Best legal nj online casinos (updates for 2023)

The top NJ online casinos feature hundreds of slots, numerous table games, video poker, live dealer games, pool betting, and more. All with real-money prizes, tournaments, bonuses, and rewards. So, which sites rank among the best legal NJ online casinos? Where can you find the top games and offers? Here are our top recommendations.

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  1. 425 Casino Games DraftKings’ Casino welcome offer includes a $20 freeplay and a 100% deposit match up to $2,000. Pros

    • Largest selection of casino games in NJ
    • Best welcome bonus available
    • Great mobile experience
    • Trusted US brand Cons
    • Some live dealer games are slow to load
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  2. 360 Casino Games BetMGM’s Casino welcomes you with a $1,000 deposit match plus GBP 100. Pros

    • World-renowned brand
    • Wide variety of exclusive live dealer games
    • Excellent selection of games from top providers
    • Great VIP program Cons
    • Bonus funds cannot be used on all games
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  3. 323 Casino Games Unibet offers you a $500 deposit match and three bonus spins when you join. Pros

    • Great all-around selection of games
    • Charitable sports pools
    • Easy to clear wagering requirements Cons
    • Live betting could be better
    • Get $500 on your 1st Deposit 18+ | Play Responsibly | T&C Apply

  4. 300 Casino Games Partypoker’s NJ iGaming site features a 100% up to $500 Deposit Match Welcome Bonus and $30 in SCOOP tickets. Pros

    • FastPOT jackpots
    • Tournaments with huge guarantees
    • Safe and trusted Cons
    • Not the largest game selection
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  5. 297 Casino Games Golden Nugget offers a $1,000 deposit match and excellent loyalty rewards. Pros

    • Industry leading Slot Tournaments
    • Live Dealer Poker
    • Best iPhone and Android App
    • Lots of Payment Options Cons
    • Relatively few roulette variations
    • 100% BONUS UP TO $1,000 21+ | Terms Apply

  6. 254 Casino Games bet365 NJ offers a user-friendly interface, solid selection of games, and unique early payout option for some games. Pros

    • Great blackjack selection
    • Fewest wagering restrictions of any NJ operator
    • One of world’s most trusted brands Cons
    • Welcome Bonus may vary by location 18+ | Play Responsibly | T&C Apply

  7. 200 Casino Games TheScore’s Casino offers Canadian sports fans a great place to play with a $1,000 welcome bonus.

    Pros

    • Great selection of exclusives
    • Simple, easy to use software Cons
    • Smaller overall selection
    • Get Up To $1,000 Welcome Bonus 18+ | Play Responsibly | T&C Apply

  8. 186 Casino Games Caesars offers a $25 no deposit bonus and a strong loyalty rewards program that pays dividends. Pros

    • Excellent rewards program
    • Good mix of games from multiple providers Cons
    • Below average live dealer selection
    • $25 SIGNUP SURPRISE + 100% ACES BONUS 21+ | Terms Apply

  9. 161 Casino Games Hard Rock has a good range of games and rockin’ welcome offer. Pros

    • Good selection of exclusive games
    • Generous welcome offer
    • Solid loyalty rewards Cons
    • Could have this high?
    • 100% First Deposit Match Up To €/$1000 21+ | Terms Apply

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In the following review of the top New Jersey internet casinos, we will discuss how each site stacks up across a wide range of important criteria. That includes their welcome bonuses, loyalty rewards, payment methods, software and platform, mobile support, game selections, and more. We will also provide an overview of each casino — including its strengths and weaknesses. Read on for a full analysis of the best legit NJ online casinos. And don’t forget to check out our list of safe and secure offshore casinos that accept US players if these options aren’t appealing to you.

How to Choose the Best Legal NJ Online Casinos

Before jumping into the nitty gritty details of the top NJ online casinos, it might help to know what factors were considered while compiling this list. There are many things to take into consideration when choosing which state-approved virtual casinos are the very best. Safety and security are at the top of the list, but so too are the signup bonuses being offered to new patrons. The software and platforms employed by each online casino was also analyzed as well as the mobile compatibility of those casinos. Of course, a large and diverse library of games is essential for a first rate internet casino and so they too were taken into account while making our determinations. 

