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New Jersey Betting Laws & Guide

Arguably, sports betting would still be restricted to Nevada only if it weren’t for New Jersey. New Jersey legalized sports betting in 2012 but had to fight a federal ban before they could see their ambitions come to fruition. Probably the most complete state for sports betting options, Jersey has plenty to offer for anyone interested.


Is sports betting legal in New Jersey?


The Garden State was one of the first to legalize sports betting within its borders when lawfully allowed. New Jersey was the state that fought for the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act to be ruled unconstitutional, eventually winning in 2018. The ruling was made in May 2018, New Jersey sports betting was launched in June 2018, and it’s been booming ever since.



What betting sites are legal in New Jersey?


New Jersey is approaching two dozen sportsbooks currently operating online as a few more are expected to launch sometime soon. Each sportsbook comes with a unique experience, features, and more, so there should be something for you.

  • Barstool Sportsbook: Integration with Barstool media and tons of promos.

  • Bet365: Top ratings and banking, only available in New Jersey and Colorado.

  • BetMGM: User-friendly and has a vast amount of sports to bet on.

  • betPARX: Offers competitive odds and a lot of sports markets.

  • BetRivers: Dedicated to offering promos and their reward program.

  • Betway: One of the best when it comes to offering bonuses and customer support.

  • Borgata Sportsbook: Some of the best odds in New Jersey for the NFL and NBA, Borgata is only available in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

  • Caesars: Well trusted, tons of options, and an amazing rewards program.

  • DraftKings: Amazing app that does everything well and is easy to use.

  • Golden Nugget: Seamlessly interwoven and connected to their casino.

  • FanDuel: An app that provides a tremendous overall experience, specializing in same-game parlays.

  • FOX Bet: Great for football and pairs well with the FOX Sports brand for promos and payouts.

  • Hard Rock Sportsbook: The interface is user-friendly and their payouts are swifter than other sportsbooks.

  • PlayUp: They offer odds that can compete with anyone and clear terms to their promos.

  • PointsBet: Features great pricing and a unique PointsBetting system.

  • SuperBook Sportsbook: SuperBook provides bettors with the stats they need to pair with excellent live betting.

  • Tipico: Another sportsbook exclusive to Colorado and New Jersey, Tipico has great promos and quick withdrawals.

  • Unibet: A trusted brand with a lot of betting options.

  • WynnBET: Early cash outs and smooth live betting are among the pros of using WynnBET.


New Jersey Sports Betting Rules and Regulations


Once you choose a sportsbook, the following information will be necessary to sign-up:

  • Name

  • Email

  • Date of birth

  • SSN

  • Phone number

  • Address

  • Password

After that, make a deposit and verify your location, and you can make bet on just about anything, including these popular options:

  • Totals: Betting on the total amount of points

  • Moneylines: A simple wager on a game’s winner

  • Spreads: Bets on the winner and the margin of victory

  • Futures: Bets about the end-of-season awards and champions

  • Props: Wagering on the performance of certain players and teams


No Betting on New Jersey Colleges


All colleges that are from New Jersey cannot be bet on while in New Jersey. It doesn’t matter if the game is home, away, or at a neutral site. This eliminates a lot of college basketball from sportsbooks in New Jersey.


No Betting on Collegiate Events Held in New Jersey


For college sports events hosted in New Jersey, bettors can’t bet on those either although they may not feature a New Jersey school. So bowl games and NCAA tournament games in the state are off-limits for New Jersey bettors.


Other College Restrictions


There are two other major restrictions for college betting in New Jersey. College player prop bets are prohibited. Live betting on college sports is also illegal.


No Betting on High School Games


All high school athletics are unavailable in New Jersey, even if the teams or venues are nowhere near Jersey.


Best Mobile Sportsbooks available in New Jersey


Based on user reviews, pros, and cons of each sportsbook, here are the seven best mobile options available in New Jersey.

  1. DraftKings: Great app reviews, along with great usability and options for major sports.

  2. FanDuel: Also has stellar reviews, user-friendliness, and betting options, although slightly more difficult to navigate.

