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New Jersey online poker

On this page, we’ll highlight some of the top New Jersey online poker sites, inform you how to get signed up, and offer tips to improve your game.

Dan Bradley By: Dan Bradley
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New Jersey was the third state to legalize online poker, officially launching the industry in 2013 (Nevada was first in 2011 with Delaware close behind in 2012). It has since become a popular and profitable form of gambling; online poker sites see more than $25 million in revenue annually in New Jersey alone.

In this piece, we’ll take a look at some of the top New Jersey online poker sites, walk you through the signup process, and provide you with some expert advice to consider before you choose a site and hit the tables.

Best NJ online poker sites

Multiple NJ online casinos offer the possibility to play poker online. Here's our rundown of the best NJ online poker sites right now:

🃏 WSOP Poker NJ ⭐ Home to prestigious events with a robust tournament schedule
🃏 BetMGM Poker NJ ⭐ A leader in gaming variety and seamless play experience
🃏 PokerStars NJ ⭐ Premier software with unmatched game selection
🃏 Borgata Poker NJ ⭐ Offers exclusive tournaments and high-quality customer service

Yes, online poker is legal in New Jersey. The state legalized online poker in 2013 with the passage of Assembly Bill 2758. AB2758 is an extension of the Casino Control Act, which was originally signed in 1977 and allowed casinos to operate in Atlantic City.

Online poker play is also legal in Delaware, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

How can you sign up at a New Jersey online poker site?

Signing up at a New Jersey online poker site should take you 10 minutes or less to complete. You won’t be limited to playing at only one site, so try them all as you’re able to see which platform best suits your needs, wants, and playstyle. Here’s how to get started.

  1. Choose a poker site site: To make things easier for you, we’ve written New Jersey online casino reviews to provide you with more information about each operator and get you access to the best available welcome bonus offers. You can access the registration forms directly on those review pages.
  2. Set up your login credentials: Once you’ve opened the signup page, you’ll need to provide an email address and password to use when logging in. You may also need to pick and answer a couple of security questions along the way to help protect your account.
  3. Verify your identity: In order to comply with state law, you must be at least 21 years old to participate at a New Jersey online poker site. The next step of the form will prompt you to verify your identity by providing your legal name, date of birth, home address (P.O. Boxes won’t count), phone number, and the last four digits of your social security number.
  4. Agree to terms of service: After you’ve verified your ID, you will need to agree to the casino’s terms and conditions of service and privacy policy. You may also need to check a box affirming you aren’t prohibited from gambling in New Jersey because of your profession. Once you’re done, click “Submit” to finalize your registration.
  5. Fund your account and find a table: Lastly, you’ll need to make a deposit using your preferred payment method to be able to enter real money tournaments and games. Make sure that the amount of your deposit is enough to qualify you for any available welcome bonus, and to maximize the offer if it is financially feasible for you.

New Jersey casinos with poker rooms

If online poker doesn’t quite satisfy your gambling appetite, you can try betting in person at any of the New Jersey casinos with poker rooms. There are nine casinos located throughout the state, and these five have made poker rooms available (others may have poker areas at the casino but do not have specific rooms that are poker-only).

  • Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa: 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, NJ 08401
  • Caesar’s Atlantic City: 2100 Pacific Ave, Atlantic City, NJ 08401
  • Golden Nugget Casino Atlantic City: 600 Huron Ave, Atlantic City, NJ 08401
  • Harrah’s Resort and Casino Atlantic City: 777 Harrah's Blvd, Atlantic City, NJ 08401
  • Tropicana Atlantic City: 2831 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ 08401

Which online poker games can you play in New Jersey?

There are many online poker games you can play in New Jersey, but most of the betting action falls among these games.

