The United States sports betting industry can thank the state of New Jersey for allowing things to get rolling. New Jersey initially challenged the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act and eventually won a decision with the United States Supreme Court. In a sense, New Jersey sports betting started it all.

Delaware was the first state to take advantage of the striking down of PASPA, but New Jersey wasn’t far behind. Since launching sports betting in August of 2018, New Jersey has turned into the sports betting capital of the United States.

New Jersey continues to set new industry records, and the mobile portion of the industry has been leading the way. There are also retail betting options in the state, but bettors have plenty of sportsbook apps to choose from.

Some of the biggest names in the industry have launched in New Jersey already, and several more are still expected to launch in 2021. New Jersey wanted to launch sports betting to bring in additional revenue, and the state has hit its mark.

The History behind Legal New Jersey Sports Betting

New Jersey began exploring the possibility of legalizing sports betting in 2009, but it would take a long legal battle before things would take shape. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie sued the NCAA, NBA, NHL, MLB, and NFL after the state was not allowed to legalize the industry at that time.

After years in the courtroom, Christie was eventually replaced on the docket by Governor Phil Murphy. The court case continued, finally reaching the United States Supreme Court.

In a landmark decision in May 2018, the US Supreme Court decided to lift the federal ban on sports betting, meaning that each state could now make its own decision. In June, Governor Murphy officially signed a sports betting bill into law, and it became legal in New Jersey.

State lawmakers legalized both mobile and in-person wagering, and they granted a large number of sports betting skins. The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement was put in charge of regulating the New Jersey sports betting industry.

The state also allowed sportsbooks to offer betting on collegiate sporting events except those in the state or feature teams from New Jersey. The Division of Gaming Enforcement has revisited some laws since launch, expanding the betting options for sportsbooks.

Other states have looked to New Jersey to pave the way when setting up sports betting rules and regulations, and have followed that lead. With fair licensing fees and low tax rates, sportsbook operators have found plenty of success in New Jersey.

Financial History behind Legal Sports Betting in New Jersey

The New Jersey sports betting industry got off to a modest start, but it didn’t take long for things to ramp up in a hurry. June 2018 saw a total sports betting handle of $16.4 million, which is by far the lowest total on record.

November 2018 saw the state bring in more than $330.7 million in total sports betting handle, which was the record for that calendar year. At that time, New Jersey made it clear that it would become a threat to Nevada.

Things started off relatively slowly in 2019, and it appeared that the initial momentum had worn off. Then, the NFL season kicked off in September, and the state posted more than $445.5 million in sports betting handle.

In November 2019, New Jersey sports betting brought in revenue to the tune of $562.6 million, which set a new state record. Things were back on track heading into 2020, but then things took a turn when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

From March-June 2020, the highest sports betting month brought in just $181.9 million as most live sports were shut down. The return of live sports and the reopening of the casinos had the state setting new industry records.

In September 2020, New Jersey smashed the industry record by posting a sports betting handle of more than $748.5 million. The sports betting revenue totaled more than $45 million during that month.

Sportsbook Apps in New Jersey

New Jersey has taken an aggressive approach to its mobile sports betting industry, allowing online-only operators and partnerships with retail sports betting locations. This has opened up an almost unlimited amount of sports betting skins available, and some of the biggest names have taken advantage.

DraftKings was the first sportsbook to take bets in New Jersey, but several other operators weren’t far behind. SugarHouse Sportsbook is a local name, but it has become extremely popular throughout the state.

The list below is constantly changing, and there will likely be more than 20 mobile sportsbook apps available in New Jersey at some point in the future. With the numbers that New Jersey sports betting routinely puts up, more operators will want to get in on the action.

The mobile betting handle accounts for more than 90% of the total betting handle each month on average, and the quality and quantity of operators is a big reason why. Nevada is the only state that currently offers sports betting that has this type of quality sportsbooks available to its bettors.

Here is a list of mobile sportsbook apps available for download as of November 1, 2020. These apps are available on both Android and iOS devices.

Landlocked Locations to Bet on Sports in New Jersey

New Jersey has a very large casino industry, especially for the state’s size. Unfortunately, all of the gambling is limited to just one city. Atlantic City, New Jersey is home to nine casinos, and it is considered the Las Vegas of the East Coast.

