Best New Jersey Online Poker Sites – December 2023

The best US online poker sites are located in New Jersey. The state also has shared-liquidity (interstate player pools) with Delaware and Nevada, which means players can compete against folks in those states as well. Michigan online poker players should join the mix soon as well.

All legally-licensed online poker sites in New Jersey are safe and legitimate due to regulations and oversight by the Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE). This makes playing at legal US online poker sites in New Jersey the better option compared to sketchy sites based overseas that don’t offer the same level of protection or guarantees.

If you’re ever unsure if an online poker site is legit, simply visit the DGE website to review the complete list.

The rates for rake (commission fee charged by an online poker site) is between 5 and 7 percent and depends on the tournament or game. The rake is built into the gameplay, much like the “vig” in sports betting that’s built into the odds.

Best December 2023 Sign-Up Offers for NJ Online Poker Sites

This is the complete list of the seven online poker sites in New Jersey, all of which are legally-licensed to operate in the state:

• WSOP.com – 100% deposit-match up to $1,000 + Up to $100 in bonus play on deposit with Bonus Code 25BONUS – Sign up
• BetMGM Poker – Get Up To $75 On First Deposit + 100% match Up To $1,000 With Bonus Code PLAYCHIP – Sign up
• PokerStars – Play 1 Hand, Get $150 in Bonus Play OR claim a 100% Deposit Match Up To $600 With Bonus Code STARS600 – Sign up
  
• Partypoker – Get a 100% Up To $1,000 On Deposit With Code CHIPPLAY – Sign up
• Borgata Poker – Get Up To $75 On First Deposit + 100% match Up To $1,000 On Deposit With Code POKPLAY – Sign up

Pala Poker is also available, although the player pool is small and so is the bonus offer. But you can use bonus code OVBONUS for $25 on signup and a 100% deposit match up to $500. It’s just more likely that you’ll enjoy the bigger poker sites more for the variety of competition and the overall win potential.

While seven legal online poker sites are available in New Jersey, all players are grouped into four online poker networks. Different sites within the same network are called “skins,” and each one can have a unique bonus offer despite sharing a player pool. Here’s a breakdown:

*Borgata is the licensing partner of both the Partypoker Network and Pala Poker, but the two pools of players don’t overlap. However, Borgata reports its collective online poker revenue, so it’s unclear the size of the pools based on the overall $800,000+ figure. But we do know that Pala Poker is not nearly as popular as BetMGM Poker, Partypoker, or Borgata, so it’s safe to assume that the Partypoker Network is the second largest player pool after the All American Poker Network.

Best Online Poker Sites In New Jersey

WSOP.com New Jersey

• Part of the All American Poker Network
• Available via desktop app, iOS app, and Android app
• Offers inter-state player pools, massive tournaments, and unmatched name recognition

Use WSOP.com promo code 25BONUS to get 100% deposit-match up to $1,000 + Up to $100 in bonus play on deposit. Sign Up

PokerStars might be the biggest name in online poker, but the World Series of Poker (WSOP) is the biggest name in poker, period. Here is our full WSOP review for all the reasons it’s the best of the best.

This Caesars affiliate also shares a player pool with folks in Nevada and Delaware (through 888Poker). It is expected to bring in players from Michigan soon as well.

One huge advantage of WSOP is that it offers the ability to qualify for the World Series that takes place annually in Las Vegas.

WSOP.com’s New Jersey launch was November 21, 2013, making this brand among the first legally licensed platforms in the state. 

BetMGM Poker New Jersey

• Part of the Partypoker Network (with Borgata & partypoker)
• Available via desktop app, iOS app, and Android app
• Shares a pool with two other skins and offers a top-rated online casino and sportsbook promos

BetMGM Poker’s land-based partner is Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, and it launched in 2017 as playMGM. While it’s not the most popular option as a stand-alone, BetMGM NJ is part of the Partypoker Network. That means playing at BetMGM also means you can play against players at partypoker as well as Borgata Poker. Check out our full BetMGM Poker review to learn more.

