On this page
Is sports betting legal in New Jersey?
Yes.
- New Jersey has offered legal, regulated sports betting since June 2018, when Governor Phil Murphy placed the state's first legal wager at Monmouth Park just days after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the federal Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in Murphy v.
- NCAA - a case New Jersey itself brought.
- Online sports betting followed about six weeks later, in August 2018.
- Sports betting is regulated by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE), which licenses every operator, casino, and racetrack partner involved in the market.
- You must be at least 21 years old and physically located within New Jersey's borders to place a bet, whether online or in person.
State law requires every online sportsbook to operate under a partnership with one of New Jersey's Atlantic City casinos or its racetracks, and each license holder can run up to three branded online "skins." That structure is why most national sportsbook brands operating in New Jersey are listed alongside a specific casino partner in their licensing paperwork, even though bettors interact only with the sportsbook's own app.
New Jersey rules at a glance
- ✓21+ to wagerApplies to online and retail sports betting.
- ✓Physical location mattersYou must be inside New Jersey when placing an online bet.
- ✓Remote registration allowedNo in-person signup requirement for mobile sportsbook accounts.
- !College betting restrictionNo wagering on New Jersey college teams or college events held in the state.
Best New Jersey sportsbook apps
Nearly every major nationally licensed sportsbook operates in New Jersey - it's one of the deepest operator markets in the country. The table below links to our full, independently tested reviews of each book; all are licensed to operate in New Jersey specifically, in addition to other states.
| Sportsbook | Our score | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | 9.6/10 | Overall value | Full review |
| FanDuel | 9.5/10 | App design | Full review |
| BetMGM | 9.2/10 | Odds boosts & casino crossover | Full review |
| Caesars Sportsbook | 9.0/10 | Loyalty rewards | Full review |
| bet365 | 8.9/10 | In-play & soccer | Full review |
| ESPN BET | 8.6/10 | Casual bettors | Full review |
| Fanatics Sportsbook | 8.4/10 | Rewards points | Full review |
| Hard Rock Bet | 8.2/10 | Growing footprint | Full review |
| BetRivers | 8.1/10 | Regional loyalty | Full review |
| Bally Bet | 7.8/10 | Simple, low-frills | Full review |
See the full rankings and scoring methodology on our sportsbook reviews page.
Which sports can you bet on in New Jersey?
New Jersey sportsbooks cover all the major U.S. professional leagues - NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, and WNBA - along with international soccer, tennis, golf, UFC/MMA, boxing, motorsports, and a broad slate of college sports. Esports betting has also been legal in New Jersey since 2021, provided a majority of competitors are 18 or older.
The one significant restriction: New Jersey law prohibits betting on New Jersey college teams (Rutgers, Seton Hall, and other in-state programs) and on any collegiate event taking place within New Jersey's borders, regardless of which teams are playing. Betting on out-of-state college teams and games played elsewhere is permitted.
Retail sportsbooks in New Jersey
New Jersey's retail sportsbook footprint is concentrated in Atlantic City's casinos and at the state's two racetracks.
- Retail locations include sportsbooks at Borgata, Resorts, Golden Nugget, Tropicana, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, Ocean Casino Resort, Bally's Atlantic City, and Caesars/Harrah's Atlantic City, along with Monmouth Park Racetrack (where the state's very first legal bet was placed) and the Meadowlands Racetrack.
- Most in-person sportsbooks are operated in partnership with the same national brands available on mobile, so you'll generally find a FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, or Caesars-branded retail counter matching that casino's online skin.
You do not need to register for a mobile account in person in New Jersey - unlike some other states, online sign-up is fully remote, with identity and location verified electronically.
Atlantic City casinos and the state's racetracks provide in-person sportsbook options, while mobile registration can be completed remotely.