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Security and safety concerns

No other concern should outweigh your need to join one of the safest New Jersey online casinos. You want assurances that your money and personal information will be protected. That starts with playing only at licensed and regulated NJ online gambling sites. You can rest assured knowing that the Division of Gaming Enforcement vets all license holders within the state to ensure they are financially sound, operate ethically, and protect consumer data. In addition to licensing, look for sites that utilize advanced encryption technologies to scramble your sensitive information. Secure sockets layer (SSL) or transport layer security (TLS) are the standards you should seek. Finally, make sure the RNGs (random number generators) powering the games have been certified as fair by a reputable third party. The DGE requires proof of this before allowing sites to operate within the state. 

Signup bonuses and promotions

Welcome bonuses are another aspect you will definitely want to compare among New Jersey online casinos. These offers are designed to give your bankroll a boost right out of the gate, providing additional opportunities to win (or lose). We’ll go into further detail below about the types of deals you can expect, but suffice to say now that they come in all shapes and sizes. Therefore, you’ll want to compare the various options side by side to determine which one is right for you. Keep in mind that every offer comes with certain conditions known as terms and conditions that must be met before you can cash out your winnings. Those requirements can include playthrough mandates, expiration dates, game restrictions, and more. Always read the fine print before signing up for an internet casino bonus.

Software quality and platform reliability

The software and platforms supporting NJ online gambling sites can greatly influence your overall gaming experience. The best digital casinos feature multi-platform setups that allow you to play using virtually any modern web browser, such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge. They may even provide downloadable desktop software and/or mobile apps. Additionally, the best remote casino platforms are built upon the foundations of several different software developers. These companies specialize in creating online casino games, and partnerships with the industry’s finest can enhance any gaming library. When you put it all together, you get a robust and reliable platform that delivers a seamless, enjoyable experience across the board. It also means a wide variety of games, many of which are available in free play mode for practice. 

Mobile capabilities

These days, mobile compatibility is a necessity for NJ online casinos. It would be nice if we could only judge sites by their desktop websites, but that’s just not reality. Everyone wants to play casino games whenever and wherever the mood strikes. For that reason, the best operators have developed native apps for iOS and Android devices, while others have created responsive websites that automatically adjust to mobile screens. No matter the method chosen, the best apps mirror the desktop experience as closely as possible while taking advantage of touchscreen technology where appropriate. If an operator doesn’t have a mobile product of some kind, they had better have a detailed explanation as to why not.

Range of games

It shouldn’t come as any surprise that the breadth and depth of a casino’s game catalog is paramount to its success. After all, nobody is going to log onto an online casino night after night with nothing to do. Quality is important too, of course, but if a site doesn’t have the games you want to play, it won’t matter how good everything else is. The best NJ online gambling sites boast several hundred different games covering all the major categories, including slots, video poker, table games, dice games, and more. It also helps to have some unique titles most people haven’t played before along with live dealer games for extra authenticity.

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Slots

Online slot machines are the cornerstone of every digital casino because they are the lifeblood of the land-based casinos that birthed them. Every internet casino in New Jersey boasts a selection of slot games, even if it’s just a few dozen. Still, some sites have hundreds more than their competitors, giving patrons more opportunities to win while risking nothing more than a simple spin of the reels. The best online casinos in New Jersey offer slot games with progressive jackpots, innovative features, bonus games, and other exciting attributes that keep play fresh and interesting.

When comparing slot libraries across the best NJ online casinos, there are a few things worth noting. Overall size is certainly an important metric, but you may also want to consider the denomination levels offered and volatility of the games. Does the casino have plenty of penny slots? What about high limit games for VIPs? Are there enough low variance titles to satisfy the casual players? And do the sites have enough high variance games to entice the thrill seekers? It’s also important to know which companies developed each slot machine because some are simply better than others. 

Table games

Slots may be prevalent throughout the best NJ online casinos, but no gaming site would be complete without a selection of classic table games. Blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and craps remain popular pastimes for gamblers of all stripes, and reputable internet casinos know this. However, not all sites offer the same table games, and some may have fewer variations of a particular game than their competition. For example, one casino may offer four different types of blackjack while another has eight. Which is better? Well, that depends on how much you enjoy the card game. It’s also worth mentioning that some online casinos share their table games with their sportsbooks and poker rooms, artificially inflating their totals. We won’t knock it, though, because that just means more varieties are available to customers.

Rock-solid software is essential to the best virtual casino table games. You don’t want errors dictating whether you win or lose, so choose operators who use reputable development companies. This goes double for roulette games, which can be particularly treacherous due to the potential for biased wheels. The return-to-player (RTP) percentage is another factor to ponder. You’ll almost certainly have to settle for an RTP under 100% when you play at online casinos, but getting as close to break-even as possible is ideal.

