Best NJ Online Casinos for December 2023

Due to the regulation requirements for online gambling in New Jersey, the registration and verification process can take a while – anywhere from a couple of hours to days. The regulator requires New Jersey casinos to gather information to ensure that players are legit and based in the state. While it may be frustrating, it's for your safety and it’s going to be the same for all legal casinos in New Jersey. If you aren’t asked to follow the process below, you probably aren’t at a legit online casino.

1. Choose a top casino
2. Create your account
3. Verify your account
4. Install a geolocation plugin
5. Make your first deposit
6. Play the best casino games

No NJ online casino list would be complete without some of the best casino promotions available. Explore free spins, match deposit offers, and welcome bonuses with low playthrough requirements. Keep reading about our recommended online casinos if you’re looking for generous NJ casino bonuses. 

All online casino NJ offers provide some kind of bonus to players. The simplest and biggest is the welcome bonus, which you can claim when you sign up. Usually based on the amount you deposit, these welcome bonuses could come in the form of bonus funds, free spins, or a combination of both. Wagering requirements (also known as playthrough requirements) usually apply to bonus funds or winnings from free spins. Depending on various free spins casinos, these playthrough requirements can range from 20-50 times the size of the bonus.

Other bonuses typically available include risk-free bets, refer-a-friend promotions, and online casino no deposit bonuses. We've found the best online casinos in NJ tend to give new and current players a variety of competitive promos. You can log on to a casino, use bonus code promotions and earn free spins or win money. If this is something you're after, be sure to take a close look at our New Jersey casino reviews. 

Alongside slots, NJ online casinos offer a range of table games like blackjack, roulette, baccarat, poker, and craps. You can play them as instant first-person games or in real-time at the dedicated live casino. Many New Jersey online casinos also have a separate sportsbook available, where you can wager on a wide range of markets and bet types. Below, we look at some of the most popular game types available at New Jersey casino sites. 

Slots

If you’ve ever checked out New Jersey casinos online, you’ll know that different types of slots, including online video slots, make up the bulk of their casino game collections. Online slots come in every shape, size, and theme imaginable, from classic three-reel fruit slots to avalanche reels with thousands of paylines. There are even seven-figure progressive jackpots you can trigger with a single spin. These games boast jackpots that are linked across all participating sites, so progressive jackpots can reach record-breaking levels. While the big casinos in New Jersey and Las Vegas might have bigger jackpots, NJ online casinos have a much wider range. There are also casinos that offer free slots which are designed to let players test them and demo their features without risking any of their hard-earned cash.

Poker

New Jersey is one of a tiny handful of states enrolled in the Multi-State iGaming Agreement (MSIGA). This members-only club allows you to play online poker against bettors in other states, competing for a pooled prize. You can also play Texas Hold’em, Omaha or Stud against online opponents located across the state. You can jump into cash games or enter scheduled tournaments and Sit ‘n Gos.

It’s easy to start playing at online poker sites in New Jersey. Some NJ sites let you transfer your casino bankroll straight to the poker table. Play freerolls and get a feel for the game or try out a multi-table tournament (MTT) with a guaranteed prize pool. You can even enter bounty tournaments where you win cash by knocking each player out.

Video Poker

If you’re looking for a faster-paced poker game that offers the immersion and chance-based outcome of slots, then video poker is a great alternative. You can play three card poker and other video poker games and online casinos in NJ. Look out for video poker from major suppliers like IGT. These card games work like 5-card draw: hold or discard cards of your choice to form the best poker hand possible. You win prizes based on a table of payouts. Play at the maximum coin level and trigger a jackpot if you make a royal flush.

Blackjack

Blackjack is one of the most popular online gambling games. All good New Jersey blackjack sites will offer a variety of blackjack games with a range of stakes. Play for a few cents a hand or hit the VIP tables and bet up to $5,000. You can play Classic Blackjack at casinos against the dealer and win 3/2 on a natural blackjack or 1/1 when you beat the dealer’s total. You’ll also find exciting online games like Atlantic City Single-Hand or Blazing 777 Blackjack with side bets. 

Roulette

Roulette games are widely available at the top-rated online casinos in NJ. Bet on straight-up numbers for a 35/1 payout, get 2/1 on a column or go for red and black to win even money. If you play roulette at top New Jersey roulette sites you can find variants that you just won’t find in a land-based casino. As well as American Roulette with the double zero, you can try European Roulette or French Roulette with a low house edge. Alternatively, try out variants like 100/1 Roulette, which offer much larger payouts. 

