betway is huge in other countries but hasn’t broken out here in America. Still, it’s a good sportsbook with a huge variety of available wagers due to its European market expertise. If you like wagering on global sports or like checking out lesser-known sportsbooks, Betway is the sportsbook for you.

Tipico Sportsbook

Tipico is a German sportsbook, which is unusual, but the Germans like to bet as much as any other European country. Still, it is an intriguing option for bettors in NJ due to its expertise in European sports and its generous promotions. It’s worth checking out for sure.

betPARX

Parx has been around in NJ and PA for a while, but betPARX is the new version of the old online casino/sportsbook. This is good news for bettors in those two states, because betPARX is a big step up from the old Parx app. Plus betPARX has a retail sportsbook at Freehold Raceway for those who like to bet in person or fund their online accounts with cash.

New Jersey Online Sportsbooks Coming Soon

Bally Bet

Bally’s Corporation owns Bally Bet, which has shot out of the gate with a huge expansion in 2021. This solid sportsbook has become fairly popular in several states, including Virginia and Arizona. We expect it to come to NJ at some point in the future due to Bally’s owning Bally’s Atlantic City and its three online skin licenses.

General Summary of Betting Options

New Jersey allows retail and online sportsbooks to offer a wide variety of betting options and markets. 

As is the case in other states, New Jersey bettors can bet on collegiate and professional sports, but not on high school sports. However unlike in other states, New Jersey sportsbooks cannot take wagers on collegiate events happening within the state or on events taking place anywhere that involve any New Jersey college team.

That said, New Jersey sports bettors can bet on “entertainment”-based contests like the outcomes of award shows and reality programs as well as eSports, both of which are not allowed in other states. 

Most New Jersey sportsbooks offer wagering on a wide variety of sports including Australian rules football, auto racing, baseball, basketball, boxing, cricket, football, golf, hockey, mixed martial arts, rugby, soccer, and tennis.

New Jersey sports bettors can also make different types of bets, from traditional single-game wagers to complicated parlays involving multiple contests. Betting types available at most New Jersey sportsbooks include:

Be sure to check each sportsbook for specific betting options. Online sportsbooks in particular often offer a wide array of non-standard options like odds boosters, alternate lines and spreads, and the like.

Banking Options for New Jersey Online Sportsbooks

Most online sportsbooks in New Jersey offer a variety of options for both depositing and withdrawing funds. In most cases you will find more ways to deposit than to withdraw, including:

When it comes to withdrawing, most online sportsbooks allow ACH / E-Check, direct bank transfers, and cashing out at the casino cage in addition to some of the other methods listed above. Be sure to review all of the available banking methods when registering for an online sportsbook in New Jersey.

Available Platforms for New Jersey Online Sportsbooks

As in other states, online sportsbooks in New Jersey can be accessed in three primary ways:

In each case you can access the online sportsbook via a web-based browser on a desktop or laptop. Just search the sportsbook name via Google, or go to the website of the partnering land-based casino or racetrack and find a link.

For iOS users, the apps can be downloaded from the Apple store. Meanwhile Android users can download the apps directly from the websites. Users will find in most cases the apps provide the same functionality and ease of use as do the regular web-based versions of the sportsbooks.

Benefits of Legal Mobile Sports Betting in New Jersey

The high number of available retail and online options makes New Jersey a great place for both serious and recreational sports bettors. The fact that online sportsbooks are all legal and regulated makes them much preferable to offshore sites of dubious legality and/or trustworthiness.  

Besides being assured the sites are all safe, the New Jersey online sportsbooks also enable easy banking options and quick cashouts. All provide various forms of support including via live chat, phone, and email, with most being available 24-7. The sites are additionally required to provide information and help to problem gamblers, with those resources also readily accessible via both the apps and web-based platforms.

New Jersey Gambling History

The history of gambling in New Jersey goes way back into the 19th century when the coastal resort of Atlantic City was the site of many underground games. In 1897 legislation was passed prohibiting all forms of gambling in the state, yet numerous illegal casinos continued to flourish well into the 20th century. The HBO series Boardwalk Empire set during the Prohibition includes some of the more memorable characters and episodes from this period.

Investigations into organized crime eventually helped bring an end to this era of illegal gambling in the state. Meanwhile in 1939 betting on horse racing was legalized, then during the 1950s legislation was passed to allow other forms of gambling like bingo and raffles, and in 1969 the state added the lottery. During the mid-1970s those in favor of legalized gambling were able to get a referendum on the ballot to allow casinos in Atlantic City, and once it was passed the first casino, the Resorts International Casino Hotel, opened in 1978.

New Jersey Betting

After a slow start other casinos began to appear up and down the famed Atlantic City Boardwalk including the Tropicana and Trump Taj Mahal. By 2006 the 12 casinos collectively reached a record revenue total of $5.2 billion, although the closure of the Sands Casino Hotel before year’s end signaled the start of what would turn out to be a decade-long decline. More locations closed bringing the total down to just seven in operation during the mid-2010s and total annual revenue down to $2.56 billion in 2015 — less than half what it had been at its peak. 

However in recent years revenue figures have begun to increase again, with the opening of the Hard Rock Hotel Casino Atlantic City and Ocean Casino Resort in June 2018 bringing the number of casinos back up to nine. Most traditional games have been offered in Atlantic City casinos, although poker was only legalized in 1993. An online gambling bill was passed in 2013, 

However it was not until 2018 that sports betting was legalized in New Jersey, culminating a decade-long effort to pass such legislation. In fact, the state’s lawmakers passed a sports betting bill in 2012, though the major sports leagues filed an injunction and the courts ruled in their favor, thus prohibiting New Jersey from being able to offer sports betting.

After losing in District Court and then two more times in the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, the state appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court who in May 2018 voted 6-3 in favor of New Jersey. Having legislation already in place, New Jersey was able to move quickly and on June 11, 2018, Governor Phil Murphy signed a new version of the sports betting bill into law.

Bills to expand gambling by allowing casinos in other areas of the state besides Atlantic City have been proposed in recent years, although none have managed to gain popular support.

FAQs

Is it legal to bet on sports in New Jersey?

Yes. Just a couple of weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the federal prohibition on states other than Nevada offering sports betting was unconstitutional, Governor Phil Murphy signed into law a sports betting bill, thereby making both retail and online sports betting legal in New Jersey.

Who oversees sports betting in New Jersey?

The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement regulates the state’s gambling and sports betting industries, including both retail and online.

What is the legal age to bet on sports in New Jersey?

Individuals must be at least 21 years of age to bet on sports in New Jersey, whether in person at a brick-and-mortar sportsbook or online.

Is online/mobile sports betting legal in New Jersey?

Yes. Online gambling of other varieties has been legal in New Jersey since 2013. Online sports betting was made legal in 2018.

What casinos in New Jersey offer retail sports betting?

All nine of the state’s casinos are located in Atlantic City — Bally’s Atlantic City Hotel and Casino, Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa, Caesars Atlantic City Hotel and Casino, Golden Nugget Atlantic City Hotel Casino and Marina, Hard Rock Hotel Casino Atlantic City, Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City, Ocean Casino Resort, Resorts Casino Hotel, and Tropicana Atlantic City. Seven of the nine casinos have their own retail sportsbooks, while Bally’s and Caesars share a sportsbook:

There are three more retail sportsbooks at racetracks in New Jersey

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