The Garden State is home to one of the most successful sports betting industries in the country. New Jersey online sportsbooks are setting the industry standard in the U.S.
Although in its infancy across the country, the overturn of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act cleared the way for states to legalize sports betting on an individual basis on the state level.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy acted quickly. He signed off on legislation to permit sports betting online within the state. It’s been a success so far, with New Jersey’s online sportsbooks earning almost $250 million in 2019.
Players in the state can access numerous options for state-regulated mobile sports betting platforms with a wide range of welcome bonuses.
New Jersey Online Sports Betting Apps: The Run-Down
FanDuel Sportsbook
Since launching in New Jersey in September 2018, FanDuel Sportsbook has emerged as the most popular legal online sports betting platform in the Garden State.
FanDuel Sportsbook offers numerous ways to bet on all major sports, for both professional leagues and college. The platform plays host to several other betting markets for events around the world as well.
New Jersey bettors can find ways to bet on international sports like cricket, darts, table tennis, and many others. Boxing, MMA, cycling, soccer, and NASCAR are all available to bet on FanDuel Sportsbook. The platform offers one of the most comprehensive game selections of any US-facing legal online sports betting platform.
Point spread, money line, parlays, and in-game betting are all on the menu at FanDuel Sportsbook. Both mobile and desktop users can bet with ease, as the FanDuel Sportsbook experience is optimized for all devices.
FanDuel Sportsbook Bonuses
New players can take advantage of FanDuel Sportsbook’s $500 risk-free bet offer.
After an initial deposit, FanDuel will refund up to $500 on the first bet made on the site. If the bet results in a loss and is made within 72 hours of the first deposit, they will issue a refund.
DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings Sportsbook established its brand as one of the leaders in the US legal sports betting market. Not surprisingly, DraftKings Sportsbook was the first platform to go live after the legalization of online sports betting in New Jersey.
Launched in August 2018, DraftKings SportsBook operates as a license partner of Resorts Digital Gaming. With the DraftKings SportsBook brand as one of two partners (Fox Bet is the other), Resorts Digital Gaming is one of the operators leading the New Jersey legal online sports betting industry.
SugarHouse Sportsbook
SugarHouse Sportsbook is named after the property formerly known as SugarHouse Casino, now called Rivers Casino Philadelphia. In August 2018, the SugarHouse brand crossed the Delaware River into New Jersey, launching a hybrid casino and sportsbook platform.
SugarHouse Sportsbook is the sports betting side of that platform. Originally partnering with Golden Nugget Atlantic City, SugarHouse Sportsbook now operates under the online sports betting license of Monmouth Park.
BetMGM
In its original form, the MGM-branded legal online sportsbook in New Jersey was named playMGM. The second legal online sports betting platform to launch in the Garden State, playMGM launched in August 2018.
In September 2019, the platform relaunched as BetMGM, with an improved product. Bet MGM operates under the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa license.
William Hill NJ
William Hill is one of the biggest sports betting brands in the world. William Hill NJ operates as a single platform among license partners Monmouth Park, Ocean Casino Resort, and Tropicana Casino Resort.
Navigating from the websites of any of these three sportsbooks all lead to the William Hill NJ site or app download. William Hill’s online sports betting partnerships with Monmouth Park and Ocean Casino both began in September 2018. The Tropicana collaboration launched in January 2019.
FanDuel Sportsbook
FanDuel Sportsbook, along with DraftKings Sportsbook, is a leader in the emerging US legal sports betting industry. FanDuel Sportsbook hit the market in September 2018 as one of the first legal mobile sports betting platforms to launch in New Jersey.
Since going live, FanDuel Sportsbook is in the top spot in revenue earnings among New Jersey’s legal online sportsbooks. New Meadowlands Racetrack licenses the FanDuel Sportsbook.
888 Sport
The 888 brand looms as a major presence through the history of New Jersey’s online gambling economy. With the launch of 888 Sport in September 2018, the international gaming brand now operates online platforms for poker, sports betting, and casino games in New Jersey.
Like with its poker and casino products, 888 is a partner of Caesars Entertainment. For its sports betting platform, Bally’s Park Place, a Caesars Entertainment property, operates the 888 Sport license.