Live Dealer

New Jersey live casinos will let you enjoy your favorite online table games against a human croupier. Follow the action on a live stream and chat to the dealer as they spin real wheels and use real playing cards. In a live dealer game, the equipment is fitted with special cameras. The dealer will scan playing cards so that the values appear on your screen. A camera also picks up the winning roulette number after any spin.

A good NJ online casino will offer multiple live dealer games running through the night. And you’re not restricted to roulette and blackjack; you can play live games like Casino Hold’em and baccarat at the best baccarat online casinos or spin the wheel of fortune in Dream Catcher. The beauty of live dealer games at online casinos is that they replicate the real-world casino experience as closely as possible. 

Other Online Casino Games

Online gambling in New Jersey isn’t all about roulette and slots. The top NJ online casinos will also feature instant-win games like Keno and scratchers. It’s just like playing Keno in Atlantic City! You can also try Slingo, a cool mix of bingo and slots.

Although playing online in New Jersey is legal, many banks still block gambling transactions. If you don’t want problems depositing at an online casino, use PayPal if it’s available. If it isn’t, there’s a bespoke solution for casino players called Play+, which lets you use your credit or debit card.

If you aren’t sure how to set this up, head to the casino live chat, and they will walk you through it. While there are other payment options, these two are clearly the best. Most of the time, these banking options also allow you to grab a generous casino bonus too.

Play+

Given all the problems with payment processing in the new US gambling market, it’s no surprise that some budding entrepreneurs came to the rescue. Play+ is an interesting combination of a pre-paid debit card with some basic e-wallet features. Play+ casino sites are extremely popular because this method is cashless and easy to use. Most casinos have their own branded versions, so you can register at the casino and claim its card, then fund it via your standard card to be sure you can deposit and withdraw smoothly. 

Debit or Credit Card

While Visa tends to have a better processing rate than Mastercard for online casinos, it’s still not the fastest payment option if you’re looking for quick transactions. Plus, there are fewer Mastercard casinos than Visa casinos. The approval rates also tend to vary, depending on who you bank with. Banks also sometimes treat your transaction as a cash advance when using your credit card and charge you a fee. 

PayPal

PayPal is one of the easiest payment solutions for online casino players. However, there are some conditions you need to meet. Firstly, your PayPal account needs to be a personal account in your name, not a business or premier account. Second, it will usually have to be verified before you can deposit or withdraw your gambling winnings. Finally, to prevent money laundering, you must have made a deposit previously from a PayPal account to be able to process a withdrawal to it. 

The top-rated online casinos in NJ also offer a great selection of slots and games to play on your mobile phone. To play mobile slots, you can play through your phone browser or download a native iOS app from the App Store, or get the Android app straight from the New Jersey online casino site. Games and slots are specially designed to operate on your smartphone. You can make deposits at casinos and claim a bonus too. However, you must have a good Wi-Fi connection with GPS enabled so that the casino can verify your location. The best real casino apps come with geolocation plugins already installed. Simply switch on your smartphone, register for an account, and start playing your favorite slots and table games from anywhere in the Garden State. 

Like many gamblers, you may be seeking the best online casino payouts NJ gamblers can access. When you hear the term 'payout', two things might come to mind. Payout as in the speed in which you will get your money, or alternatively, payout as a reference to the return to player percentage (RTP). For example, if you choose a game of NJ online slots that has a 94.7% RTP, for every $100 you bet, you should receive $94.70 back. Of course, gambling isn’t this straightforward, thanks to a variety of other factors and the fact that this percentage is averaged out across all players, and no single player is ever guaranteed a return on their gambling spend. However, this does give a good idea of how much casinos pay out in relation to how much gamblers put in.

The state of NJ regulates the RTP on all casino games. In New Jersey, slots must not have a lower RTP than 83%. This is just slightly below Pennsylvania's minimum RTP requirement of 85% and better than Michigan's casino minimum of 80% RTP. 

In general, real money slots have the greatest range of payouts. If you don't know what your chosen game is paying, take a look at the pay table. Usually, you'll find the RTP there. Keep an eye on the NJ slot payouts; particularly on jackpot games where the RTP can fluctuate. Starmania, a popular NJ slot game is known for having a higher-than-average payout - often around 96-97%. This game can be played at Golden Nugget Casino and Caesars.