When the state was looking to legalize and launch New Jersey sports betting, it was determined that the casinos in operation would all be given a sports betting license. These casinos would then be forced to partner with a sports betting operator before they could begin taking wagers.

All of these landlocked locations were shut down for an extended period of time due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but things are back up and rolling once again. Some of these properties have opted to partner with multiple operators as each of them were given multiple sports betting skins.

The mobile New Jersey sports betting portion of the industry continues to dominate the numbers, but these are all popular locations in the state. Placing bets at a landlocked sports betting location is more like an experience as these are popular places to watch the games.

Here is a list of the current landlocked sports betting locations that are up and running in Atlantic City, New Jersey:

  • Borgata
  • Bally’s Wild Wild West
  • Caesars
  • Golden Nugget
  • Hard Rock AC
  • Harrah’s
  • Ocean Resort
  • Resorts
  • Tropicana

Sports Teams to Bet on in New Jersey

While there aren’t a ton of professional sports teams that call New Jersey home, there is a number that are located in that area. New York and New Jersey are basically all the same when it comes to fan bases, providing many teams to follow.

The two biggest teams that help drive sports betting in the state are the New York Giants and New York Jets of the National Football League. Both teams have struggled since the New Jersey sports betting industry launched, but bettors still flock to sportsbooks during the NFL season.

The Brooklyn Nets and the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association are also extremely popular teams in New Jersey. Many fans still claim the Nets as their home team since they spent a majority of the franchise history in New Jersey.

The New York Mets and the New York Yankees both have large fan bases in the state of New Jersey as well, and that helps sportsbooks during the long summer. There is a heated rivalry in the state between fans of each team, but there are other teams that draw interest as well.

The New Jersey Devils of the NHL are the state’s lone professional team in the four major sports. Hockey doesn’t draw a ton of betting interest throughout the industry, but that is not the case in the state of New Jersey.

Outside of the local teams, football and college basketball are two of the biggest New Jersey sports betting markets. Sportsbooks traditionally do well during the NFL season and during March when the NCAA Tournament takes place.

FAQ for betting in New Jersey

When was New Jersey sports betting legalized?

New Jersey attempted to legalize sports betting in 2009, but that decision ultimately fell to the United States Supreme Court. When the US Supreme Court voted to strike down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) on May 14, 2018, sports betting was legal in New Jersey.

When did the industry first launch in New Jersey?

In New Jersey, the sports betting industry officially launched in August 2018, just a few months after the state was given the green light to launch the industry.

Who oversees New Jersey sports betting?

The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) oversees the sports betting industry in New Jersey.

What is the legal betting age?

The legal sports betting age in New Jersey is 21 years of age. The state does allow a minimum age of just 18 years of age to bet on horse races.

What is the record month for sports betting handle?

New Jersey posted a little more than $748.5 million in total sports betting handle in September 2020. That month set a new industry record, shattering the previous record set by New Jersey.

Is mobile betting offered?

Yes, mobile betting is offered in New Jersey, and it actually dominates the industry. New Jersey averages more than 90 percent of all handle from its mobile sportsbooks each month.

Does New Jersey have any retail sports betting locations?

Yes, there are nine casinos in New Jersey, and all of these locations offer retail sports betting. All of the retail betting takes place in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Can I place a bet on college sporting events?

Yes, college sporting events can be wagered on in the state of New Jersey. The only exception is that sportsbooks cannot offer bets on events that take place in the state or feature teams from that state.

Do I have to live in New Jersey to create a sports betting account?

Absolutely not. The New Jersey sports betting industry has made a ton of revenue off of residents that live in other states. Since New York does not allow mobile sports wagering, those residents come across the border to place bets.

Best Legal New Jersey Online Casinos

Being that New Jersey is home to Atlantic City, this means that the online casinos in the Garden State have a lot to live up to. Luckily for you, there are more online casinos in New Jersey than any other state in the country. Having been one of the first states to well and truly adopt online sports betting and casinos, New Jersey has been the state most others have followed in terms of establishing an online casino industry. Though there are many brands, we will introduce you to a few of our favorites below.

