Through the years: Online Gambling Regulation in New Jersey
A closer look at how the Garden State’s online gambling scene came to be
New Jersey is an online gambling haven, presenting residents and visitors with the chance to place their stakes online and in person at ease.
Currently, there are over 20 online casinos and video poker sites available for players to choose from across the Garden State, alongside 20 further sportsbooks that provide sports betting only. However, it hasn’t always been so free and easy across New Jersey, as highlighted below.
A little history lesson
The earliest signs of gambling in New Jersey date back to the 1700s. Thankfully, this overview of casinos online in New Jersey cuts out the back-and-forths and begins in 1970 – at a time when the New Jersey Lottery was formed.
By 1974, legislation regarding the legalization of casinos was put forward in an attempt to add to the lottery-run Pick-3 game. Although the proposal was initially denied, it was later backed by Atlantic City. The first casino to open its doors to the people of the Garden State was the Resorts Casino Hotel, in 1978. A casino that is still standing to this day.
Early days of online gambling
In 2011, the New Jersey legislature passed a bill to allow online gambling to New Jersey residents above the age of 21. As gambling was only legal across Atlantic City, the computer servers responsible for running the online element had to be located within licensed Atlantic City Casinos.
By 2013, after much back and forth, a revised bill was put forward and accepted, based on a 15% online tax stipulation and per official regulation from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement and the New Jersey Casino Control Commission. The official launch of internet gambling across the state was November 2013 and, by the end of the year, over 125,000 player accounts were created. Fair to say that the Garden State gambling scene has not looked back since.
The end of PASPA
In 2017, New Jersey was home to the greatest selection of online casinos and games across the US. Towards the end of 2017, New Jersey challenged the US Supreme Court regarding the current Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), in an attempt to bring sports betting to New Jersey bettors, too. At the time, PASPA prohibited sports betting outside of Nevada.
Six long months later, sports fans across the Garden State could rejoice at the news – PASPA was deemed unconstitutional and New Jersey looked set to legalize online sports betting across the state. The first sports bet was later placed on Germany to win the World Cup, at William Hill (now owned by Caesars), in June 2018. As recently as October 2021, New Jersey broke the record for most sports betting revenue in one month, totaling $1.3 billion.
Current regulations
Fast-forward to 2022 and the New Jersey online gambling scene is considered one of the most inclusive across the US.
Provided online operators are licensed and regulated by the NYDGE, bettors over the age of 21, who are residing within state lines, can make their deposits and wager across online casino slots, table games, and jackpots, build their lineups across a host of daily fantasy sports, wager on the best sportsbooks around, and bluff their way to victory in video poker – all legally in the eyes of the state. Those looking to take things a little less seriously can also enjoy the thrill of social and charity gambling, including bingos, raffles, family poker nights, and more.
Disclaimer:
New Jersey Isn’t Boring does not promote or endorse any form of wagering or gambling to users under the age of 18. This site encourages responsible gambling and provides advice for anyone who believes they, or someone they know, may have a gambling addiction. If you or anyone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
New Jersey provides funding for education and treatment programs for people with gambling problems.
For information about these programs, you can contact the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey. For more information on Problem Gambling and access to free, online, confidential resources, you can visit the National Center for Responsible Gaming.
There are more than 45 Gamblers Anonymous meetings in New Jersey every week. If you or someone you know wants to find the nearest meeting, the time, day and location of each is available either through Gamblers Anonymous or the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey.
For additional information, please visit the Division of Gaming Enforcement’s Self Exclusion Program page.