Editor's Pick: Best NJ Casino Bonus

We’ve listed the top New Jersey casinos online to help narrow down your search. But you may be wondering, how do we decide which casinos are the cream of the crop? Well, that’s a valid question and one we’re happy to answer. Our expert casino reviewers scrutinize every element of a casino, from welcome bonuses and game variety to account security and payment methods. We only recommend sites that pass our rigorous tests and jump through a multitude of hoops.

Bonus Offers

Bonuses are easily one of the biggest perks of gambling online. Almost all New Jersey online casinos offer generous welcome bonuses to attract new players alongside reload bonuses for existing players. As more casinos emerge and drive up the competition, these bonuses increase in value. However, the real value of a welcome bonus is buried in the small print. When reviewing NJ online casinos, we check that promotions have fair expiry dates and attainable wagering requirements.

Loyalty Programs

Businesses have long been aware that loyalty schemes are the best way to retain customers. After all, if a coffee shop gives you every sixth drink for free, you’d want to buy your coffee from the same place. Well, online casinos are no different. We want to help our readers get the most value for their money, so the loyalty program is one of the first things we check. If the casino has a good reward scheme, it gets the green light. 

Safety and Support

Your safety is our top priority. No matter how expansive the casino game library may be, if a casino has poor safety measures, we will not recommend it. We check that every site we review has provably fair games, proof of certifications, firewalls, high-level encryption technology, secure payment options, and a thorough verification process. Solid customer support options are essential for an online casino to rank well with us. 

Mobile Casino and Slots Apps

Mobile gambling is fast becoming the Garden State’s preferred way to wager. As such, we expect the top NJ online casinos to offer native mobile apps for iOS and Android devices. If a casino doesn’t provide a separate mobile app, it should be built on HTML5 technology, allowing you to access the site from any mobile device. New Jersey casinos can earn extra brownie points if they offer exclusive bonuses and promotions for app users. 

Game Options

Of course, the main thing our readers want to know about is game selection. While slots make up the bulk of any casino we review, there should also be a good range of options for players who prefer table games to reels. We want to see a complete package of gambling options, covering everything from progressive jackpots and video poker to multiple variations of live dealer roulette. A casino with 50 games can rank higher than one with 300 if it offers a more balanced portfolio. 

Software Providers Available

A casino is only as good as its games, and we pay close attention to where those games come from. The best New Jersey casinos offer games from a variety of developers so that they can cater to every player’s taste. When we review new online casinos, we look for a good mix of well-known and indie software providers. Of course, there are some industry leaders whose names we automatically search for, like NetEnt and Red Tiger. 

Payment Methods Supported

As well as analyzing the security measures that protect your payments, we examine the banking methods themselves. We want to see a full suite of secure payment options with fast deposit and withdrawal times. These should include debit and credit cards, a range of e-wallet platforms (PayPal in particular), bank transfers, pre-paid cards, and phone payments. 

Editor's Pick: Top NJ Online Casino

The Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) oversees all online casino gaming in the state. This law enforcement agency regulates and investigates online casino operators on behalf of the NJ Casino Control Commission (NJCCC). The DGE tests every gambling platform before it launches, investigates and prosecutes crimes related to online gambling, and investigates all companies applying for a New Jersey license. 

The DGE also regulates all online sports betting operations in New Jersey, investigating and approving any sportsbook licenses and controlling all of its operating sportsbooks. All other online wagering is overseen by a relevant regulatory body (i.e., the Racing Commission or the New Jersey Lottery Commission).

Legal Online Casino Operators in New Jersey

To launch in New Jersey, every online casino operator must comply with regulations set out by the DGE. In addition, the operator will need to partner with one of the state’s land-based casinos.

There are eight brick-and-mortar casinos licensed to partner with online casino brands in NJ:

• Hollywood Online Casino NJ
• Bet365 Casino
• Caesars Palace Online Casino
• Bally Casino
• Hard Rock Casino
• Borgata Casino
• Ocean Casino
• Betrivers Casino
• Playstar Casino
• Tipico Casino
• Golden Nugget
• Tropicana Casino
• Betway Casino
• WynnBet Casino

Taxes on Gambling Winnings in New Jersey

All gambling winnings are subject to state income tax which, in New Jersey, sits at 3% for both residents and non-residents. If your winnings are above the following thresholds, you’ll receive a W-2G form from the casino, which details your total winnings and any withheld tax:

• $600 or above (or anything where the total is over 300x the original stake) on parimutuel horse wagering
• $1,200 or above on slots or bingo
• $1,500 or above on keno
• $5,000 or above on poker

The casino won’t issue a W-2G on table game winnings, but all players are expected to report these themselves. 