Video poker

Video poker is one category that often gets lost in the shuffle between slots and table games, but it shouldn’t. This class of casino games offers some of the best odds available in the industry, making them incredibly attractive to seasoned players. Once again, the best online casinos in New Jersey differ in the types of video poker they host and the density with which they populate their libraries. Jacks or Better may be sufficient for some patrons, but others will demand a broader range of games, including Deuces Wild, Triple Play Draw Poker, Double Double Bonus Poker, and more.

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Pay attention to the denominations in which these games are available because that directly affects your long-term expectations. Playing at a $5 denomination instead of $0.50 may not seem like a big deal on each individual hand, but it will add up over time. Finally, you’ll want to see if any of the top NJ online casinos offer multi-hand versions of video poker. This allows players to wager on up to 52 hands at once, maximizing their winning potential.

Dice games and other miscellaneous offerings

Dice games aren’t as plentiful among the best New Jersey online casinos as slots and table games, but they’re out there. Specifically, you can generally find pool betting on these sites. Also known as lottery-style games, pool betting tasks participants with picking five numbers from 1 through 49 and placing a wager on one or more of the possible outcomes.

There are dozens of different wagers available, ranging from returns that are all but certain to ones that offer odds greater than 800 to 1. Because the house edge on pool betting is relatively low, these games are quite popular, especially among value hunters.

You can also find keno among the top NJ online casino games. Numbered circles arranged in rows of five cover a Keno card, and players pick as few as one and as many as ten numbers on each ticket. Wagers cover anywhere from one to all 10 choices, and winning tickets earn returns based on how many numbers are hit out of the ones players picked.

Another possibility among the best New Jersey online casinos are scratch-off games. As their name implies, these games work like scratch-offs you might buy at the convenience store. The idea is to reveal corresponding symbols on three overlapping sections to win prizes.

Finally, there are numerous opportunity among the best New Jersey online casinos to play exclusive original games. Many of these games defy categorization, appearing to occupy their own genres entirely. Others participate in known categories like puzzle games or arcade games. Regardless, the novelty of these unique titles makes them enduringly entertaining for many gamblers.

Live dealer games

While most casino games are run wholly by computers or physical objects like roulette wheels, live dealer games throw real humans into the mix. These games bridge the gap between online and land-based casinos in a way nothing else can. Basically, live dealer games function like traditional remote casino contests, except that they stream video of real people performing the actions that determine the outcomes of your bets.

Most live dealer games are variants of blackjack, roulette, Sic Bo, and baccarat, but there’s always the possibility of something more novel crossing your stream. Evolution Gaming, Ezugi, and PRAGMA Gaming are the main producers of live dealer content, and their suites can be found among the top NJ online casinos.

Exclusive games

Every single one of the best New Jersey online casinos features exclusive games you can’t play anywhere else – at least not in this state. These proprietary products can give a gaming site an edge in the marketplace, enticing players away from the competition.

Exclusivity isn’t the only thing that matters when comparing the top NJ online casino games, however. You’ll also want to think about themes, features, and other qualities that define your gambling experience. Does the game tell an interesting story? Is it action-packed with lots of chances to win? Does it have a generous jackpot, and if so, what kind? These are the questions you must ask to truly appreciate the inventory of exclusive online casino games in New Jersey.

Pooled jackpots

Progressive jackpots are the holy grail of online gambling for many players because they offer the chance to win enormous sums of money with just a little luck. Unlike regular jackpot slots, which have fixed top awards, progressive games roll a portion of everybody’s wagers into a cumulative prize that grows larger with every spin. This means the more people play a progressive jackpot slot, the bigger the jackpot will become until some lucky patron hits the big time.

Numerous online casino games in New Jersey feature progressive jackpots, but they’re most common in the slot selection. However, you can also find progressive table games, video poker, and even bingo variants with ever-growing prizes.

Some progressive games feature “mini” jackpots that reset at relatively low amounts, say $1000 or less. These are sometimes called fun play or mini jackpots to distinguish them from the “big” progressives, which can reach seven figures before being hit. Either way, these games offer the chance to win big without a massive investment of time or money.

Bonus opportunities

The best NJ online casinos all offer signup and deposit match bonuses to encourage new business, and to some extent, these offers are all similar. However, the terms and conditions attached to each bonus can vary widely, changing the equation considerably.

