Best New Jersey Betting Sites in 2024

Looking to bet on sports in New Jersey? We’ve got a line up of the best sports betting sites available to punters in the Garden State. Compare our expert reviews, scores and the bonuses on offer to pick out the bookie that suits you best. All of our featured sportsbooks are legal and regulated in the state of New Jersey. All that’s left for you to do is make your pick, sign up and start betting.

New Jersey  was the third state in the US to implement legal and regulated sports betting after the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), putting it on the same playing field as Nevada— where sports betting had been legal for many years— and Delaware, the first state to have launched sports betting after the PASPA repeal.

Since New Jersey legalized sports betting the state has been at the forefront of the US sports betting industry. Not only has the state shown that sports betting is a viable means to generate state revenue, it has also demonstrated that, when regulated properly, sports betting can be both a fun and safe activity for residents. Here is our rundown of the New Jersey sports betting market.

NJ Sports Betting Sites

• DraftKings Sportsbook – $500 bonus
• 888sport – 100% deposit match
• Pointsbet – Risk-free bet up to $100
• Sugarhouse Sportsbook – 100% up to $250
• BetMGM – Risk-free bet up to $500
• Borgata Sports – Risk-free bet up to $300
• FanDuel Sportsbook – $500 bonus
• William Hill – Free bet offer
• Unibet – Free bet + deposit bonus
• FOX Bet – Free bet offer

New Jersey sports betting licensing explained

How We Rank Sportsbooks

There may be just a few factors you consider as a gambler when you’re searching for your next sportsbook — but everyone’s needs are different. That’s why our team of experts dives deep into every possible facet of a sports betting site before we make a recommendation. Below are some of the factors we consider when conducting our reviews. 

• Safety
  Player safety is our number one priority, and there’s a good chance it’s yours too.This is why we only recommend legal sportsbooks that are licensed to operate in New Jersey. We never recommend gambling on offshore sports betting sites. 
• Bonus Offers
  Compelling, player-friendly bonus offers are part and parcel of a great sportsbook. We review the terms and conditions to assess whether a promotion is really as good as it seems, comparing wagering requirements, minimum deposit amounts and any other stipulations that might affect your experience. 
• Mobile Experience
  A huge amount of online gambling is done from mobile devices. We only recommend sites that offer mobile-optimized web apps, at the very least. Extra points for sportsbooks that offer a native app – we think these offers the best mobile experience. 
• Odds and Wagering Options
  Bonuses and unique features are great, but arguably nothing is more important than getting value for your money. Our recommended bookies price competitively, so you won’t find too much variation between sportsbooks. The amount of wagering options is more likely to vary, and this could be where you find good value. The more options the better. Virtually every bookie will offer straight ups, spreads and parlay betting, but look out for bookies that offer same-game parlays like FanDuel. 
• Payment Options
  You’ll need to fund your account to make real money wagers, and we love sites that make this process frictionless. The best sites offer a good range of payment methods, including debit cards, wire transfers and e-wallets.

New Jersey sports betting revenue

Since launching sports betting in August 2018 the Garden State has become the largest US sports betting market outside of Nevada.

New Jersey owes much of its success to its online betting market which now consistently accounts for more than 80% of the total monthly handle in the state.

Under the state law, land-based casino sportsbooks pay an 8.5% tax rate on land-based wagers and 13% on electronic wagers while racetracks are subject to the same, plus an additional 1.25% on electronic wagers.

Complete state reports can be accessed via the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.

Last updated on 10th January 2022

New Jersey’s Best Sports Betting Apps

New Jersey is one of the few US states to offer online sports betting via mobile apps and online websites. However, if you do want to place sports bets online, you must be within the state’s borders. 

DraftKings Sportsbook was the first online sports betting platform to launch an app and website in New Jersey. The app received a limited release on 1 August 2018 and was rolled out across the state a few days later on 6 August 2018. PlayMGM — now branded BetMGM — was the second mobile sports betting app to launch in the state, on 22 August 2018, with SugarHouse Online Sportsbook & Casino quickly following suit on 23 August 2018. SugarHouse was the first US gambling brand to launch an integrated online casino and sportsbook.