Caesars Sportsbook
The flagship brand under the Caesars Entertainment banner launched its New Jersey online sportsbook in September 2018. Among the first of the state’s legal mobile sports betting site to launch, Bally’s Park Place holds the Caesars Sportsbook license.
New Jersey, along with Pennsylvania, is one of two states with an online sportsbook offering from Caesars. The sports wagering platform is built into the Caesars Casino Online site. This gives players in New Jersey easy access to both.
Fox Bet
The Fox Bet brand formed as a partnership between Fox Sports and the Stars Group. This collaboration of major players in the sports media and gambling industries gives Fox Bet instant name recognition.
Launched as BetStars in September 2018, this mobile sports betting platform rebranded as Fox Bet in August 2019. Fox Bet operates under the Resorts Digital Gaming license.
PointsBet
The Australian-owned PointsBet brand has expanded into the U.S. The first PointsBet product in the states, NJ PointsBet, launched in December 2018. This platform operates in New Jersey as a licensed partner of New Meadowlands Racetrack.
PointsBet presents a wide variety of betting markets on domestic and international sports. PointsBet also offers the unique PointsBet betting option, in which bettors can win (or lose) more money on a single bet based on the final margin of the game.
Hard Rock Sportsbook
The physical Hard Rock Atlantic City property opened in June 2018. It didn’t take long for New Jersey’s newest casino to start establishing itself in the online gambling market as well.
Hard Rock Sportsbook debuted in January 2019, licensed to its parent casino. The sportsbook operates as part of a hybrid online casino and sportsbook platform. As such, players can access each option with ease from the Hard Rock Online Casino homepage.
Golden Nugget Sportsbook
The Golden Nugget Casino homepage provides a link to Golden Nugget Sportsbook. This hybrid platform gives players easy access to both online casino gambling and sports betting from the same site.
Powered by software from SBTech, the online sportsbook operates under the Golden Nugget Atlantic City license. This mobile sports betting platform debuted in February 2019.
BetAmerica
BetAmerica’s New Jersey online sportsbook launched in February 2019. Part of BetAmerica’s hybrid online casino platform, BetAmerica operates under the Golden Nugget Atlantic City license.
Churchill Downs Incorporated owns the BetAmerica brand. BetAmerica’s New Jersey online sportsbook is part of the company’s plans to expand in the U.S. online sports betting industry.
Bet365 NJ
An international powerhouse in the sports betting industry, Bet365 expanded into the U.S. market with the launch of its New Jersey online sportsbook. Bet365 NJ launched in August 2019. This makes it one of the newest products to hit the state’s mobile sports betting market.
Bet365 NJ is licensed to Hard Rock Atlantic City, one of three brands under the Hard Rock license.
theScore Bet
Score Media and Gaming is best known for its flagship enterprise, theScore.com. A major and influential sports media outlet, theScore expanded into the U.S. sports betting market with the launch of an online sportsbook in New Jersey.
Going live in August 2019, theScore Bet launched as one of the latest arrivals to the New Jersey sports betting scene. TheScore Bet operates under the Monmouth Park license.
Borgata Sports
Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa’s history in the New Jersey online sports betting market dates back to the launch of the industry in August 2018. In August 2019, Borgata Sports launched as a namesake platform under the Borgata license.
While Borgata introduced New Jersey’s first physical sportsbook, the online product bearing the Borgata name is one of the most recent arrivals to the market.
Unibet Sport
International gaming powerhouse Unibet made its US debut with the launch of a New Jersey online sportsbook. Unibet Sport went live in September 2019, as a license partner of Hard Rock Atlantic City.
Unibet Sport is the most recent mobile sportsbook to launch in New Jersey. This gives Hard Rock Atlantic City three brands under its online sports betting license.
Welcome Bonuses At New Jersey Online Sportsbooks
Risk-Free Bets
Risk-free bet bonuses offer players the chance to make their first bet at an online sportsbook and get a refund if that bet is a loss. Several of New Jersey’s online sports betting platforms offer such a bonus.
Both FanDuel Sportsbook and BetMGM offer a $500 risk-free bet offer for new players. PointsBet is another legal New Jersey online sportsbook with a risk-free bet offer. At PointsBet, bettors receive up to a $200 rebate on the first bet.
