New Jersey Legal Online Poker Overview

New Jersey Online Poker Laws Summary

Online betting on horse racing first became available in New Jersey in 2000, but it was more than a decade later until online casinos came into play. Governor Chris Christie led the charge for online gambling legalization for many years and signed Assembly Bill A2578/S1565 in 2013. This allowed Atlantic City operators to offer internet gaming licenses for online casinos – including poker – and subsequently saw online poker rooms open in the Garden State. Bill A2578 stated that online casinos had to partner with live land-based casinos in New Jersey, and in the first month of legalization over 125,000 player accounts were created.

In 2017, Gov. Christie also signed a bill that allowed Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) games to be legal and regulated in New Jersey. 2018 saw further expansion of the NJ betting landscape when it took on the US Supreme Court over sports betting. Gov. Christie appealed the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA), with the monumental victory effectively ending Nevada’s near-monopoly on sports betting in the country and paving the way for every state to legalize betting.

Originally, the outdated US Wire Act held back poker sites from operating across state lines, but in January 2021 the courts ruled in favor of the gaming companies and allowed for mergers to proceed in regulated markets. WSOP.com was the first operator to hold an interstate merger agreement, with a shared liquidity market in Nevada, New Jersey, and with partner 888poker in Delaware. PokerStars then became the second operator in the US to launch shared liquidity when it combined its player pools between New Jersey and Michigan on January 1, 2023. This means players from both states can access cash games and play in tournaments on a single shared network.

Legal Online Poker Operators in New Jersey

There are currently three licensed online poker operators in New Jersey – Borgata/BetMGM, PokerStars and World Series of Poker (WSOP) – who run multiple skins under their accounts. These NJ operators provide iGaming options to a population of almost 9.3 million in the Garden State. Each site offers a host of traditional poker games and popular events including multi-table tournaments (MTTS), sit and go tournaments (SNGS), monthly standout and jackpot-style tournaments, cash and free play games, and satellite events.

Ultimate Poker, Borgata/partypoker, and WSOP.com/888 were some of the first online poker operators available in New Jersey following the market launch in 2013. Ultimate Poker eventually closed its virtual doors, due partly to the fact they failed to create a program suitable for Apple users. Meanwhile, PokerStars was later to the market when reopening its platform in the US on March 16, 2016.

Read on to see our favorite features of the legal online poker operators in New Jersey:

Borgata/BetMGM

Borgata holds a license for online poker but uses multiple skins in New Jersey and a large portion of the online company is now controlled by BetMGM. Borgata and partypoker launched in NJ on November 21, 2013, while Pala Poker opened its doors on June 6, 2017. Pala Poker is the only poker site under the Borgata license that does not share a player pool with the other sites. BetMGM Poker and Casino officially launched in New Jersey on August 1, 2017.

The Borgata/BetMGM sites offer daily tournaments and regular cash games, with the latter catering to buy-ins of all different sizes. The poker site is available on mobile and desktop across all operating systems and is merged with the BetMGM Casino and Sportsbook app for added loyalty bonus points.

BetMGM poker sees most of its traffic during its monthly online promotional series, which runs around 10 days each month. BetMGM skins currently do not share liquidity with any other state.

BetMGM’s standout features include:

• MGM Resorts M Life Rewards Program is used throughout the US.

• Monthly online poker tournament series.

• Progressive knockout (PKO) tournaments.

• Skins – Borgata, PartyCasino, partypoker, and Pala (Pala does not share a player pool with Borgata and partypoker).

PokerStars

PokerStars launched in New Jersey on March 16, 2016, and is available on mobile and desktop across all operating platforms. Based on data collected by in September 2022, the site currently averages about 55 players online over a seven-day period and sees most of its traffic in big Sunday tournaments. This number is expected to increase following the merger of New Jersey and Michigan player pools at the start of 2023.

PokerStars has many perks, including:

• Great operational software systems.

• New Jersey Championship of Online Poker (NJCOOP) tournaments.

• Spin and go tournaments.

• Strong and responsive social media presence.