In early 2019, Australian sportsbook operator PointsBet entered the New Jersey sports betting market under a licensing agreement with Meadowlands. This made PointsBet the ninth online sportsbook to enter the New Jersey online sports betting market, though Hard Rock followed close behind just before the 2019 Super Bowl weekend with its online sportsbook and land-based sportsbook.

Here’s a round-up of the mobile betting options in New Jersey, all of which hold a license for their sports betting services:

Best New Jersey Betting Bonuses

Bonuses are one of the main ways sportsbooks try to get new gamblers in the door. They come in a variety of flavors, whether it’s free bet tokens, risk-free bets, matched deposits, or even free spins if the sportsbook has a casino offering. Ultimately, the benefits are the same — you’ll boost your bankroll on the sportsbook’s dime.

However, every betting bonus comes with limitations, from wagering requirements, minimum odds, maximum wins, and more. Terms and conditions can be a bit of a minefield but it’s essential you read them in full to understand the true value of a bonus. In this case, bigger isn’t always better.

Deposit Match

A deposit match is where the sportsbook gives you bonus credit based on your deposit amount. For example, a 100% matched deposit up to $500 would see your bankroll doubled — deposit $500 and you’ll get another $500 in bonus credit for a total of $1,000 to play with. This bonus credit is separate from your real money balance and may be subject to wagering requirements or other limitations. 

Free Bets

Free bets are exactly what they sound like: you can place a wager at no cost to yourself, and if you win, the profit is yours to keep. The free bet stake usually isn’t returned. Free bets can be handed out for many reasons, like registering for an account, as a loyalty bonus, or in the lead-up to a sporting event. 

Risk-Free Bets

Also called bet refunds, risk-free bets are where you’re refunded the value of  your bet if it loses. The refund is usually given as a free bet so you won’t be able to withdraw it, but you’ll get another chance at a win. 

Payment Options at New Jersey Sports Betting Sites

A huge amount of commerce takes place online today, so the plethora of payment options comes as no surprise. Our favorite sportsbooks give gamblers a degree of flexibility when it comes to deposits and withdrawals — here are a few common methods and why you might opt for one over another.

Debit Cards

Most of our readers will be familiar with using their debit card online, so naturally, using one for sportsbook deposits is an attractive option. They’re accepted at pretty much every sports betting site, and all you need to do is tap in the 16-digit card number, expiry date, and CVC. While deposits are instant, you’ll have to wait a little longer if you withdraw with a debit card — it’ll take around 3–5 days for the money to land in your account. However, Visa customers should look out for the Fast Funds service which aims to settle transactions within half an hour, putting Visa debit cards on par with e-wallets.

E-wallets

An e-wallet is effectively a virtual wallet where users can hold a balance in different currencies, store their cards or bank information to make payments, and see detailed information about past transactions. There’s a good chance you’ve heard of PayPal, the best-known e-wallet brand, but Skrill and Neteller are two choices that more commonly show up at online sportsbooks. 

Security is one of the main benefits to e-wallets, as you won’t have to share any bank details with the sportsbook. You’ll also get the fastest withdrawal speeds — usually within an hour once the request is processed — along with instant deposits. The biggest drawback is the fact that e-wallets are often excluded from bonus offers, so always check the T&Cs before you make your qualifying deposit.

Prepaid Cards

If you’re looking for the highest level of security and privacy, a prepaid card like Paysafecard is a good choice. It works like a debit card, but you load the balance in advance at a retail location. Once the card has been spent, that’s it: you’ll need to buy another one if you want to deposit more. That also makes prepaid cards a fantastic tool for gambling responsibly. Deposits are usually instant, but there’s very little — if any — support for withdrawals, so you’ll need to pair it with another method to retrieve your sportsbook funds.