Deposit Match Bonuses
The deposit match bonus is the most common kind of bonus among online gambling platforms. Deposit match bonuses award bonus money in an amount that matches the initial deposit amount, up to a certain percentage or amount.
These match bonuses generally require a certain amount of playthrough to unlock the bonus. Common playthrough amounts range anywhere from 20x to 30x of the deposit amount that needs to be wagered to unlock the bonus.
SugarHouse Sportsbook offers one of the most generous deposit match bonuses. They offer a 100% match up to $250, and only a 1x playthrough requirement.
Free Play Bonus
Some online sportsbooks put money on a player’s balance just for signing up. DraftKings Sportsbook, for example, offers $25 in free money just for registering.
DraftKings does not require a deposit or playthrough to unlock this bonus. They award the $25 just for getting started on the site.
New Jersey Online Sportsbooks At A Glance
| Online Sportsbook | Launch Date | License Partner |
|---|---|---|
| DraftKings Sportsbook | August 2018 | Resorts Digital Gaming |
| SugarHouse Sportsbook | August 2018 | Monmouth Park |
| BetMGM (formerly playMGM) | August 2018 | Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa |
| William Hill NJ | September 2018 | Ocean Casino Resort, Tropicana Casino Resort, Monmouth Park |
| FanDuel Sportsbook | September 2018 | New Meadowlands Racetrack |
| 888 Sport | September 2018 | Bally’s Park Place |
| Caesars Sportsbook | September 2018 | Bally’s Park Place |
| Fox Bet (formerly BetStars) | September 2018 | Resorts Digital Gaming |
| PointsBet | December 2018 | New Meadowlands Racetrack |
| Hard Rock Sportsbook | January 2019 | Hard Rock Atlantic City |
| Golden Nugget Sportsbook | February 2019 | Golden Nugget Atlantic City |
| BetAmerica | February 2019 | Golden Nugget Atlantic City |
| Bet365 NJ | August 2019 | Hard Rock Atlantic City |
| theScore Bet | August 2019 | Monmouth Park |
| Borgata Sports | August 2019 | Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa |
| Unibet Sport | September 2019 | Hard Rock Atlantic City |
What To Bet On In New Jersey
With far and away the largest selection of online sportsbooks out of any US state, almost endless options exist for sports betting in New Jersey.
Professional Sports
Most of New Jersey’s online sports betting platforms offer multiple ways to bet on the major US sports leagues. Betting on the NFL, NBA, Major League Baseball, and NHL is easily done from the comfort of a mobile device or a desktop computer.
Nearly all the state’s mobile sportsbooks give easy access to betting markets for boxing, MMA, NASCAR, golf, and tennis as well.
International Sports
Platforms like DraftKings Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook, Unibet Sport, and several others also offer a robust lineup of international sports betting markets. Bettors can find table tennis, cricket, rugby, darts, and international basketball and soccer leagues on the menu at certain sportsbooks.
Collegiate Sports
New Jersey’s online sportsbooks offer legal betting on college sports with one restriction. Betting on games involving New Jersey colleges and universities is not permitted. This restriction prohibits bets on Rutgers, Princeton, Seton Hall, and other New Jersey college athletic programs.
Betting on esports isn’t currently permitted in New Jersey. In March 2020, though, an esports betting bill started to make its way through the state legislature.
What Makes New Jersey’s Online Sports Betting Industry Unique
New Jersey’s status as the undisputed U.S. industry leader in all forms of online gambling began with the launch of online casinos and poker in 2013.
In May 2018, the Supreme Court of the United States overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). PASPA banned sports betting in the US on a federal level. The overturn of PASPA set the stage for the launch of online and live sports betting in New Jersey.
Given New Jersey’s place as the U.S. leader in online gambling, the state’s embrace of online sports betting comes as no surprise. Bettors in New Jersey can access the greatest variety of sports betting platforms than any other U.S. state.
As such, New Jersey players enjoy more betting options than any other state, by far. New Jersey benefits from a population of nine million, close proximity to New York, and a dedication to setting the trend in legal online gambling. As a result, New Jersey stands to be the centerpiece of the U.S. legal online gambling industry for years to come.
What Is The Biggest Sportsbook In New Jersey?
Since it launched as one of New Jersey’s first legal online sportsbooks, FanDuel Sportsbook leads the state in revenue earned. FanDuel Sportsbook debuted in September 2018. Since the launch, the platform powers New Meadowlands Racetrack’s status as the top earner in revenue by operator in the state.
