Since online casino gambling launched in 2013, the online casino market in New Jersey has literally exploded with dozens of operators now open for real money to players located in the state. With legalization, players no longer have to worry about small deposit limits, credit card declines and whether or not they’ll receive their payout, so overall it’s great news for NJ players looking to play online.
Perhaps one of the more interesting things about the New Jersey online casino laws is that you don’t have to be a New Jersey resident to play for real money, you just need to be physically located within state borders. So no matter where you’re from whether it be the US or abroad, as soon as you’re inside New Jersey you are free to play 100% legally on many sites.
On this page, we’ll provide you with a full overview of the online casinos in NJ and let you know which ones are best to signup with to get a great bonus and enjoy games from some of the world’s leading casino game developers. Before we dive into all of that great stuff, lets take a look at Atlantic City as the gambling hub of New Jersey itself.
Online Casino Laws and Regulations in New Jersey
The State of New Jersey now has some of the most relaxed laws related to gambling in the USA. The state has a rich history of gambling, and the passage of a couple of bills a few years back has ensured the status stays that way, enabling players from within the state to gamble at regulated online casinos and also use online sports books.
Let us take a brief look at the different aspects of the rules and regulations relating to online casino gambling in New Jersey.
Gambling Regulation for New Jersey Online Casinos
New Jersey online casinos are regulated by the Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE). The DGE has the following items on its checklist when it comes to regulating online casino gambling in the state:
- Checking out the license applicants thoroughly
- Guaranteeing the integrity of the vendors; the exact terms to be guaranteed being ‘honesty, good character and integrity of the owners, operators employees and vendors’
- Ensuring fair gaming
- Keeping an eye out for violations of the exclusions list
- Checking for the integrity of the information systems used
Player Eligibility for Playing at New Jersey Online Casinos
The DGE is strict about regulations regarding who can play at an online casino in New Jersey. We list the top eligibility criteria for players to sign up and play real money games at casinos in the state.
A player must be at least 21 years of age to play at an online casino in the state. That is not all; they must be physically present in the state to play at an online casino there. Operators have to strictly check for these two criteria while processing the registration form of a prospective player. They are able to do this using latest technology including like geolocation software and public databases and credit reporting agencies.
Players do not necessarily have to be a citizen of New Jersey State to play at an online casino there. Conversely, while they can open an account at a casino here regardless of where they are in the world at the time of signing up, they will need to be in the state to play.
Games Available to Players at New Jersey Online Casinos
As per the bill A2758, the following games are available to players at an online casino in New Jersey:
- Slots
- Poker
- Blackjack
- Roulette
- Craps
- Baccarat
- Red Dog
- Pai Gow Poker
- Video poker
- Sic Bo
The legislation also leaves space for the addition of new games to that list. That is how sports betting was able to make it to the list; but more of that later. Another good example is the addition of skill-based games to the list.
Other Details Relating to Online Casino Regulations in New Jersey
Licensing
As per the legislation passed, land-based casinos are able to apply for a license to operate an online casino in partnership with an iGaming operator or software provider. The license is just one piece of regulation; there are three other important permits that an operator must acquire. These are:
Casino Service Industry Enterprise License: This license is for the software partners of land-based casinos. It also applies to organizations that provide lists of existing gamblers.
Vendor Registrants: This license is for companies that offer services not directly in the ambit of online casino gambling.
Ancillary Casino Service Industry Enterprise License: This license is for ancillary services like casino affiliates, payment processors and companies offering services towards age and address verification and other related services.
Fees
The following are the fees to be paid:
- A non-refundable deposit of $100,000. This would need to be paid to fund the entire application process. Once a license is approved, the money is considered as payment in part of the $400,000 cost that the gaming license comes with.
- A renewal fee of $250,000 that operators would need to pay each year.
- An annual fee of $250,000. This fee is built into the payment structure to facilitate contributions to compulsive gambling addiction treatment programs that the State of New Jersey runs, such as the Counsel on Compulsive Gambling New Jersey.
Taxes
The following are the taxes that online casino operators would need to pay as per the legislation:
- 15% of their gross gaming revenue (GGR)
- 5% of their GGR additionally to the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA)
Other Regulations that Online Casino Operators in New Jersey Must Follow
There are other regulations that online casino operators in the State of New Jersey must follow. One of the most critical among them is to display on their website the logo and/or contact information of organizations that work with problem gamblers. This is to ensure that online casinos in the state are up to speed when it comes to battling compulsive gambling and providing players with the right tools for it.
It is the responsibility of the DGE to submit to the Governor of the State an annual report about the problems, if any, that the online gambling industry is facing.
Legalizing Online Casino Gambling in New Jersey – The Roadmap
The registration legalizing online casino gambling in New Jersey was passed on 26th February, 2013 through the bill A2758. However, the process started in 2010 when Democratic Senator Ray Lesniak introduced bill S3167, aimed at enabling casinos in Atlantic City to provide players from the state with access to online casino games and poker. Here is a brief timeline of the whole process.
- 1st January 2010: Senator Ray Lesniak introduces bill S3157 in the Senate.
- March 2010: John Burzichelli introduces another bill, 2570. No voting happened on this bill till 2011.
- November 2010: Senator Lesniak’s bill clears the Senate with a 29-5 margin.
- January 2011: Senator Burzichelli’s bill is passed in the New Jersey Assembly and moves to the Senate.
- March 2011: Governor Chris Christie vetoes the bill, many believe, due to political considerations.
- 15th April 2011: The Department of Justice (DoJ) takes action and shuts down online poker in the US.
- 23rd December 2011: The US government amends the Wire Act.
- Early 2012: Senator Lesniak introduces new bill to address the concerns of Governor Christie about the earlier bill. Two new bills are introduced: A2578 and Senate Bill S1565.
- 17th December 2012: New Jersey Assembly passes the A2578 bill and it moves to the Senate where it passes with a 33-3 margin.
- Early February 2013: Governor Christie picks flaws in the existing gambling bill and vetoes it. Senator Lesniak works to amend the bill and is able to address the Governor’s issues by the end of the month.
- 26th February 2013: The revised bill clears the Senate floor and the Governor signs it into law. New Jersey is now the 3rd US State to legalize online gambling.