For instance, some bonuses must be played through (wagered) 20 times, while others require 50x or more. Needless to say, a 20x wagering requirement is preferable to a 50x waggering requirement, all other things being equal. Other factors worth considering include how long you have to fulfill the playthrough obligation, what kinds of games count toward completing the bonus, and what your bonus wagering percentage really is.

Along those lines, it’s important to understand that not every game contributes equally toward clearing a bonus. In fact, many gaming sites completely exclude certain games from the bonus playthrough altogether. This isn’t always a bad thing because it means you can’t unwittingly squander your bonus on a game with unfavorable odds. Instead, the casino is upfront about which games qualify so there are no misunderstandings.

Additional bonus opportunities abound at the top NJ online casinos. Reload bonuses give patrons a reason to keep coming back, while refer-a-friend deals let you bring your friends along for the ride. Special event bonuses are also possible, so be sure to check in regularly for the latest offers.

Loyalty rewards programs

All good things must come to an end, and unfortunately, that adage applies to online casino bonuses. Once you’ve fulfilled all the required playthrough, you may wonder what happens next. Don’t fret, as the best NJ online casinos feature loyalty rewards programs designed to benefit your long-term play. Depending on the specific operator, you may be invited to join a VIP club, iRewards program, M Life network, or some other special perk system.

Regardless of the nomenclature, the idea behind these systems is to reward frequent players with additional benefits beyond the standard bonuses and promotions available to everyone. Such perks can include faster clearing rates for future bonuses, higher deposit limits, merchandise prizes, exotic vacation packages, and invitations to special events held right at the casino.

If you find yourself playing at multiple online casinos in New Jersey, you’ll be happy to learn that some loyalty programs can be used across networks. For instance, iRewards is one of the biggest player loyalty groups in the industry, with membership extending to numerous online casinos and sportsbooks. This means you can earn and accumulate iRewards points at several different sites and redeem them all in one place.

Best New Jersey Online Casino Apps

Researching the best legal NJ online casinos would be incomplete without looking at their mobile apps. The ability to gamble on the go is crucial to many players, so we made sure to analyze the smartphone and tablet offerings of all the top online casinos in New Jersey.

We began by distinguishing between dedicated mobile apps and browser-based platforms. While most operators offer the latter, some still cling to downloadables for iOS and Android, and in our opinion, that’s a good thing. Having a native app provides the best possible mobile gambling experience, but either way, the desktop website of every NJ online casino should be optimized for mobile viewing.

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Once we determined the delivery mechanism, we compared game selections across the best mobile gambling apps in NJ. Truthfully, there wasn’t a huge difference between the top operators, and many actually surpassed their desktops sites in this metric. Several online casinos have added hundreds of extra slots to their mobile apps, expanding the breadth of their gaming libraries significantly.

Of those mobile apps that fall short in this regard, it usually isn’t by much. Most still boast several hundred games apiece, and many of those titles are exclusive to Atlantic City casinos anyway. Moreover, every single one of the best New Jersey online casinos offers all their live dealer games on their mobile apps, which isn’t the case at some of the rival platforms.

As for the actual mobile apps themselves, users report fast, reliable performance with intuitive navigation and quick loading times. That’s not surprising considering the parent land-based casinos for these online gaming sites spend millions on their IT departments to provide this level of service.

One area where the dedicated mobile apps for NJ gambling have an advantage is push notifications. Because users opt in to receive these alerts when installing the app, casinos know patrons want to keep abreast of the latest promos and bonuses. This allows the operators more leeway in crafting targeted messaging for maximum impact, resulting in more valuable offers for the customer.

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Overall, we see nothing standing in the way of New Jersey online casino players who want to gamble via mobile device. The best operators have gone to great lengths to accommodate this demographic, and they show no signs of letting up.

Legal Gambling Age in New Jersey

As mentioned earlier in this review, anyone can visit the websites of legal NJ online casinos, but only those aged 21 and up can create an account and participate in the games. Understandably, the state of New Jersey wants to ensure that all online casino patrons are mature adults capable of handling their own affairs.

To open an account, you’ll need to supply your name, age-verifying documents, social security number (SSN), and other identifying information. The last four digits of your SSN will be shared with the divison of Gaming Enforcement to ensure everything checks out.

If everything is in order and you’re of legal gambling age in New Jersey, an online casino account manager will approve your registration within a day or two. Then, you’ll be ready to deposit some money and start gambling online.