  3. BetMGM: Offers a wide array of options even for the less popular sports.

  4. PointsBet: Quick and easy to use, along with top odds on the market.

  5. Caesars: Had a few hiccups at first, but a solid app with great rewards for users.

  6. BetRivers: The iRush rewards program for casinos gives the app a much-needed boost.

  7. Unibet: An app that is simple and offers daily profit boosts.


New Jersey Sports Betting Promos


Caesars New User Promo


Caesars is one of many sportsbooks that offers first bet insurance for new users. Theirs is up to $1,500. If your first bet with them wins, you keep the money. If it loses, they will give you the amount wagered as a free bet, up to $1,500.


FanDuel No Sweat First Bet


FanDuel also offers first-bet insurance for their new customers. It works like Caesars, just only towards the first $1,000 of a losing bet.


DraftKings First Deposit Bonus


First-time DraftKings users can get a deposit match of up to $1,000. The sportsbook will match 20% of your initial deposit. The bonus would be $20 for an initial deposit of $100. For a $5,000 deposit, it’ll hit the maximum of $1,000.


PointsBet Risk-Free Bets


PointsBet offers its new users two risk-free bets that can total up to $2,200. Fixed-odds bets are risk-free up to $600. Wagers using Pointsbetting can get you up to $1,600 back if the bet loses.


BetRivers Deposit Match


BetRivers does a per-dollar deposit match up to $250. So, if your initial deposit is $250 or less, they’ll double it up.


Bet365 Risk-Free Bet


Another sportsbook that offers the first bet risk-free if it loses. Their bonus cap is at $1,000, like FanDuel and BetMGM.


Unibet


Unibet offers a risk-free bonus bet of up to $250 on your first bet with them. The first wager must be at least $10, and if it loses, you get the money back in bonuses.


WynnBET


The sign-up offer at WynnBET gives you $100 if you bet $100 with them. The $100 is split in half, with $50 for their sportsbook and $50 for the casino.


What are the sports to bet on in New Jersey?


These are among the many sports available for betting in New Jersey:

  • Auto-Racing: Formula One, IndyCar, NASCAR

  • Baseball: MLB

  • Basketball: NBA, WNBA, International

  • Boxing

  • College: Basketball, Football (unless a participating team or event is based in New Jersey)

  • Darts

  • Football: NFL and CFL

  • Golf: PGA, LPGA

  • Hockey: NHL, International

  • Horse Racing

  • Rugby

  • Soccer: UEFA Champions League, MLS, Premier League,

  • Tennis


New Jersey Sports Betting Tips


Learn the Bets


If you want to bet on something, it’s wiser to bet when you know what you’re betting on. Don’t place a bet on something you don’t understand, take the time to learn it first if it catches your eye.


Protect Your Wallet


How much you’re spending and possibly losing is important. Don’t bet with money you can’t afford to lose.


Bet Smart


Knowing good strategies can help you get the most out of sports betting. Just because you want Rutgers to go undefeated and win the National Championship doesn’t mean you should bet your life savings on it.


New Jersey Sports Betting Tax Rates


Bettors are taxed for any winnings from sports betting over $600 by the federal government. How it’s won is irrelevant, whether it was several bets or one. If the amount is $600 or greater, it must be reported. Money won via gambling is taxed at 24%. You can also deduct sports betting losses as an itemized deduction. The amount deducted can not exceed the reported amount won.


Is DraftKings sports betting legal in New Jersey?


DraftKings sportsbook has been legal for years in New Jersey, with their casino and DFS also available to customers.


Is FanDuel sports betting legal in New Jersey?


Yes, FanDuel is legal for sports betting in Jersey and is one of the most popular sportsbooks in the state.


New Jersey Sports Teams


  • New Jersey Devils

  • New York Giants (play in Newark, New Jersey despite the New York name)

  • New York Jets (share MetLife Stadium as a home with the Giants)

  • New York Red Bulls (play in Harrison, New Jersey)

  • Princeton Tigers

  • Rutgers Scarlet Knights

  • Seton Hall Pirates


Latest New Jersey sports betting news


  • August 28, 2022: The Jets defeat the Giants in the Snoopy Bowl, marking the end of the preseason for both teams. Both teams play their first regular season game on September 11.

  • August 31, 2022: The New York Red Bulls travel to Montreal, with a chance to gain ground on them in the standings with a win.

  • September 3, 2022: Rutgers begins their football season at Boston College.

  • September 17, 2022: The Princeton Tigers travel to Stetson to begin their regular season for football.