How to place bets at land-based sportsbooks in New Jersey

New Jersey sports bettors can make wagers at several land-based casinos across the state. The first sportsbook in the state was William Hill, located at Monmouth Park. This sportsbook opened its doors at 10 a.m. on 14 June 2018. Just one hour later at 11 a.m, the Borgata sportsbook in Atlantic City also opened its doors and began taking sports bets.

Almost all Atlantic City casinos offer onsite sports betting, with the exception of Caesars Atlantic City- though patrons can bet on sports at Bally’s. The Freehold Raceway is the only other gambling venue in New Jersey that has not yet made plans to launch sports betting operations.

Why offshore sportsbooks are best avoided in New Jersey

Offshore sportsbooks are illegal in the state of New Jersey. You can spot these by looking at the website’s domain name. If you see a domain that ends in .EU or .AG it does not hold a license to operate in New Jersey and therefore should be avoided at all costs.

However, even some sites operation under .com domain may be operating illegally, which means you should take care to verify the safety of a betting site before you sign up. The only way to tell that a site is trustworthy is to check for the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement seal before placing a bet on a website.

If you do come across a site that does not have a seal from the Division of Gaming Enforcement, it is best to report it and avoid the site.

The journey to legal and regulated sports betting in New Jersey

• 1992 – Congress passed the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) prohibiting sports betting across US states. Four states were made exempt from the law: Nevada, Delaware, Oregon and Montana. These states had legal sports betting regulations in place. New Jersey attempted to apply for exemption in 1991 but failed to act due to state-level political issues.
• 2010 – New Jersey realized it was missing out on potential revenue that would be generated through sports betting (sports betting licenses, licensing fees, tax etc.). Two State Senators, Raymond Lesniak and Stephen M. Sweeney file a lawsuit in an attempt to challenge federal law.
• 2011 – The US District Court rejected the lawsuit in March. The Court stated that only Governor Chris Christie could file a lawsuit of that nature. However, Gov. Christie was against pursuing legislation as he thought it would be too difficult to get around the federal ban. Later that year, voters in New Jersey voted in a referendum to make an amendment to the states constitution which would allow sports betting.
• 2012 – New Jersey enacted the Sports Wagering Act 2012, allowing sports wagering at casinos and racetracks in the state.
• In August, the major sports leagues (NBA, NHL, NFL, MLB and NCAA) united to sue New Jersey under PASPA to prohibit sports betting. The United States Department of Justice sided with the leagues. New Jersey acknowledges that the Sports Wagering Act violates PASPA but argued that PASPA violated the Tenth Amendment of the US Constitution. It was argued that the Tenth Amendment stripped the power of the state to oversee sports gambling.
• 2013 – In February,  the US District Judge for the District of New Jersey, ruled against the state and placed an injunction on New Jersey stopping the state from enacting the 2012 law. New Jersey attempted to appeal the injunction but was unsuccessful.
• 2014 – After multiple amendments to the Sports Wagering Act, Gov. Christie changed his mind and supported the attempt to legalize sports betting at a state level. This legislation was signed into law within five weeks. In November, the sports leagues sued the state again. The district court and third circuit court ruled in favor of the leagues as the revised law still violated PASPA.
• 2016 – In October, New Jersey petitioned the Supreme Court for a writ of certiorari (judicial review). The Supreme Court agreed to hear the case in 2017. This case was combined with another case in which the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (NJTHA) petitioned the Supreme Court to allow sports betting at the Monmouth Park Racetrack
• 2017 – During the case, New Jersey elected a new Governor, Phil Murphy, who would take over from Christie. On 4 December, the court heard the arguments put forth by the state of New Jersey, the NJTHA and the leagues.
• 2018 – On 14 May, the Court reached a decision. In a 7 – 2 vote it was agreed that one the clauses in PASPA did indeed violate the Tenth Amendment as it commandeered power from states to regulate their own gambling industries. This made it legal for a state government to regulate their own gambling industries and therefore legalize sports betting if it wished.