World Series of Poker

WSOP.com launched in New Jersey on November 26, 2013, and can be accessed via mobile and desktop across all major operating platforms. WSOP.com currently averages about 450 players online over a seven-day window. These numbers reflect a shared liquidity between Delaware, Nevada, and New Jersey. The site sees most of its traffic on WSOP circuit events monthly and during summer Online Bracelet events.

World Series of Poker highlights include:

• Monthly circuit ring events.

• Direct satellites to the WSOP Main Event in Las Vegas.

• Online Bracelet tournaments.

How to Play Online Poker in New Jersey

Signing up to an online poker operator may appear complicated if you have never gambled online before. However, the process is straightforward – just follow the simple steps below and you’ll be playing online poker before you know it:

1. Select one of our recommended New Jersey poker operators. You can visit your chosen operator on mobile or desktop, or download the relevant app.

2. Click ‘Sign-Up’ or ‘Register’. This process will be similar across all operators and platforms, and you will need to input personal information such as your full name, date of birth, address, phone number, and email. You may also be required to enter part of your Social Security number. Most of the information is required in the same format that is displayed on your driving license or state ID.

3. Players are asked to provide a unique username and password, and you may have to confirm your email and identity. New players may be asked to provide additional documents, such as a picture of their license. As of 2022, players will also be asked to submit a mobile number for two-factor authentication to log in to the site.

4. Once all your personal information is confirmed, you can make a deposit on the site. Go to the 'Cashier' section, choose a payment method and deposit amount, and follow the instructions to fund your account. Enter any relevant bonus codes and satisfy any welcome bonus deposit requirements to earn maximum rewards.

5. You do not have to live in New Jersey to sign up for a site, but to legally play you must be physically located within NJ state boundaries at the time bets are being made. Poker operators verify this by using geolocation services, so you may have to allow this on your phone to access the sites. The system used is called GeoComply.

6. Use your cash and bonus funds to play your favorite poker games. If you win, revisit the cashier page and follow the instructions to withdraw.

New Jersey Poker Bonuses & Promotions

New Jersey poker sites have many different welcome bonuses for new players. Each site in NJ also offers credit to use on free games, while online players can take advantage of plenty of real money bonuses in the form of no deposit sign up promotions and matched offers.

Visit your preferred New Jersey poker site to start building a bankroll using these bonuses:

Welcome Bonus

• BetMGM bonuses

  • Up to $75 in free tournament tickets on deposit.

  • 100% match up to $1,000 on deposit.

• Pala Poker bonuses

  • $25 free bonus on deposit.

  • 100% match up to $500 on deposit.

• PokerStars bonuses

  • $50 in free tournament tickets (no deposit necessary).

  • 100% match up to $600 on deposit OR play 1 hand and get $50 free dollars.

• WSOP.com bonuses

  • $25 free on sign-up (no deposit necessary).

  • $25 free on your first deposit.

  • 100% match up to $1,000 on deposit.

Loyalty Programs

• BetMGM Rewards

BetMGM have replaced their M life Rewards program with two separate reward systems – BetMGM Rewards and MGM Rewards. When playing with BetMGM Poker, you will be operating under the BetMGM Rewards program. These reward points can be redeemed online for cash bonuses or converted into MGM Reward points, which can then be used to secure comps at live venues owned by MGM Resorts.

At BetMGM Poker in New Jersey, players earn 5.6 reward points for every $1 in rake. As an online player, you must rake $70.40 to release $20 of the bonus. Money does not have to be re-played through at that point.

Your comp cards will be matched to your online accounts, and tier credits determine the level of rewards that you can receive.

• PokerStars Chest Rewards

PokerStars’ online Chest Rewards system has six levels of rewards. Each chest has different values, and the higher the Chest Level, the more rewards you’ll win. The number of reward points you accrue within 28 days determines the size of your chest rewards. The system resets after that point.

Poker players earn 100 reward points for every $1 paid in rake in online real money games.

• WSOP Loyalty Program

The WSOP Poker Rewards program is linked to Caesars Entertainment’s Caesars Rewards program, with players able to accumulate wagering points across multiple platforms. You will then be able to redeem these Action Player Points (APPs) for a prize of your choice, including tournament tickets and free play. You can also redeem these points for cashback or use them as loyalty points in retail Caesars properties to earn higher tiers.

