NJ Sports Betting Online – Best Sportsbooks in New Jersey

Key NJ Sports Betting Info

New Jersey is an established sports betting market, but it’s never too late to learn more and jump in on the action.

Use the links below to get quick details on the following topics:

Jump To: Betting Apps / Bonus Offers / Signing Up & Getting Started / Rules & Regulations / Licensing & Taxes / Latest News / Retail Sportsbooks/ Local Teams / History / FAQ

New Jersey Sports Betting at a Glance

The Garden State has been a powerful magnet for sports bettors in New York. The Empire State launched retail sports betting in 2019, but the availability of online wagering in New Jersey is a powerful force.

In 2019, New Jersey’s sports betting handle exceeded 4.5 billion dollars, with the overwhelming majority of this action placed online. Nearly nine in ten wagers were placed using the legal NJ sports betting apps featured below.

Regardless of the device you prefer to use, it’s crucial to select a legal and reliable online sportsbook. Choosing from the options we’ve reviewed is an easy way to get started.

NJ Online Sports Betting & Mobile Apps

The wide range of choices when it comes to legal betting apps is one of the best things about sports betting in New Jersey.

In a world where we do everything from connecting with friends to pay our bills from our smartphones, every state should embrace mobile betting as part of their sports betting legalization framework.

A well-designed betting app offers the freedom and flexibility to bet from anywhere at any time. Many of the best sportsbook operators design their entire platform with a mobile-first mentality, which means the user experience is often superior to that found on your desktop.

Many sportsbooks have also optimized their live betting platforms to suit mobile devices. If you want to place bets while you watch the game, a solid betting app is a must. After all, you can’t drag your laptop to the stadium, let alone a packed sports bar or friend’s watch party.

The benefit of mobile betting goes both ways. States that have allowed easily accessible online betting (like the Pennsylvania sports betting market) have brought in significantly more tax revenue vs. those that only allow retail sports betting at casinos and racetracks.

Note that some apps are state-specific, while others offer a universal platform that can be used in any state where the sportsbook is licensed to operate.

Here are the best NJ sports betting apps available today:

All the apps listed above are available for both Apple and Android users.

Follow the links in the table above to quickly get started with the download.

Best NJ Sportsbook Bonuses

There is also a wide selection of NJ sports betting bonus offers for new and existing players to take advantage of.

There’s a ton of New Jersey sports betting bonuses that can help you pad your bankroll. Sometimes these take the form of a free bet credit or contest, while other times they take the form of boosted odds offering a bigger payout on certain events.

Most of the sportsbooks featured on this page also offer daily boosted odds for New Jersey sports bettors. Obviously, these offers change every day. Keep your eyes out for New Jersey sports betting promos anytime you visit one of these betting apps.

New Jersey Sign Up Bonuses

In addition to the short-term promos highlighted above, the best NJ betting sites and sports apps entice new customers with generous sign up offers.

These welcome bonuses can be worth thousands of dollars, so it’s worth shopping around if you’re looking for the biggest possible bankroll.

Here are the five best sports betting sign up bonuses and welcome offers for New Jersey:

These are the best offers at legal New Jersey sports betting sites.

Whichever online sportsbook you decide to bet with, you’ll want to ensure it is properly sanctioned by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.

Registering at a New Jersey Betting Site

Once you’ve found the right site, it’s exceptionally easy to get started and redeem the full value of your bonus offer.

Steps to Get Started

Here are step-by-step instructions to place your first legal sports bet in NJ today:

1. Create a new account with a top-rated sportsbook. Click here to get started at DraftKings.
2. Follow the on-screen instructions. You’ll need to have some personal info ready for verification:
   1. Full name
   2. Address
   3. Date of Birth
   4. SSN
3. You will be prompted to make a deposit your payment method of choice. Complete this process right away to take full advantage of the sign up bonus on offer. Below you’ll find the most common and convenient deposit methods accepted at New Jersey sportsbooks:
   1. Credit Card
   2. Debit Card
   3. ACH eCheck
   4. PayPal
   5. Prepaid Card
4. Note that the amount you deposit will often determine the value of your sign up bonus.

Sports betting in New Jersey is authorized under Sports Wagering Law P.L., c.33. In case you don’t want to read the full regulations, we’ve summarized the most important legal info for betting in the Garden State below.