A big reason you’d want to play here over other choices is access to the BetMGM online casino and sportsbook in NJ. Plus, new players at BetMGM Poker can get a 100% deposit-match up to $1,000, plus up to $75 on the first deposit with code PLAYCHIP.

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PokerStars New Jersey

• Part of the standalone PokerStars Network
• Available via desktop app, iOS app, and Android app
• Offers an impressive player pool alongside online casino gaming and sports betting

Claim PokerStars offer for play 1 hand, get $150 bonus OR a 100% deposit match bonus up to $600 with promo code STARS600

PokerStars has the highest number of players of any other brand in the world, which is a testament to the PokerStars NJ overall quality (check out our full PokerStars review). With a huge player pool, massive tournaments, and the opportunity for $50 in betting credits for playing a single hand, New Jersey online poker players have plenty of reasons to join. If you’re planning on playing for the long-term, you can go for the 100% bonus up to $600 instead, which gets the most active players the most money as long as they deposit over $50. Use code STARS600 for that incentive.

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PokerStars NJ officially launched in March 2016. Its land-based partner is Resorts Casino Hotel Atlantic City. The promotions, large player pool, and huge tournament prizes make this platform well worth considering for both new players and seasoned online poker pros alike.

888Poker New Jersey

• Part of the All American Poker Network (with WSOP.com)
• Available via desktop app, iOS app, and Android app
• Shares the largest NJ poker network with WSOP.com and offers a full sportsbook and online casino

888 Poker offers $20 on signup + 100% bonus up to $1,500

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888Poker has had its ups and downs since its New Jersey launch in November 2013. But our full 888Poker review details all the reasons why it’s still very much worth joining, especially given its no deposit bonus.

The 888Poker site saw impressive numbers initially. The site saw a steady revenue decline in 2017, 2018, and 2019 until COVID-19 shuttered land-based casinos in 2020. They’ve since bounced back as have other online poker sites.

The land-based partner is Caesars Palace Atlantic City, which 888Poker shares with WSOP.com. Because of this, the two online poker platforms often combine player pools for tournaments and cash games.

Partypoker

• Part of the Partypoker Network (with BetMGM & Borgata)
• Available via desktop app, iOS app, and Android app
• Offers arguably the smoothest and most reliable online poker platform in the US, plus huge tournaments

Use partypoker NJ promo code CHIPPLAY for a 100% bonus up to $1,000

Sign Up

Partypoker is one of the best options among the many New Jersey online poker sites (here’s our full Partypoker review). As a Borgata Hotel Casino partner, it shares a player pool with Borgata Poker as well as BetMGM. It’s also the biggest name among these shared-network brands.

The only downside to partypoker is the lack of an online sportsbook. If you enjoy betting on sports and want access to the partypoker player pool, as well as some of the best NJ sportsbook promos available, join BetMGM or Borgata Poker.

Borgata Poker

• Part of the Partypoker Network (with BetMGM & partypoker)
• Available via desktop app, iOS app, and Android app
• Offers additional online casino games you can’t find at BetMGM

Use Borgata Poker promo code POKPLAY for up to $75 on first deposit + 100% bonus matching your deposit up to $1,000

Sign Up

The Borgata Poker site exactly the same as the MGM site except for the logo. They both have the same tournaments, promotions, and player pool. The sportsbook odds between the two are the same as well. Here’s our full Borgata Poker review that explains things in more detail.

The only slight difference between Borgata and MGM is the online casino. While the catalog is practically identical, you can find a few more titles at Borgata. If you like to play online casino games as well as poker, we’d recommend using Borgata.

Otherwise, there’s no significant difference.

Other Online Poker Sites In New Jersey

Pala Poker

• Part of the standalone Pala Poker network
• Available via desktop app, iOS app, and Android app
• Limited hours and a smaller player pool means potentially easier competition for tournaments.

Pala Poker is also a Borgata Hotel Casino partner, same as BetMGM and partypoker. However, it does not share a player pool, which makes it easy to wonder why it even exists. There’s virtually no one in the poker rooms. 