The WSOP loyalty program sees players receive two APPs for every $1 in rake collected at a table during a standard game, while you will receive two APPs for every $1 in fees paid during tournaments.

Playthrough Requirements

BetMGM Playthrough Requirements

New Jersey players wishing to take advantage of BetMGM’s ‘100% match up to $1,000 on deposit’ promotion must earn iRewards to clear the welcome bonus. The following terms apply to the BetMGM welcome bonus:

• Funds are cleared in 10% increments and need to be played through 14x.

• 5.5 reward points are accumulated for every $1 spent on tournament fees/raked in cash games.

• Players have 120 days from sign-up to use these bonuses

PokerStars Playthrough Requirements

Poker players in NJ can get up to $600 for a deposit bonus. In order to clear the PokerStars bonus, you must earn a certain amount of Redemption Points (RPs):

• For every $1 in tournament buy-in or raked cash games, 5 RPs are accrued.

• Players will receive $10 for every 180 RPs earned.

• RPs are cleared on every live cash game and also set rates on tournaments.

• Players have four months from the deposit date to clear the bonus.

WSOP.com Playthrough Requirements

WSOP.com allows players to earn Action Player Points (APPs). These points can be gained by playing cash games or real money tournaments. To clear bonuses, players need to understand the following:

• The first $10 bonus clears at a rate of $1 per 10 APPs.

• After the first $10, $50 can then be unlocked at a rate of $5 every time 50 APPs are accumulated.

• The final release happens at a rate of $10 for every 100 APPs.

• APPs are cleared on every live cash game and also set rates on tournaments.

• The bonus must be cleared within 60 days.

New Jersey Poker Tournaments

New Jersey poker sites mainly offer no-limit Texas hold ’em and Omaha-style tournaments. These often include Progressive and Bounty Knockout tournaments. The sites also offer freezeouts, turbos, deepstacks, and satellites. Each site runs multiple daily tournaments and generally offer a major event series once a month.

• Knockout Tournaments (KO)

Also known as bounty tournaments, knockout tournaments are popular in the poker community. Players earn a predetermined cash prize for every opponent they knock out.

• Progressive Knockout Tournaments (PKO)

Progressive knockout tournaments (PKO) are unique bounty tournaments. When a player is taken out by another player, that winner receives 50% of the loser's bounty.

The other 50% is added to the winning player’s own collective bounty. Bounties keep rising every time a player eliminates another, which means that near the end of the tournament bounties can be worth a lot of money.

• Live Tournament Satellites

Entry to events can be a lot of money for players. For example, the WSOP Main Event is $10,000. Online players can instead play in online weekly satellites – smaller buy-in qualifying tournaments – to win seats into these headline events for as little as $1.

• Turbos

For players that do not have all day and night to grind out a tournament, turbos consist of an accelerated format that allows players to finish an event in around four hours. The structures (e.g., blinds, antes, and payouts) usually increase every five minutes.

• Super Turbos

To take it one step further from turbos, super turbos are generally completed in under three hours. The blind levels usually increase about every three minutes. These are perfect events for recreational players that want to kill some time and still make it to work the next morning.

• Guaranteed Prize Pools

Online poker rooms will offer guaranteed prize pools for different events. The guarantees can range from $500-$250,000+, depending on the series tournament. The poker operator guarantees that no matter the number of entries, the prize pool will still be there to win. If there are less players than required to generate the funds, this is called an overlay. That means the poker site is responsible to cover the money needed to fulfill the guarantee.

• Special Formats

Some special tournaments such as mixed games, pot limit Omaha, seven-card stud, and other additional games can sometimes be found on New Jersey poker sites.

• Jackpot Sit & Gos

Jackpot sit & gos (SNGS) are a mix of slots and poker. These small tournaments may include three or four people and offer bonuses that aren't known to the players until the game starts. Each player buys in for a certain amount and plays until there is a winner. At the end, a special prize amount is awarded as a jackpot. These can payout big wins occasionally.