New Jersey Online Casino Revenue

The state taxes 17.5% of all gambling revenue in New Jersey. Analysts estimate that regulated casino sites in the Garden State generate a combined total of around $400 million per year. The state, therefore, takes approximately $70 million a year in tax revenue.

A large percentage of this revenue goes towards the Casino Revenue Fund, which supports various state programs like disability, aging, rehabilitation, family health, and public transportation services. A smaller percentage is used for tourism and marketing programs in Atlantic City.

Legal Gambling Age in New Jersey

New Jersey allows all types of gambling. For everything except casino and sports betting, the minimum age is 18. This limit includes parimutuel horse race wagering (either trackside or at an off-track betting facility), the state lottery, and any charitable games such as raffles or bingo. 

You’ll need to be 21 or above to gamble on casino games or place a sports wager. But what about online gambling? As part of regulatory license requirements, every online casino has a rigorous KYC and verification process. You’ll typically need to provide two forms of ID before you can even get through the gate, which makes it very difficult for underage gamblers to access online casino games.

In short, it's a very bad idea as they operate in a legal grey area and could potentially take your money at any time. Online gambling should be safe, secure, and reliable. That’s why we never recommend any offshore casinos. Gambling in New Jersey is regulated, and games are independently tested for fairness. In addition, player funds are properly segregated, so you’re protected if anything goes wrong.

Being the first state to legalize online casino gambling, New Jersey has grown to become one of the most prominent online gambling markets in the US. 

1970 - 1990

NJ voters approved a referendum to legalize Atlantic City casinos in 1976. The New Jersey Casino Control Act (as well as the Casino Control Commission) was signed into law the following year, on June 2, 1977. The first official casino bet was placed at Resorts Casino when it opened on May 26, 1978. More and more casinos arrived throughout the next decade, with Caesars opening in 1979, Harrah’s opening in 1980, Tropicana opening in 1981, and Golden Nugget (formerly Trump’s Castle) opening in 1985.

1990 - 2013

Gov. James Florio signed a bill on June 29, 1991, amending the Casino Control Act to allow 24-hour weekend-only casino gambling. The trial was so successful that Florio signed a second bill allowing permanent 24-hour gambling in July 1992. Although internet gambling was not yet legal, this change in operating hours paved the way for 24-hour online gambling that would follow two decades later.

NJ’s gambling trajectory was rudely interrupted when Congress passes the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA). This act dashed any hope of introducing sports betting to the Garden State. NJ tried anyway, passing its own sports betting law in 2011, but was quickly (and successfully) sued by the NCAA, NBA, MLB, NFL, and NHL. 

2013 - Present

New Jersey is widely known as the driving force behind the legalization of US sports betting, fighting for five long years to get PASPA overturned. But while this was happening, Gov. Chris Christie signed bill A2578/S1565 on February 26, 2013, which permits NJ casinos to apply for an internet gambling license.

By November 21, 2013, the state was ready for a soft launch of online gambling and went live with the real deal on November 26. The first group of online casinos and poker sites to launch in the state include FanDuel, Borgata, Caesars, WSOP, 888 Casino & 888 Poker, Harrah’s, and Tropicana.

Available 24/7, New Jersey’s casinos were the first to offer a complete online gambling package. The Garden State continued to break new gambling records over the next few years, winning its historical sports betting case and getting PASPA overturned in May 2018. In June of the same year, NJ launched its sports betting market and was the first outside of Nevada to take a legal online sports bet.

Before you head off to one of our recommended NJ online casinos, it’s important to remember that there are always risks when gambling online. While playing slots can be a harmless pastime for most bettors, it can result in harmful repercussions for others. 

Every NJ casino highlighted on this page has a comprehensive responsible gambling page full of tools, advice, and resources to help you maintain healthy online gambling habits. You can set account limits, reality checks, and session limits alongside registering yourself on the self-exclusion program. Similarly, you can find links to dedicated support and intervention services located in New Jersey.