Rules & Restrictions

New Jersey offers largely unfettered access to both online and retail sports betting. That said, there are several key rules regarding the type of bets sportsbooks can offer, and who can bet on sports in the state.

All sports betting rules in New Jersey are stipulated and enforced by the Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE).

Who Is Allowed to Bet on Sports In New Jersey?

Most adults are allowed to wager on sports in the state, with a few minor exceptions.

You Must Be At Least 21 Years Old to Bet in New Jersey

You need to be 21 years old to bet on sports either in person or online in New Jersey. Sportsbook operators will verify your age and identity upon presenting a government-issued ID or using e-verify software approved by the Division of Gaming Enforcement.

You Must Be Physically Located in New Jersey

You must be physically present within state boundaries to place an online wager with legal sportsbooks licensed in New Jersey.

If using a betting app, the sportsbook will verify your location using the integrated location services on your device. If you choose to use a laptop or desktop computer, you’ll need to download approved geo-comply software provided directly by your online sportsbook of choice.

Some Sports and Gambling Industry Employees Are Restricted

Per N.J.A.C. 13:69N-1.1, individuals who own ten percent or more of any team or sports governing organization are prohibited from wagering on that sport in the state. All employees of such organizations must register with the DGE before placing any sports wagers using this form.

Which Events Can I Bet on In New Jersey?

New Jersey allows wagering on nearly all sports and events popular for sports betting. There are no restrictions on events like the Olympics, and the state has been generous in approving new events for wagering.

See the full list of approved events & leagues or simply read on to see the most important restrictions.

New Jersey Restricts Betting on Some College Sports

Bettors in New Jersey can legally wager on the vast majority of college sporting events. The only exception is those events that take place in the state of New Jersey or involve a team representing a college or university from the state.

While many sportsbooks will offer promotions to back hometown teams, they can’t offer wagering of any kind on college and amateur events with a direct tie to the state.

Most NJ eSports Betting Is Restricted…For Now

New Jersey is quickly moving to widely legalize eSports betting with Bill A637. This bill allows New Jersey sportsbooks to offer eSports wagering on most college and professional events and tournaments. It is widely expected to pass in 2020.

Currently, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement is authorized to give special permission for sportsbook operators to offer eSports wagering on an event-by-event basis. Recent examples include the 2019 League of Legends World Championship Final and iNASCAR races during the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic.

eSports betting has become a significant draw for international sportsbook operators, so it’s no surprise New Jersey regulators are keen to be the first in the nation to allow eSports bets in the United States.

See our best eSports betting tips.

Politics & Entertainment Props

Betting on politics and entertainment events like the Oscars is a great way to mix things up and add some diversity to your betting program.

New Jersey allows prop betting on specific entertainment events, currently including the Oscars and Academy Awards. We expect the list of approved events for entertainment betting to expand over time.

Unfortunately, the Garden States does not allow political betting of any kind. Despite the popularity of betting on politics in other countries, we suspect it is unlikely to see such wagering anywhere in the United States for the foreseeable future.

What Types of Wagers Are Allowed on These Events?

New Jersey allows all the most popular wagering types you’d expect to see at online sportsbooks, including:

• Straight bets (Moneyline, Spread, O/U)
• Parlays & Accumulators
• Pleasers & Teasers
• Player & Championship Futures
• Live Betting
• Props & Exotics

As a general guideline, the DGE approves all wager types “where the results are determined on the field of play and can be proven by a box score or statistical analysis.”

New Jersey is hard to beat when it comes to a huge range of bet types and sporting events to enjoy some action in terms of legal access.

Licensing, Taxes, and Online Sports Betting in New Jersey

New Jersey’s rapid ascension to the peak of the American sports betting world has a lot to do with a free-market approach to online betting.

Remote Registration Allowed

Bettors benefit from the ability to register new accounts and fund their bankrolls entirely remotely. Unlike in some other states with legal online betting, players in New Jersey do not need to visit a casino or retail sportsbook to verify their account.

Geolocation Required

Legal sportsbooks in New Jersey are required to confirm your location every time you attempt to place a bet.