Pala Poker does have a few decent promotions, though, including a No Deposit Bonus. So it might be worthwhile to join for that, play as much as you can, then withdraw and play elsewhere. Use Pala Poker promo code OVBONUS for $25 on signup plus a 100% deposit bonus up to $500.

Learn more in our complete guide to New Jersey Online Casinos. 

What Is The Biggest Online Poker Site In New Jersey?

The biggest online poker network in New Jersey is the All American Poker Network, which consistently brings in more revenue than the other three networks. However, the partypoker network and the PokerStars network are both strong in New Jersey, offering a wide range of competition and tons of tournaments.

The All American Poker Network benefits from sharing a player-pool with Nevada and Delaware (with Michigan players coming soon.) If you’re playing on 888Poker or WSOP.com, you could be playing against anyone in New Jersey or one of those other two states. This gives the network a big edge over its competition.

Plus, the only legally-licensed online poker site in Delaware is 888, and the only Nevada online poker site is WSOP.com. So currently, the only way to take advantage of New Jersey’s shared-liquidity across state lines is through the All American Poker Network.

Does New Jersey Share Online Poker Player Pools With Any Other States?

Yes. New Jersey shares online poker player pools with Nevada and Delaware.

However, Nevada’s only licensed online poker site is WSOP.com. If you’re in Delaware, your only option is 888Poker. So New Jersey online poker players looking to take advantage of liquidity-sharing need to join one (or both) of those two sites.

Thankfully, WSOP.com and 888Poker in New Jersey share a player pool, so joining one or the other gives you access to it all. The only significant difference are the welcome bonuses and the additional offerings, such as sports betting and online poker.

Michigan has been accepted into the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA), so the Wolverine State is expected to have players join in the fun as well. Michigan has over a million more people than New Jersey, so when they are added to the mix, expect even more games available and even bigger payouts.

If the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board allows online poker sites to share player pools, that would mean even more new players. (PA has as many residents as New Jersey, Delaware, and Nevada combined.) However, this dream appears far from becoming a reality.

PokerStars is currently the number one choice among players in both Michigan and Pennsylvania. If and when things change with the player pools, it’s not tough to imagine PokerStars becoming the far and wide most popular and biggest online poker site in New Jersey and beyond.

But, for now, the title remains with the All American Poker Network, which consists of WSOP.com and 888Poker – and extends to NJ, DE, and NV.

Biggest Online Poker Tournaments In The US

New Jersey players have access to the biggest legal tournaments in US online poker, with several yearly events offering guarantees of $1 million or more. Here’s what to put on your calendar:

Over $9 Million – Online Bracelets During The World Series Of Poker

New Jersey players can play against folks in Nevada as well in this massive annual WSOP event, which coincides with the offline World Series Of Poker series. In 2019, the total prize pool was $9.88 million, and it hovers at around that much every year. The 2021 World Series Of Poker takes place from September 30 to November 23, and the online tournaments take place throughout that time. In total, ten gold bracelets will be awarded to online players in NJ and NV.

$1 Million – NJCOOP Tournament At PokerStars

The NJCOOP Tournament at PokerStars ranges in guarantee from $1 million to $2 million. The 2021 NJCOOP, which took place in September, featured $1 million in guarantees, and the main event offered a guaranteed $100,000. Buy-ins ranged from $10 to $1,000 as well, and the average guarantee was around $17,000. So all levels of players could participate and potentially win a nice purse.

$1 Million – Big Shot At 888Poker

888Poker NJ often offers impressive multi-table tournaments (MTTs) with big guarantees. The biggest of 2021 was the $1 Million Big Shot MTT tournament, which took place over a single weekend in September. If you’re a member of 888Poker, make sure they’re in your contacts so the notification of an upcoming event doesn’t go to your spam. Otherwise, you could miss out, as has happened to the best of us.

$1 Million – Borgata Poker Open Main Event (At BetMGM, Borgata, Partypoker)

In September 2021, the Borgata Poker Open Main Event was accessible through the full Partypoker Network via Borgata, BetMGM, and partypoker. The guarantee of $1 million is an enticing and exciting prospect, but the buy-in was a massive $3,500 per head, which makes it inaccessible to most players. But if you’re a high-roller, this is one to serious consider for 2022.