Types of Poker Games Available in New Jersey

Online poker sites in New Jersey offer many different variations of the popular game. No limit hold ‘em (NLHE) is widely regarded as the most popular, but there are plenty of other options available and sites will sometimes also include special variants. These events generally pop up during major series, and can be lots of fun to try.

Texas Hold ‘em

Texas hold ‘em can be played in no limit, limit, or pot limit fashion. This is currently the most popular game in the US. You receive two cards in the hole before five community cards are spread across the felt for all players to use. You must use the best five cards to make your hand.

Omaha

The second most popular poker format in most of the United States is Omaha. As with hold ‘em, players can play in no limit, limit, or pot limit games. Pot limit is the most popular and this is referred to commonly as PLO. Omaha plays almost identically to regular hold ‘em, except a player gets four hole cards instead of two. Out of those four cards, players must only use two in their hand to complete their best five-card hand.

Open-Faced Chinese Poker

One of the newest poker trends in the last 10 years is a game called open-face Chinese poker (OFCP) – a variant of Chinese poker. Players start with five cards and are then given one card at a time until they reach 13 in their hand. Players must make rows of their strongest hands, with three cards in their front row and five cards each in the middle and back rows. Despite its name, the game variation is said to have originated in Finland.

Three-Card Poker

Three-card poker is a table game found in both retail and online casinos. Unlike other forms of poker, three-card is played against the house and not against other players. The aim of the game is for the player’s hand to beat the dealer’s hand.

Stud Poker

One of the oldest forms of poker is stud poker. This game is still popular on the east coast but is generally not played as much online. Stud poker today usually includes seven-card stud. In seven-card, players must make the best five-card hand. Four out of each player's seven cards are exposed to the table face up. Earlier formats included five-card stud, but that game is rarely seen anymore.

How to Deposit & Withdraw at NJ Online Poker Sites

When it comes to making a deposit, New Jersey poker players have many options to pick from. Regulated sites allow players to choose a method that best suits their needs.

The following are some examples of how deposits can be made:

• Credit or debit card (Visa/Mastercard).

• Direct bank deposits.

• Direct cash deposits at physical casinos.

• eCheck bank payments (ACH transfers).

• eWallets such as Neteller, Paypal.

• PayNearMe cash deposits at 7-Eleven and Family Dollar stores.

• Prepaid/gift cards – Play+ and Paysafecard gift card deposits.

Live Poker Rooms in New Jersey

In New Jersey, only three legal live poker rooms are available for players to play in. Each fall under the watch of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission for regulations and procedures. All three poker rooms are located in Atlantic City.

The list of active poker rooms in the state includes:

Future of Online Poker in New Jersey

The status of online poker in New Jersey is strong. Revenue reports show consistent year-on-year growth for poker and iGaming in the state. With over 9 million residents, live poker rooms and big-name online operators, NJ looks set to hold its position as one of the biggest gaming states in the country.

The merger of PokerStars' New Jersey and Michigan player pools in January 2023 is also a major boost for the industry. Previously, only WSOP.com offered merged player pools with other states but now there is even more opportunity for major prize pools and increased competition.

Meanwhile, Rush Street Interactive has confirmed in 2022 that they plan to launch online poker in the near future. This can be expected to run under either their BetRivers platform or their partnership with Run It Once Poker.

New Jersey Online Poker Responsible Gambling Resources

• – Offers links to resources such as phone numbers and a live chat where you can get support. It also refers to further help, including local and national organizations. (800) 270-7117

• – Provides a helpline for those in need of support and refers bettors to a treatment program. It also offers further advice on responsible gambling. People can call (800) 522-4700 if they need help or visit the website.

Players can sign up for the by visiting the offices of the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement at either of the following locations:

• Arcade Building (Entrance B), Tennessee Avenue and Boardwalk, Atlantic City, N.J. 08401, (609) 441-3015

• 140 E. Front Street, Trenton, NJ 08608, (609) 292-9394

The self-exclusion program can also be accessed via any online casino in New Jersey. This program will prevent people from registering with any gambling operator in the state and stop them from receiving gambling marketing material. New Jersey online sites also allow players to post daily spending and deposit limits. Players can regulate their time playing as well.