No matter what device you’re wagering from, geo-comply software will be used to confirm that you’re within state lines. Most betting apps have this functionality built-in for mobile users, but those betting from a computer may need to download the software directly from their sportsbook.

Note that you do not need to be a New Jersey resident to bet online within the state. You simply need to be physically located in New Jersey. This is great news for bettors in New York City, who can easily drive across state lines to quickly place a few legal wagers from their smartphones.

Online Sports Betting Licenses

All existing casinos and racetracks in New Jersey are eligible to apply for licensure to offer both online and in-person retail sports betting.

Online sports betting operations require a licensed retail partner with a physical presence in the state. Casinos and racetracks can partner with up to three separately-branded online sportsbook providers under a single license. Online operators can also partner with more than one license holder.

As such, there is no cap on the number of online operators that can enter the New Jersey sports betting market. Increased competition means more options for bettors, more tax revenue for the state, and better odds and promotions for you to take advantage of.

Here are the current licenses for online sports betting in the state:

Internet gaming licenses cost just $400,000 in New Jersey, in addition to a $250,000 responsible gaming fee.

This is a remarkably low barrier to entry for the multibillion-dollar companies in this space, and the business-friendly policies have translated into the wide range of online sports betting options in the state. States with smaller populations tend to see more affordable gaming licenses, like sportsbooks in Maryland, for example.

Online sports betting is effectively taxed at 13.75% of gross revenue, in addition to the 9.75% tax levied on all gambling-derived gross revenue.

Latest NJ Sports Betting News

SportsBettingDime.com is following all of the latest updates as the legal sports betting market in New Jersey continues to evolve. Check this page to stay up to date with the latest New Jersey sports betting news as more sportsbooks enter the state and we learn more about the future of sports wagering in New Jersey. We also have updates on the latest NJ revenue figures.

March 25, 2021: Sportsbooks in the Garden State posted a total betting handle of $742.9 million through February 2021. This 22% drop might seem like cause for concern, but not when other states like Indiana and Nevada saw similar losses.

February 18, 2021:  New Jersey continued to see record-setting betting numbers in the month of January, as the state sportsbooks saw $82.6 million in revenue. The total betting handle surpassed $950 million in January 2021.

January 13, 2021: The Department of Gaming Enforcement announced New Jersey set a record in betting volume for a single state in a single month in December 2020. Bettors wagered $996.3 million through the last month of the year, a clear indicator that sports betting isn’t slowing down in the Garden State.

December 14, 2020: Figures were released for November’s betting handle, and bettors in New Jersey wagered a total of $931 million. 93.6% of the betting handle ($872.1 million) was made through online platforms.

November 10, 2020: The current laws don’t allow bettors to wager on college games played in New Jersey or games in other states involving collegiate teams from New Jersey.

The potential referendum on college sports betting in New Jersey will have to wait until sometime in 2021.

October 15, 2020: Bettors wagered $748 million on sports through the month of September. These numbers helped the state of New Jersey surpass $3 billion in total betting volume through 2020.

New Jersey Retail Sportsbooks

If you want the experience of betting in person at a casino or racetrack, New Jersey has a huge number of retail sportsbooks and betting lounges for you to choose from.

While the convenience and variety of markets that come with wagering online usually can’t be rivaled at a retail sportsbook, there is something to be said for the communal experience of watching the action unfold in a room full of other sports bettors.

As mentioned above, most retail sportsbooks in New Jersey are partnered with one or more online operators. Your account and bankroll can be used to bet in person at the retail locations in most cases.

Here are the locations where you can bet on sports in-person in New Jersey:

• Bally’s
• Borgata Hotel and Casino
• Harrah’s Atlantic City
• Hard Rock Atlantic City
• Golden Nugget
• The Meadowlands Racetrack
• Monmouth Park Racetrack
• Ocean Resort Casino
• Resorts Casino Hotel
• Tropicana Atlantic City

While there are lots of options to choose from, physical sportsbooks in New Jersey are geographically concentrated.

On the bright side, you can easily visit multiple betting lounges and compare the options with just a single day trip to Atlantic City. Fans who want to join in on sports betting in CT might want to consider making this trip sometime, and maybe even some Massachusetts bettors will make their way down!

Find the full address, hours of operation, and name of the sportsbook at each NJ retail location below.