Do New Jersey’s Online Poker Sites Offer Mobile Apps?

Yes. All legally-licensed New Jersey online poker sites have a mobile app for both iOS and Android. They’re all also download-only for desktop versions, meaning you can’t play a flash version of any poker site directly on its website.

Different real-money poker apps are distinguished by their individual quality. If you play online poker on your phone, we highly recommend looking into the reviews before joining. 

A common complaint is that the app can be glitchy and quit. That would be devastating if you’re in the middle of a tournament or a high-stakes hand. In fact, it would be grounds to never play at that poker app again.

Generally speaking, it’s probably best to play tournaments on your desktop. The computing power greatly reduces the chances that your app will quit unexpectedly. If you’re using an older mobile device, that further increases the chance of poker app issues.

This is not meant to scare anyone out of playing online poker via a mobile app. A few have glowing reviews. The ones with consistently bad marks are working to improve their performance. 

It’s also worth noting that many of these online poker brands have been operating through desktop apps since the 1990s. Mobile apps are comparatively new, so there’s a bit of a learning curve that’s to be expected.

For Android Users: Steps For Downloading A Poker App

This is the easiest way to download a New Jersey online poker app for Android:

1. Visit the online poker website on your Android device.
2. Use the direct link to download the app on the Google Play store or download it directly from the site.
3. Sign in or create an account through the app.
4. You can now deposit, play, and cashout, all on your Android app.

It is required to turn on your location tracking. The Google Play store didn’t allow gambling apps for the longest time. That changed in early 2021, but many platforms are still hosting their app directly on their site rather than on Google Play.

For iOS Users: Steps For Downloading A Poker App

1. Search the app store or visit the online poker website and use their direct App Store link.
2. Download the New Jersey version of the online poker app.
3. Create an account or log in to an existing one.
4. Accept location tracking (it’s required!)
5. From here, you’re able to make deposits, play in all tournaments and games, and withdraw.

What Online Poker Bonuses Are Available In New Jersey?

Because New Jersey online poker sites are competing against one another, each will have its own promotional offers. However, all offers fall under the following categories:

No Deposit Bonus

No deposit bonuses give players bonus money just for signing up.  Often times players will receive a small amount of bonus credits when they sign up with a poker site provided they go through the signup process. These incentives are an excellent way for a player to experience a site and card room without having to put money down.  We recommend using them to see if a poker site is right for you before depositing your own money.

First-Deposit Match Bonus

Most legal online casino sites in New Jersey offer a deposit-match bonus. At PokerStars, you can receive a 100% deposit match up to $600 with code STARS600. Basically, PokerStars will double your first deposit, with half being your cash and the other half bonus funds. But you can also receive $150 in bonus play for playing one hand of poker on the site instead. Terms and conditions apply to both offers.

Reload Bonus

The reload bonus is the same as the first-deposit match bonus. The only difference is that it applies to when you add money to your account, or “reload” your bankroll, rather than when you first join. Reload bonuses will usually require a different sportsbook bonus code if it’s offered at all. They’re also typically smaller than the welcome bonus. 

Freerolls

Freeroll tournaments are promotional tournaments that are free to enter but have real-money pots. At PokerStars NJ, the “Start-Up Freeroll” tournament is open to all first-time depositors. But at 888Poker, there are daily, weekly, and monthly freerolls. All online poker sites have some form of freeroll offer.

Free Tournament Tickets

A lot of deposit promotions at online poker sites in New Jersey include free tournament buy-ins. At WSOP.com, the Mystery Blast Offer gives depositors a randomly-generated tournament ticket.

Leaderboard Prize Pools

Leaderboard tournaments are held at most major New Jersey online poker sites weekly, monthly, and annually. At PokerStars New Jersey, placing in the top 15 percent of a tournament scores leaderboard points. The players with the most points at the end of the promo period receive a slice of the prize pool.

New Jersey Online Poker FAQ