FanDuel, along with DraftKings, dominates the U.S. online sports betting market. These two brands appear poised to be market leaders in the evolving U.S. sports betting industry.
DraftKings Sportsbook takes the title of the second-biggest online sportsbook in New Jersey. With DraftKings Sportsbook under its license, Resorts Digital Gaming places second in revenue by operator in the state.
Which New Jersey Online Sportsbook Has The Most Betting Markets?
FanDuel Sportsbook, DraftKings Sportsbook, and Unibet Sportsbook all have a vast number of different betting options for New Jersey players.
All the major sports leagues in the U.S. are available to bet in multiple ways on these platforms. This includes point spread, money line, futures, parlays, in-game betting, and a host of others. For international soccer action, Unibet offers a comprehensive selection of soccer lines.
Both DraftKings Sportsbook and FanDuel Sportsbook take bets on table tennis, darts, cricket, and cycling events.
Legal Versus Illegal Online Sports Betting
With the widest selection of mobile betting platforms of any U.S. state, New Jersey bettors can access just about any conceivable betting market. The convenience of online sports betting allows for line shopping, research, and placing of bets from anywhere within state borders.
The ease of access to New Jersey’s online sportsbooks, from mobile devices or desktop computers, puts the legal online sports betting market in New Jersey at the top of the list in the U.S.
New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) regulates Atlantic City casinos and all legal online sports betting platforms they operate.
Betting on a legal online sportsbook in New Jersey comes with the same level of safety as placing a bet at a retail sportsbook in Atlantic City. With a government agency like the New Jersey DGE overseeing the industry and approving all licenses, bettors can count on fair, prompt payouts, and protection of personal information.
Offshore Betting Sites And Penalties
Offshore sports betting sites cannot guarantee these layers of safety. Offshore sites, and any other non-regulated gambling sites available in the state, operate with no oversight to guarantee payouts or resolve disputes.
Offshore gambling sites operate illegally in the U.S. In some states playing on these sites could result in a criminal penalty for players.
New Jersey Online Sports Betting FAQ
How old do I have to be to bet at an online sportsbook in New Jersey?
The minimum legal gambling age for any form of casino gambling in New Jersey is 21. That minimum age also applies to betting at the state’s online sportsbooks.
To register for an account with one of New Jersey’s online sports betting sites, players must provide verification of identity and age. Only players age 21 and over can legally place a bet at a New Jersey online sportsbook.
Is DraftKings Sportsbook legal in New Jersey?
Yes. DraftKings Sportsbook launched as the first legal online sports betting platform in the state. The platform went live as a legal mobile sports wagering platform in New Jersey in August 2018.
The DraftKings Sportsbook homepage features a map that highlights all U.S. states in which it legally operates. In New Jersey, DraftKings Sportsbook, and all other legal online gambling platforms, display the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement seal.
Is FanDuel Sportsbook legal in New Jersey?
Yes. FanDuel Sportsbook launched as one of the first legal online sportsbooks to go live in New Jersey. The platform debuted in September 2019 as a licensed partner of New Meadowlands Racetrack.
FanDuel Sportsbook maintains status as the most popular online sportsbook in New Jersey since the launch. When registering for a FanDuel Sportsbook account, the site’s homepage displays a list of states where FanDuel Sportsbook is legally available.
Do New Jersey online sportsbooks offer credit?
No. Apart from bonus offers, New Jersey online sportsbooks do not generally offer bets to be made on credit.
New Jersey’s online sportsbooks all have ways to acquire bonus money to bet with, however. Common ways to get extra money into an account at New Jersey’s online sports betting sites include deposit match bonuses, risk-free bets, and free sign-up offers.
Is betting on college sports allowed in New Jersey?
Yes, with the exception of betting on New Jersey colleges and universities. Betting on college sports is legal in New Jersey, with the state’s online and retail sportsbooks offering a wide array of options to bet on college athletics.
Betting menus exclude contests involving New Jersey colleges. This includes Rutgers, Seton Hall, and Princeton, as they are outlawed in the state.
See our Complete Guide To Online Gambling In New Jersey. Or, learn more about New Jersey’s Online Casinos And Bonuses.