• On 11 June, Governor Phil Murphy signed the sports betting bill (A4111) into law, legalizing sports betting in the state of New Jersey.
• On 9 August, DraftKings launched the first online and mobile sportsbook in New Jersey. This was closely followed by many more online sports betting platforms including: Play MGM, BetStars NJ, 888Sports NJ, SugarHouse, FanDuel, William Hill and Caesars.
• In December, DraftKings expanded into the realm of online casino gaming with the launch of DraftKings Casino in New Jersey. Sports media company, theScore, announced that it would also be launching its own sportsbook in New Jersey, thanks to a partnership with Monmouth Park.
• In 2018, the New Jersey sports betting market closed the year with strong sports betting figures: sports betting handle exceeded $1bn and sports betting revenue amounted to $94m. The state received $10.4m in tax revenue.
• 2019 – On 18 January, Australian sports betting platform, PointsBet, became the ninth mobile sports betting platform to launch in New Jersey. On 30 January, Hard Rock Atlantic City launched its online, mobile and land-based sportsbooks.
• In May, New Jersey’s sports betting handle surpassed Nevada’s handle for the first time following the repeal of PASPA. Sportsbooks in the state of New Jersey processed $318.9m in bets while Nevada’s sportsbooks took $317.3m in wagers.
• In July, New Jersey once again surpassed Nevada’s monthly handle figure, this time by a much larger margin than before. This time around, sportsbooks in the Garden State took $251m in wagers while Nevada books processed $235m.
• In October New Jersey broke previous handle records with $487.9m being wagered in the month. Both New Jersey’s and Nevada’s sports betting industries also combined for $1bn in betting handle in a single month with Nevada contributing $543.9m to this.
• In December, New Jersey’s sports betting handle hit $557m breaking the previous record set by the state.  The Garden State ended 2019 with more than $4.8bn being wagered on sporting events.
• 2020 – In January, Assemblyman Ralph Caputo introduced legislation that would permanently authorize sportsbooks in the state to accept bets on skill-based events such as esports.
• In April, lawmakers in the Garden State approved betting on NASCAR iRacing, helping to fill the gap left by the major sports shut down during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic.
• In August, the first-ever US sports betting exchange, Sporttrade, announced a licensing partnership with the Twin River Worldwide Holdings for the state of New Jersey.
• In October, New Jersey sportsbooks took $803m in wagers, setting a national record for sports betting handle. Towards the end of October, FanDuel announced plans to open a new temporary sportsbook at Bally’s Atlantic City.
• With the publishing of the state’s December figures, it was revealed that sportsbooks in New Jersey took $996.3m in bets. This helped push the Garden State’s 2020 handle figure past the $6bn mark, representing a first for the market.
• 2021 – In January an investigation revealed that some New Jersey sportsbooks were found to be using “predatory practices” to encourage gambling. The investigation found that some players had to wait two weeks to receive withdrawn funds and were offered bonuses to reverse existing withdrawals. The state regulator did not reveal which operators were involved in the scandal.
• In April, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement ordered DraftKings to pay a $10,000 civil penalty for sending “promotional mailings” to eleven self-excluded individuals.
• In July, the New Jersey-based betting exchange Prophet announced plans to launch in the state via a market access deal with Caesars.
• In September New Jersey sportsbooks made history after becoming the first legal sports betting market to take more than $1bn in bets in a single month. The exact handle figure for the month of September was $1.011bn.
• In October, New Jersey sportsbooks took $1.30bn in wagers, shattering the state’s previous record.
• In November, voters in The Garden State rejected a measure that would permit wagering on in-state college events. Approximately 57% of voters rejected the measure.
• In December, the state’s sportsbooks took $1.2bn in bets, bringing the total handle figure for 2021 to $10.9bn. With this, New Jersey became the first state to report $1bn in sports betting handle in a single month and the first state to take more than $10bn in wagers in a single year.