Online casino in New Jersey
New Jersey has offered regulated online casino gaming since November 2013, making it one of the oldest and most mature iGaming markets in the country, with more than 30 licensed casino "skins" operating under Atlantic City casino licenses. If you live in New Jersey, this is a genuine differentiator versus most other sports betting states, the large majority of which have no regulated online casino product at all.
Licensed New Jersey online casinos include BetMGM Casino, Borgata Online Casino, Caesars Palace Online Casino, DraftKings Casino, FanDuel Casino, Golden Nugget Casino, Hard Rock Casino, Resorts Casino, Tropicana Casino, bet365 Casino, Bally Casino, and betPARX Casino, among others - covering slots, blackjack, roulette, baccarat, video poker, and live-dealer tables streamed from studios built specifically for the New Jersey market.
Sports betting and online casino accounts are separate products, even when offered by the same brand - you'll typically need to opt in or register separately for casino play within the same app or a companion app.
How to sign up
Creating a New Jersey sportsbook or casino account takes about five minutes and can be completed entirely online.
- You'll need to provide your full name, date of birth, current address, email, phone number, and the last four digits of your Social Security number for identity verification.
- The app will request location access - New Jersey sportsbooks use GPS-based geolocation to continuously confirm you're physically within state lines while betting, not just at sign-up.
- Common funding methods include debit card, PayPal, ACH bank transfer, and cash deposits at a partner casino cage.
Before your first bet
- 1Choose a licensed sportsbookStart with our independent sportsbook reviews.
- 2Verify your identityHave your address, phone, date of birth and identity details ready.
- 3Enable geolocationYour device must confirm you are physically inside New Jersey.
- 4Set a bankroll limitDecide what you can afford before you place the first wager.
Taxes on winnings
Sports betting winnings are taxable income at both the federal and New Jersey state level.
- Operators are generally required to issue a Form W-2G when a single payout is $600 or more and is at least 300 times the wagered amount - a threshold that applies to relatively few standard sports bets but does come up with long-odds parlays and futures.
- Regardless of whether you receive a W-2G, all gambling winnings are technically reportable income.
- On the operator side (not something bettors pay directly, but a figure that shapes the market you're betting in), New Jersey taxes online sports betting revenue at 19.75% and retail sports betting at 9.75%, with online casino revenue also taxed at 19.75% following a rate increase in July 2025.
- This guide is not tax advice - talk to a tax professional about your specific situation, especially if you have significant wins or losses to report.
Responsible gambling resources
New Jersey operates a statewide self-exclusion program through the Division of Gaming Enforcement, covering casinos, online sportsbooks, and iGaming platforms together - once enrolled, you're restricted across all licensed operators in the state, not just one.
- The state also partners with the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey for outreach and support.
- Every licensed operator is required to offer in-app deposit limits, time-based alerts, and cooling-off periods.
1-800-GAMBLER is free, confidential, and available 24/7 for anyone in New Jersey concerned about their own gambling or someone else's. See our responsible gambling guide for a practical walkthrough of the limit tools available inside most sportsbook apps.
FAQ
When did sports betting become legal in New Jersey?
Retail sports betting launched June 14, 2018, at Monmouth Park, days after the Supreme Court struck down PASPA in the New Jersey-led case Murphy v. NCAA. Online sports betting followed in August 2018.
Can I bet on Rutgers games in New Jersey?
No. New Jersey law specifically prohibits betting on New Jersey college teams and on any collegiate event held within the state, regardless of which teams are competing.
Does New Jersey have legal online casinos?
Yes. New Jersey has offered regulated online casino gaming since November 2013 - one of the longest-running and largest legal iGaming markets in the U.S., with more than 30 licensed online casino brands.
Do I have to register for a sportsbook account in person?
No. New Jersey allows fully remote sign-up for online sportsbook and casino accounts, with identity and location verified electronically rather than requiring an in-person visit.
What is the minimum age to bet on sports in New Jersey?
21. This applies to both online and retail sports betting; New Jersey's separate esports allowance permits participants as young as 18 in the events themselves, but bettors must still be 21.