Is online poker legal in New Jersey? It sure is!
Good news! It’s perfectly legal to play online poker in New Jersey. In fact, it’s been legal to play online poker in the Garden State since way back in 2013. As such, New Jersey is one of the main hubs of online poker in the US - not surprising given the poker gaming heritage at Atlantic City!
The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement has the power to issue licenses to any online gambling site who wishes to feature poker. At the moment, there are over a dozen fully licensed poker platforms operating within the Garden State.
This means that anyone from Newark to Cape May can visit these sites, download their poker software or app, and then take part in some world-beating online poker tournaments. All of which has turned New Jersey into one of the best places in the world to play online poker.
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The current New Jersey online poker laws
Online poker in New Jersey is bound by the current A2578 online gambling bill. This bill was signed into law by Governor Chris Christie in 2013 and it covers regular casino gaming as well as poker.
Once the bill was passed, it gave the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement the power to issue licenses to any operator wishing to feature real money online poker games. This means that any site bearing DGE regulation is acting legally and it is legal for you to play online poker there as long as you verify your identity. The DGE is also given powers to apply NJ gambling winning tax to poker sites, equating to 15% on their gross revenues.
By the end of 2013 there were six online poker platforms operating within the Garden State. While some of these have fallen by the wayside, they have been replaced by a greater number of poker sites, and as such, New Jersey boasts of an unparalleled quantity of licensed online poker providers.
Who can legally play online poker in New Jersey?
The current law prohibits anyone under the age of 21 from playing poker in New Jersey. These laws are roughly in line with the online gambling laws in the majority of other US states.
However, it’s worth noting that you don’t actually have to be a resident of New Jersey to play at any of the online poker platforms. This means that you could be passing through the Garden State from New York or Pennsylvania and enjoy anything from a big poker tournament to a generous poker bonus. What’s best is that you don’t even have to be in New Jersey to create or deposit into your poker account. Just remember that each poker app will have the required geolocation software to make sure that you are playing from within New Jersey state borders.
The best operators for legal online poker in New Jersey
Now that we’ve answered the question of, ‘Is online poker legal in NJ?’ it’s time to think about the best places to play. The good news is that there is no shortage of choice, and we’ve narrowed down our selection to include only the best operators. Obviously, each of these poker platforms is licensed by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.
We’ve made sure that each of our recommended sites will give you plenty of gaming options so that you can enjoy anything from a quick Sit and Go to cash games and the most intense multi-table tournaments. Plus we’ve included a fair range of operators to make sure that your favorite poker is featured whether it’s No Limit Hold’em, Seven-Card Stud, Omaha Hi/Lo, Razz and so on.
We’re not saying that bigger is always better, but you should know that each operator featured here has a strong track record for serving up some massive prize pools. Plus you may find that your chosen poker platform has special tournaments that extend beyond New Jersey to give you an even greater number of competitors to play against.
New Jersey Legal Betting Guides
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Playing mobile poker on an online poker app
Most online poker sites will let you download their poker software direct to your desktop or laptop computer. However, you’ll find lots of operators who also let you download special poker apps that you can use to game from your mobile. These poker apps will have all of the features of the regular poker software, but they give you the freedom to play from the convenience of your smartphone or tablet. So check our shortlist of legit poker sites to see which of these has a great app for your iOS or Android device.
Be careful of using offshore poker sites
We can’t have any discussion about the question of, ‘Is online poker legal in NJ?’ without mentioning offshore poker sites. You may see some of these sites advertising that they are open for US customers, but you should never sign up to any offshore operator. This is because any site that doesn’t have New Jersey regulation is acting illegally and it means that you probably won’t get a safe and fair online poker service. All of which means that you cannot trust any offshore operators with your money and should pick one of our approved online poker providers instead.
Our favorite online poker sites
How to play legal online poker in New Jersey
The good news is that it’s very simple to get started playing online poker in the Garden State. Here is a quick rundown of the steps you need to take to play this classic card game online:
First of all, pick one of the online poker sites featured on our shortlist. Don’t worry, as they have all been checked to make sure that they are fully regulated in New Jersey.
Create a user account
Now you’ll have to create a user account which means giving the operator some personal information like your name, address, email, date of birth and social security number.
Download the poker software
Once you’ve had your account verified, you can then download the operator’s poker software to your computer or download the mobile poker app to your device.
Make a deposit
Now it’s a matter of adding funds to your account so that you can start playing. Most NJ poker sites will let you make deposits with a variety of payment providers such as Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, Play+, PayPal or ACH bank transfer.
Start playing
Finally, it’s the fun bit where you get to select which one of the poker contests you want to play. So buy in and start playing!
Getting bonuses from legal poker sites in New Jersey
All of our favorite poker platforms are seriously generous with their bonuses. This means that you shouldn’t have to search too far to find plenty of freerolls, promos and other special offers. Here are some of the most common poker bonuses to keep your eye out for.
Matched deposit bonuses
These work by giving you bonus credit that comes in direct correspondence to how much you initially deposit at a poker site. So if you deposited $100, you might get this amount matched in wagering credit by 100% up to $100. Bear in mind that most poker bonuses require you to ‘play through’ your deposit before your bonus gets released. This means that you might have to put in lots of time at the poker tables before you unlock the full value of your bonus.