FanDuel New Jersey Online Casino

Before the state of New Jersey moved to legalize online casinos, the FanDuel brand had already established itself there. Through its offering of Daily Fantasy Sports competitions, FanDuel rose to fame even before the New Jersey sports betting industry was established. Since then, FanDuel Online Casino New Jersey has become one of the top options, and for good reason.

When it comes to the type and variety of online casino games available to you, there is virtually no type of casino gambler that FanDuel cannot satisfy. First off, their selection of slot games numbers in the hundreds and is comprised of many of the same titles you will find on the floor of Atlantic City’s casinos. The same can be said for table games and even though there may not be hundreds, there are dozens of different games ranging from those that can be described as standard to those special versions of games like blackjack and casino poker that you might only find online.

The crown jewel of FanDuel Online Casino New Jersey’s offering is their live dealer games. Made up primarily of live dealer blackjack, but complemented by live dealer roulette, baccarat, and casino poker, FanDuel’s live games bring all the excitement of playing on the floor of a physical casino right to you. From interacting with and tipping dealers, to chatting with other players, you will be shocked at how much fun live dealer games can be.

If all of this was not enough to convince you that FanDuel Online Casino New Jersey is the best of the best, their welcome bonus will. For new casino players, you can take advantage of 24 hours of risk-free gaming worth up to $1,000. This means that the 24 hour period beginning the second you place your first casino wager is completely on the house. If you win money, great, you can cash out right away. If not, you can lose up to $1,000 and not have to worry because it will be credited back to you by FanDuel.

BetMGM New Jersey Online Casino

The BetMGM name is most well-known in Atlantic City by way of the Borgata, which is arguably the most extravagant resort in town. Understanding this, it should not be surprising that BetMGM Online Casino New Jersey is one of the state’s top offerings.

To adequately discuss all that BetMGM Online Casino New Jersey has to offer is something that could take days. To keep it simple, there is a strong case to be made that no other online casino in New Jersey comes close to the quantity of games on offer at BetMGM. With regard to slots, there are hundreds and hundreds of games. Most of the titles you encounter will identically match those that can be found on the floors of physical casinos, but there are plenty of unique titles that can only be found online.

If we are talking about table games, the story is much the same as slots in that even the most demanding gamblers will be spoilt for choice. Whether you are a traditional gambler who plays at high limits or someone new to casinos that is looking to get their feet wet, BetMGM more than has you covered.

If all of that was not enough, you will be taken aback by the size of BetMGM New Jersey’s live dealer casino. In all of New Jersey and across the online casino markets of most of the rest of the country, you will be hard-pressed to find a live dealer selection the compares to BetMGM’s. You will find live dealer blackjack and roulette in abundance, but the number of other games is something that really took us by surprise.

What’s more, BetMGM Online Casino New Jersey is one of the few online casinos that offers live dealer games from two different providers; Ezugi and Evolution. Not only does this allow for more players, it also offers you the opportunity to try out two different versions of the same game to see which you prefer.

For new online casino players who have just created an account with BetMGM New Jersey, there is a 100% matching deposit bonus that is worth up to $1,000.

DraftKings New Jersey Online Casino

DraftKings was founded in Boston, but the brand boasts the unique distinction of being the first New Jersey sports betting brand legally allowed to operate. Having been in the state from day 1, it only follows that DraftKings also became one of the first online casino operators as well. Since then, the brand has grown to take over many other states but has always maintained its presence at the top of New Jersey’s online casino offering.

Unlike many of New Jersey’s other online casino names, DraftKings will not necessarily blow you away with the number of games on offer. While there is not an overwhelming number and type of games, what DraftKings does well is ensure that they have the basics covered, and then some. What this means is a slots selection that numbers in the hundreds, a table games selection that numbers nearly 100, and a competent live dealer offering that can hold its own against most other operators.

If you are a new player who is considering trying out DraftKings, you will do well to know that you can take advantage of a welcome bonus. The bonus available at DraftKings Online Casino New Jersey is a 100% matching bonus worth up to $2,000. This means that if you make an initial deposit of $500, you can immediately begin playing online casino games with $1,000. This is an offer that can help you really maximize your winnings.