Online Casino and Gambling in New Jersey, USA
When people consider gambling in America, Las Vegas, Nevada is usually the first destination that comes to mind. New Jersey, however, remains close behind as one of the United States’ leading gambling locations. The state has generally taken a more permissive approach to gambling, and sports betting joined its range of gambling activities in 2018.
Atlantic City, the state’s resort city, contains several highly regarded casinos and has a long-standing reputation among everyday players and high rollers alike. Alongside its land-based venues, New Jersey has seen online casino gaming grow, particularly after laws concerning online betting were introduced.
Best Casinos New Jersey, USA
An Overview of Gambling in New Jersey
New Jersey’s gambling history stretches back many years. Casino gambling became legal in late 1976, provided that it remained confined to Atlantic City. Before 2011, online gambling was also widespread in New Jersey and elsewhere in the USA. The event known as ‘Black Friday’ then caused major poker sites, including PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker, to close in the United States. This was followed by an outright prohibition on financial institutions processing payments for online gambling, a restriction that covered every state, including New Jersey.
Although land-based casinos remained lawful, the restrictions on online casinos and sports betting were not removed until 2013 and 2018, respectively. This followed the removal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASTPA) and the revision of the Internet Gambling bill.
There is a specific condition attached to the online system: every online casino must be registered with, and locate its servers at, an Atlantic City address licensed to provide gambling services on the premises. That requirement created partnerships between land-based and online casinos. With online gambling newly legalized, the State of 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 were legalized, licensing and audit oversight have been handled by the New Jersey Casino Control Commission and the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement. As the rules expanded to cover online casinos and sports betting, both government bodies assumed additional responsibilities.
Online Gambling in the State of New Jersey
The move towards legalized online gambling began in January 2011, when the New Jersey Legislature approved a bill allowing New Jersey residents over the age of 21 to gamble online. Existing state law confined gambling to Atlantic City, so the bill specified that the computer servers had to operate within the city. Governor Chris Christie vetoed the measure, believing it would encourage businesses outside Atlantic City to establish gambling hubs for their own profit.
The legislation was subsequently rewritten to prohibit businesses outside Atlantic City from advertising online gambling or permitting their facilities to be used for it. The revised bill passed in February 2013 and was signed by the governor.
Rather than permitting new online casinos to open in Atlantic City, the legislation allows existing casinos to offer online gambling as part of their services. It also operates as a ten-year trial, after which it is to be reviewed. Online gambling revenue is taxed at 15%, compared with 8% for land-based casinos, making the online rate 7% higher. Participants must be over 21 and physically within New Jersey, with GPS location services used to track this requirement. The Casino Control Commission is responsible for developing the online gambling regulations.
Despite these conditions, online gambling was projected to generate between $260 - $400 million in extra revenue each year once fully established. By June 2017, it had already produced over 100 million dollars. The source expected that figure to rise as online gambling became more accessible to New Jersey residents and increased in popularity.
The source lists the following 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
The Story Behind Legalising Sports Betting in New Jersey
The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) of 1992 made sports betting illegal in most states. For many years, the law prevented states without existing sports-betting legislation from introducing it. New Jersey challenged PASPA in 2014, beginning a legal process that lasted four years. On the 14th of May 2018, the US Supreme Court overturned PASPA.
The decision enabled New Jersey to proceed with its plans for 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.
This legalization of sports betting also covers online casinos. Provided you are located within New Jersey, you may place a bet with an online casino that holds a sportsbook license.
Casinos and Gambling in New Jersey’s Atlantic City
Atlantic City has always been the only location where gambling could legally operate in New Jersey. That geographic restriction continued alongside online casinos, and as of 2018, the city had 23 online casinos and nine land-based casinos. More than 28 million people visit Atlantic City every year, generating over 3 million dollars in revenue. By gambling activity, it is the second-largest market in the country, behind only Las Vegas.
Proposals for the New Jersey Casino Expansion Amendment would have allowed casinos to operate outside Atlantic City. The idea faced substantial opposition, partly because it was uncertain whether expansion would produce more revenue.
Casinos listed as open for business 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
Lotteries of New Jersey State
Buying and selling lottery tickets is legal in New Jersey, although sales must go through a verified reseller. The state government operates eight New Jersey lotteries. The available draws include:
- Pick-3
- Pick-4
- Jersey Cash 5
- 5 Card Cash
- Pick-6
- Quick Draw
- Cash4Life (International)
- Mega Million
- Powerball
New Jersey Off-Track and Horse Racing Gambling
New Jersey has three horse racetracks and five off-track betting (OTB) halls. The OTB facilities became legal only in 2013. The New Jersey Racing Commission oversees horse betting and permits one race each year to take place on a New Jersey beach.
How Old Do You Need To Be To Gamble in New Jersey?
To gamble at either a land-based casino or an online casino, you must be over the age of 21 in the State of New Jersey. A minor may accompany you into a land-based casino, provided they do not participate. Visitors to a land-based casino should carry valid identification, while online players may be asked for documents supporting an identity check. Underage gambling is a misdemeanor and may result in a fine of up to $1,000, as well as possible suspension of your driver’s license.
Lottery tickets are different: they may be purchased from the age of 18.