Deposit and Withdrawal Methods

Before putting in any bets, you’ll need to fund your new online casino account. Thankfully, the best NJ online gambling sites accept a variety of payment methods to make the process easier. This isn’t guaranteed among lesser platforms, so we think it’s worth highlighting here as a point of distinction.

VISA and MasterCard are accepted at most New Jersey online casinos, but you should check the specifics before attempting a deposit. Certain issuing banks will decline all gaming-related transactions, regardless of the card company’s official policy. It never hurts to call the customer support line if you’re unsure whether your preferred payment processor is acceptable.

In addition to credit and debit cards, you can generally fund your online casino account with an e-wallet, prepaid card, cash at the associated land-based casino cage, and bank transfer. Some sites even accept Wire Transfers and cryptocurrency deposits, although the latter option may not be a true bank withdrawal, per se. More on that in a moment.

Withdrawing your winnings from the best online casinos in New Jersey usually isn’t a problem, but you may not be able to utilize the same payment methods in both directions. For instance, VISA typicallyonly allows transfers going into an account, not out.

Checks and Money Orders are almost always available as withdrawal methods, and these can be convenient for some patrons. However, you’ll likely have to wait several days for standard mail delivery, and there’s always the chance the document could get lost.

Bank transfers and PayPal are usually faster ways to withdraw your winnings, but only a handful of NJ online casinos offer the latter these days. This is because of a regulatory change that went into effect in July 2020, requiring a gaming license to offer PayPal services. Some sites already had such permits, but others did not, and they’ve had to remove the e-wallet from their inventories.

That leaves traditional bank transfers as one of the few universal withdrawal methods at New Jersey online casinos. Fortunately, these transactions are typically quicker than checks, though still subject to delay depending on the financial institution.

One final note regarding bank withdrawals: Be aware that some New Jersey online casinos will report your transaction to the IRS as a third-party transaction. This is because payments between casinos and banks typically include an intermediary these days, thereby triggering the Box 1a designation on your Form 1099G. You don’t have to worry about any taxes being withheld unless there’s a notice in the rack adjacent to your withdrawal amount indicating an amount in Box 2.

Responsible Gambling Tools & Customer Support

Even the best legal online casinos in New Jersey recognize that gambling can be a slippery slope for some patrons. To that end, all responsible operators provide various tools to help players stay within their means.

Timeouts are one such option, allowing patrons to lock themselves out of their accounts for a specified period of hours or days. During the timeout period, you won’t be able to log into your account or place any bets, giving you some space to reflect on your gambling habits. Timeouts range from 24 hours to 30 days, depending on the site.

If you feel you need a longer break from online gambling, self-exclusion may be a better choice. This drastic measure prevents you from logging into your account or even registering a new one at the same online casino for a minimum of five years. Self-excluded players won’t receive marketing communications during the exclusion period either, further reducing exposure to the operator.

Self-exclusion is irreversible until the five-year term expires, so if you think you might have second thoughts, you may want to go with a shorter cooling-off period. Timeouts give you more control over when you can begin gambling at the online casino again.

Beyond these self-management tools, the best legal NJ online casinos also offer resources for those who want to quit gambling forever. Contact information for the problem gambling helpline is usually listed under the responsible gaming headings, and some sites go even further with self-assessment quizzizes, supportive articles, and links to local treatment centers.

If you need to restrict your access to a New Jersey online casino, we recommend reaching out to the customer support department. They can walk you through the steps necessary to enact a timeout or self-exclusion and answer any questions you may have about the processes.

Customer support representatives may also be able to assist with account management tasks, such as stopping bonus offers or excluding certain games from your bonus playthrough. This brings us to another point of discussion.

High-quality customer service is essential among the best NJ online casinos, and responsible operators understand this. Most gaming sites feature 24/7 support departments accessible via several modes of communication.

Live chat is a must for any serious online casino because it allows patrons to instantly connect with a representative and convey their issues or questions in real time. Email is another useful contact medium because it allows for attachments and lengthier explanations, which can be useful when addressing bonus playthrough concerns or similar complex matters.

Phone support is offered less frequently these days but remains a useful tool for speaking with someone immediately. Depending on the department you reach by telephone, you may even be surprised to find that the person on the other end of the line is an actual gambling expert and not an automated response machine.

Security Seal: How to Avoid Scams

You can avoid scams by playing only at licensed and regulated online casinos in New Jersey, of which there are many respectable choices. Each one holds a valid interactive gaming permit from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (NJDGE), which verifies that the parent brick-and-mortar casino has vetted the online partner according to strict guidelines.