*Hours are subject to change due to COVID-19

Local Teams Worth Betting On

Once you’ve identified a highly-rated legal NJ sportsbook from the list above, it’s time to start looking at some wagers.

While we advise you to bet with your head and not your heart, SBD understands that fans want to support their favorite teams.

We’re here to provide the data and analysis you need to bet confidently and intelligently; with betting tools and editorial coverage you can quickly use to gauge the betting value of your favorite teams.

• New York Giants
• New York Jets
• Philadelphia Eagles
• New Jersey Devils
• New York Islanders
• New York Rangers
• New York Yankees
• New York Mets
• Philadelphia Phillies
• New York Knicks
• Brooklyn Nets
• Philadelphia 76ers

Residents in New Jersey have a ton of local teams to choose from. You might have to set aside your allegiance to a favorite team when you’re planning your betting strategy!

NJ Sports Betting History

While legal sports betting remains in its infancy across the United States (except for Nevada), New Jersey is quickly becoming an East Coast hub to rival Las Vegas as the beating heart of American sports betting.

As you know by now, New Jersey was instrumental in overturning PASPA, the federal law which largely prohibited Americans from legally betting on sporting events. It took nearly a decade from the time New Jersey voters called for legalization, but a truly bipartisan effort was ultimately successful in delivering the will of the people.

Delaware was technically the first state to officially launch legal sports betting in America, New Jersey was close behind to join the industry after paving the way for other states.

Since then, the market has developed rapidly, helping to revitalize a struggling Atlantic City entertainment industry and shoring up the state’s coffers with millions in new tax revenue.

Here’s a quick retrospective featuring the key moments that got us here:

October 1992: The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) becomes law, effectively prohibiting sports betting in the United States outside of Nevada.

October 2006: The Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA) becomes law, significantly increasing the enforcement powers of the federal government to prevent US residents from gambling over the internet.

November 2011: Voters in New Jersey pass a referendum to legalize sports betting by a massive 2-1 margin.

January 2012: Governor Chris Christy (R) signs the referendum into law, legalizing sports betting at the state level in direct conflict with federal law. The four major professional leagues and the NCAA sue the state in the months that follow, preventing any operators from setting up under this regime.

February 2013: US District Court rules in favor of the leagues, stating in the decision that the federal government is within its powers under the Commerce Clause to regulate gambling everywhere in the country. This decision is upheld by a Circuit Court, but Christie vows to challenge it all the way to the US Supreme Court.

June 2017: After declining to hear the case in years prior, the Supreme Court agrees to hear New Jersey’s case against the major leagues, setting the stage for blanket federal legalization of sports betting in the United States.

May 2018: The Supreme Court rules in favor of New Jersey in the Murphy vs NCAA decision, immediately overturning PAPSA and legalizing sports betting at the federal level. UIGEA remains in effect to prevent offshore sportsbooks from servicing US customers.

June 2018: Governor Chris Murphy (D) signs Assembly Bill 4111, formally legalizing sports betting in the state under the framework seen today. Governor Murphy places the inaugural bet at Monmouth Park shortly after.

New Jersey Sports Betting FAQ

Is sports betting legal in New Jersey?

Yes. Both online and retail sportsbooks have been legal in the state since 2018.

How much revenue does New Jersey earn from sports betting?

Bettors in New Jersey spent $4.5 billion on sports betting in 2019, leaving $300 million in revenue once winnings were paid out. As a result, the state made over $100 million in tax revenue from online and casino-based sports betting.  

Can New Jersey residents still bet online while outside of the state?

No. You must be physically located in the state to bet on sports, even when wagering online. On the other hand, you do not have to be a New Jersey resident to bet within state lines.

Find the Best Sportsbooks for New Jersey

New Jersey was a driving force behind sports betting legalization. They helped set the stage for numerous sportsbooks, and with so many major operators vying for your business, you should do some research on the one that’s best for you.

SportsBettingDime’s list of the best online sportsbooks is a great place to start. Explore our in-depth reviews of legal betting apps and sports betting sites to find further detail on the best NJ sports betting bonuses and more.

If you’re looking for information on other states, our sports betting legal tracker is the best place to go. Check it out and explore our recommendations on a state-by-state basis.

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