Freeplay bonuses
Sometimes you’ll get a freeplay bonus just for signing up to a new online poker site. These deals will work to give you bonus cash that you can use to buy-in to poker tournaments of your choosing. However, you might also find that you’re given tournament freeroll tickets that have a fixed value. Either way, these deals can be a great way to see what an online poker site is all about.
Insurance bonuses
Some poker sites serve up bonuses that act as a kind of insurance. This means that any losses incurred from your poker gaming will be refunded up to a certain amount. Just bear in mind that the refund will probably come in the form of site credit, rather than cash. Still, a good way to find your feet at a new poker platform without incurring too many nasty losses.
How to recognize a legit online poker site in NJ
Here are three basic things to look for in any site offering online poker in New Jersey:
Regulation: Only play at those poker sites who are regulated by the New Jersey Division of Gaming enforcement.
Security: The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement will only issue licenses to those operators who can prove that they feature a safe gaming environment and that your personal information will be kept secure.
Responsible gambling: All legit poker sites will contain a variety of responsible gambling tools you can use to put limits on your wagering, losses, deposits and session time.
Playing other casino games legally in NJ
Go to any of the top NJ legal gambling sites and they won’t just let you play a few hands of online poker. As well as this, you’ll find many other casino games that take in all of the classic table gaming options like baccarat, blackjack, roulette and so on. Plus just about every New Jersey online casino will be packed full of online slot games.
All of this has been made possible due to casino sites being legalized in New Jersey at the same time as online poker platforms. Some New Jersey online casinos featured a fairly limited range of poker games that tend to be tucked away in the live casino. However, many NJ casino sites will have their own poker software that you can download to take part in massive online poker tournaments.
A quick word about legal sports betting in New Jersey
While online casino gaming and poker got an early legal green light, sports betting fans had to wait a little longer to join in the action. Thankfully, the legislation was put in place in 2018 to legalize sports betting and New Jersey quickly became the new capital of sports betting in the US.
It’s 100% legal to bet on sport at a physical outlet like a casino or racetrack, or you could bet on sport at one of the dozens of online sportsbooks. Most people bet on the NFL, NHL, NBA and MLB, but you’ll find plenty more bets for everything from soccer and tennis to NASCAR racing and MMA fighting. Don’t forget that many of New Jersey’s top sportsbooks also have some pretty good poker sections on the side, so be sure to check them out!
Conclusion - Check back to enjoy the best online poker in NJ
By now you’ll know the answer to the question of, ‘Is online poker legal in NJ?’ and will be ready to start playing. Obviously we’d recommend sticking with any of the poker platforms featured on our shortlist. This means that you’ll get a 100% legal and legit operator who has been tested to make sure it offers a superior poker gaming service.
But we’d also advise bookmarking this site to make sure that you stay up to date with all of the latest poker laws, and we’ll be updating our comparison with any hot new poker platforms that emerge. So stick with us and enjoy the best in online poker New Jersey has to offer!
The best poker bonuses
Is online poker legal in NJ? FAQ
🏆 Which are the best online poker sites NJ has to offer?
Read our guide to see the full list of the best sites for online poker NJ has at the moment. Each of these poker platforms has been checked by our team of poker experts to make sure that it’s good enough for your needs. Plus we’ve even taken the time to answer the question of, ‘Is online poker legal in NJ?’ so that you can be sure that you are abiding by the law when you play this classic card game.
❓ Is online gambling legal in New Jersey?
Not only do we ask, ‘Is online poker legal in NJ?’ but we ask the same question of all other kinds of gambling. So read our guide to see how the legislation for poker may differ when compared to when we asked, ‘Is online betting legal in NJ?’ After all, there is a world of difference between betting on your favorite card game and your favorite sports team. Our guide will clear up where you stand legally for either activity.
✅ Is it safe to play online poker in NJ?
Check out our guide that doesn’t just ask the basic question of, ‘Is online poker legal in NJ?’ but also asks important questions regarding your online safety. This covers issues including everything from the gambling age in NJ to the best legal ways of funding your wagering. All of which should mean that you can play this iconic card game without worrying about your online security.
📱 Do the best online poker sites have apps in NJ?
It’s pretty common for poker fans to want to play the card game from the convenience of a smartphone or a tablet. After all, no one wants to have to sit at a desktop computer for an eight-hour poker session. So check out our guide that reveals what mobile offerings are available at New Jersey’s best poker platforms. We’ll also give you the answer to the question of, ‘Is online poker legal in NJ?’ and even point out the best kinds of online poker bonus NJ has to offer too!
💰 Can I play online poker for real money in New Jersey?
Check out our guide that answers the question of, ‘Is online poker legal in NJ?’ so that you can see whether you can play this card game for real money or whether you have to use some kind of virtual credit instead. After all, while it’s perfectly fine to play online poker with virtual credit, most people would agree that things tend to get a little more interesting when you play poker at a legal NJ online casino with real money.
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