Among the items checked off in the background screening process are adequate funding sources, responsible gaming measures, and compliance with all state and federal laws. Furthermore, the land-based casino must guarantee the security of the online operator’s cyberassets and protect customer identities and funds.

Here’s a tip for recognizing a legitimate NJ online gambling license holder. Look for the NJDGE interactive gaming seal displayed conspicuously on the online casino website. Hover over the logo to view the exact address of the authorization.

Click the link to visit the official New Jersey licensing website, which will feature the following disclaimer at the bottom of the page: “This Listing is provided for the benefit of potential consumers of VGTs and Interactive Gaming and in no way should be construed to imply that the Division or the State of New Jersey has reviewed, investigated, examined, approved, endorsed or recommended in any way the qualified manufacturer, play supplier, or interactive gaming information provider.”

In English, this means the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement isn’t telling you that you should play at these online casinos, but it is saying that they have met the requisite standards for obtaining a license.

List of All Legal Online Casinos in NJ

New Jersey boasts a wide variety of legal online casinos, each with its unique personality and gaming inventory. We’ll forego comprehensive reviews here, instead directing interested readers to the relevant links for a closer look.

Offshore Casinos vs. Legal Gambling Sites in NJ

Unfortunately, not all online casinos are created equal, and some operate outside the bounds of the law. These offshore gambling sites may appear legitimate, promising big bonuses and thousands of games, but they don’t hold licenses from respected regulatory agencies like the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.

Offshore casinos often claim they’re not subject to American gambling laws, but this isn’t true. Even if you manage to deposit and withdraw money without incident, these unlicensed sites are breaking the law in numerous other ways that could eventually jeopardize your funds and personally identifiable information (PII).

For instance, offshore casinos may not segregate your deposit money in a separate account as required by NJ gambling regulations. This means the operators could theoretically use your bankroll for purposes other than running the gaming site and even pocket the cash.

Furthermore, unknown individuals could gain unauthorized access to your banking and personal information if the offshore casino fails to implement adequate data security protocols.

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Even if you somehow manage to win a jackpot while playing at an illegal online casino, collecting your winnings could prove difficult. If regulators discover you’ve gambled at an unlicensed site, they may refuse to authorize the transfer of your money, leaving you out of luck.

Instead of dealing with all these hypothetical negatives, we suggest sticking with one of the many legal NJ online casinos. These gaming sites boast hundreds of slot games and dozens of table games, not to mention exclusive titles you can’t play anywhere else.

Incidentally, the list of top NJ online casinos is always growing as more operators enter the market. We’ll keep updating this section of our site with the latest additions so you can easily compare all your options.

NJ Gambling Laws

Thinking of hitting the virtual felt in New Jersey? Before you do, it may be helpful to familiarize yourself with the state’s gambling laws, at least in their broad strokes.

Anyone physically located in the state of New Jersey can access legal online gambling sites and partake in the games offered therein.

However, several provisions exist that prohibit activities related to online gambling. For instance, it is illegal for anyone other than the New Jersey attorney general, or his or her designee, to offer either in-person or online gambling in the state.

It is similarly prohibited for anyone to operate an Internet gaming site without the necessary licenses and interact keys obtained through a land-based Atlantic City casino.

New Jersey gambling laws also make it unlawful for any entity to advertise, promote, facilitate information, or provide any service in aid of illegal online betting operations within the state.

And finally, anyone engaged in Internet gambling in New Jersey must be at least 21 years old and physically located within the state’s borders.

History of Gambling in New Jersey

Following the passage of the Federal Wire Act in 1961, all forms of gambling were outlawed throughout the United States. This remained the case until the 1970s, when some states began repealing their antigambling statutes.

New Jersey took up the cause in 1977, when the state legislature approved a referendum legalizing off-track horse betting. Governor Byrne vetoed the bill, but the legislature overrode him, making New Jersey the first state to authorized gambling activity besides race tracks.

Residents soon grew frustrated with limited options for legal horse wagering, and in 1978, a second referendum established the New Jersey Sports Lottery. The first draw occurred in August 1970, with New Jersey becoming the third state (after Florida and New York) to offer a state-run lottery.

By the late 1980s, residents and lawmakers alike were clamoring for even more gambling options. Governor James Florio responded in 1976 with a plan to legalize Atlantic City casinos, and the voters agreed the following November.

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