New Jersey is one of the few North American states constantly leading the charge toward creating adequate gambling legislation for decades. This is a journey that started in the late 1970s with the passing of the New Jersey Casino Control Act. The law enabled Atlantic City residents to enjoy regulated gambling options at various land-based venues. That set the pace for the development of the area’s gambling scene, with casinos like Resort Casino Hotel (formerly Resorts International Casino), Bally’s, and Caesars setting shop before 1980.
Fast forward to today, and you’ll notice this state is still at the forefront of regions in the US that offer legal online gambling options. That’s after the various setbacks that came about after the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) was passed in 2006. The act made it illegal for US banks to transact with gambling platforms, making several key players in the industry exit the North American market. But NJ weathered the storm and came out on top alongside Nevada and Delaware in offering iGaming options regulated locally, so players don’t have to go elsewhere or rely on offshore sites.
How iGaming In New Jersey Is Offered
When you need a list of NJ online casinos licensed by the DGE to start your gambling fun, you’ll find more than 15 sites available presently. Players can access these options courtesy of the partnerships established that gambling venues in the state broker with vetted online operators. The DGE only approves licenses for companies that can comply with its terms. Among these is paying an annual renewal fee of $250,000.
Here are some of the brands players can thank for the various sites available. And since they are so established in the land-based gambling scene, you can also expect legit options while you play online.
1. Caesars Interactive Entertainment New Jersey
Operating as an affiliate of Boardwalk Regency LLC, Caesars joined forces with 888 to create Caesars Interactive. The sites supported by this brand’s New Jersey license are:
- Caesars Online Casino (caesarscasino.com)
- 888 Casino (us.888.com, us.888poker.com, and us.888casino.com)
- WynnBet Casino (wynnbet.com)
- Harrah’s Casino (harrahscasino.com)
- WSOP NJ (www.wsop.com)
2. Resorts Casino Hotel Atlantic City
Resorts Casino Hotel is one of Mohegan Sun’s properties in New Jersey, hailed as the first gambling venue outside Nevada. It started its online offerings without poker options. But that changed when it partnered with PokerStars. The sites supported by its license presently are:
- Mohegan Sun Casino (mohegansuncasino.com)
- Resorts Casino (www.resortscasino.com)
- PokerStars NJ (pokerstarsnj.com)
- DraftKings Casino (www.draftkings.com)
3. Golden Nugget Hotel Casino & Marina
With a reputation that dates back to the 1940s, Golden Nugget has been around long enough to know the gambling ropes. The sites currently under this brand’s New Jersey license are:
- Golden Nugget Online Casino (www.goldennuggetcasino.com and nj-casino.goldennuggetcasino.com)
- Betfair Casino (www.betfaircasino.com)
- SugarHouse NJ Online Casino (playsugarhouse.com)
- BetAmerica Casino (nj.betamerica.com/sports)
4. Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa
The Borgata brand houses an impressive number of platforms with its gambling license. That enables players to get a wider selection of gaming options, depending on the platform they land on. For instance, poker and bingo fans in the region have dedicated sites for their gaming selection. The NJ gambling sites supported by Borgata are:
- Borgata Online Casino (www.borgatacasino.com and www.borgatapoker.com)
- PartyCasino, formerly Starluck (nj.partycasino.com and www.nj.partypoker.com)
- Scores Casino (scorescasino.com)
- BetMGM Casino (casino.nj.betmgm.com and poker.nj.betmgm.com)
- NJ Pala Casino (www.palacasino.com, www.palabingousa.com, and www.palapoker.com)
5. Ocean Resort Casino
Ocean Resort is just getting started with two gambling websites under its belt. But there are plans to include another platform, PlayStar, soon. The operational sites are:
- Ocean Resort Online Casino review (oceanonlinecasino.com)
- Parx Casino NJ (nj.parxcasino.com)
6. Tropicana Casino & Resort Atlantic City
Tropicana’s online brands have undergone a few changes in 2022 so far. Until April 2022, Virgin Online Casino (www.virgincasino.com) was one of the names under its license. But that changed when it was acquired by Bally’s.
Tropicana was also purchased by Caesars around the same time. So, although you’ll find Tropicana Casino (www.tropicanacasino.com) while you enjoy yourself in New Jersey, Caesars is soon to rebrand it.
7. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hard Rock AC is another venue with just a few gambling sites operating in NJ under its license. But as a plus, each of these websites hosts sports betting options on the same platform. These are:
- Hard Rock Casino (hardrockcasino.com)
- Unibet Online Casino (nj.unibet.com)
- Bet365 Casino (www.nj.bet365.com)
Top 5 Online Casinos in New Jersey
With so many options open to you while in the Garden State, you may be wondering what to start with. To help you out, here are our recommended sites, based on their most pronounced feature.
- Golden Nugget Online Casino – This is the preferred site if you’d like a wide variety of slots.
- BetMGM Online Casino – This website works with several software providers, enabling you to also enjoy exclusively released titles.
- Caesars Online Casino – If the rewards you can get for simply having fun are what you seek, sign up at Caesars.
- Virgin Online Casino – Blackjack fans and players that love hefty deposit bonuses are certain to enjoy their time here.
Unibet Online Casino – For a selection of some of the best live dealer games, turn to Unibet’s live section for real-time entertainment.
About the Author/s
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.