  • Texas Hold’em: Texas Hold’em is arguably the most popular poker game played at New Jersey casinos. It is usually played in a tournament format, though some rooms may have games going where players can leave at any time. Players receive two cards each to use and must pair them with any of the five community cards (dealt face-up) to make the best five-card hand they can.
  • Omaha Hi: Omahi Hi plays in a similar manner to Texas Hold’em, but the biggest difference is that players receive four cards instead of two to begin each hand. Players will once again have five community cards available to use, but another critical rule is that those at the table must use exactly two of the four cards from their dealt hand and exactly three of the community cards when coming up with their five-card total.
  • 7-card stud: Before Texas Hold’em dominated poker rooms, 7-card stud was one of the most popular poker variations. The game itself is easy to learn but hard to master, as players are once again tasked with putting together a five-card hand. However, with stud poker, players are dealt only the number of cards in the name of the variation (in this case seven cards) with no community cards available to supplement your hand.
  • 5-card Draw: Unlike stud where there is no chance to improve your hand with additional cards, 5-card draw allows players the chance to discard cards from their hand and receive new ones to replace however many they discarded. The game is fast-paced but isn’t necessarily as profitable as some of the other variants listed here.
  • Short-deck poker: If you thought short-deck poker was named as such because it removes certain cards from the deck, you’re correct! In short-deck poker, the 2, 3, 4, and 5 cards are removed from the deck before playing. This results in a key change to the rules, as flushes are valued higher than a full house in short-deck. Typically this results in a higher-stakes game than most other games in the poker room, though lower-stakes may be available as well.

Expert advice when playing online poker in New Jersey

We checked with our poker experts to glean their advice when playing online poker in New Jersey. These are their top tips.

  • Build confidence and skill through lower-stakes tables: If you’re this far into the article, you’ve probably dreamed of winning a million-dollar tournament or other high-stakes affair, but the easiest way to turn that dream into a reality is to develop your skills and strategies through lower-stakes tables. There are some subtle but important differences in online poker strategies compared to in-person play that will trip you up if you aren’t ready.
  • Keep tabs on your opponents: While it isn’t as easy to read a bluff online as it is while sitting at a table, there are still tendencies you can pick up on with the others in the online poker room. Pay attention to positions around the deal, bluffs, calls, and the time it takes to make decisions to gain an advantage.
  • Set time and money limits: The thrilling aspect of poker gameplay can make it hard to walk away, especially when there’s big money on the line. Self-imposing limits to the amount of money and time you spend in poker rooms will help reinforce responsible gambling habits.

Why choose a mobile poker app over an online poker site?

The important question to decide when playing online poker is whether to play through a website or a mobile app. There are advantages and disadvantages to each that you must weigh out for yourself (unfortunately, we can’t decide for you, as the experience is best when it’s tailored to your wants and needs). Here are a few of the pros and cons of choosing a mobile poker app over an online poker site.

Pros

  • Mobile apps make on-the-go gaming easy: If you’re someone who doesn’t like to sit still for very long (like your humble author), playing on the go is convenient and favorable. As long as you’ve got a steady internet connection, you’ll be able to keep playing.
  • Bonuses can be more prevalent: Occasionally, online poker operators will offer mobile-exclusive bonuses such as discounted entry fees or bonus chip credits. This is somewhat rare, but any chance at a bonus is worthy of consideration.
  • Notifications ensure you don’t miss a game: There’s nothing worse than signing up for a tournament (even a low-stakes affair) and missing the tournament because you never got a reminder and lost track of time. Getting a notification seems like a small benefit, but it’s still important.

Cons

  • Mobile poker apps drain your battery quicker than other apps: One of the key features that makes mobile poker apps utile is the geolocation tool that affirms you’re within New Jersey state borders when playing. Because the geolocation service is constantly running in the background, it requires more processing power to run, sapping your device battery more quickly than other apps you may use.
  • Smaller displays can cause problems: Beyond the visual component of a smaller display, smaller buttons are a factor as well. It can be easier on a mobile device to call a bet you didn’t mean to or to fold a hand when you meant to raise with a condensed screen.

FAQ

Should I play at offshore poker sites in New Jersey?

No, you should not play at offshore poker sites in New Jersey. You should only play through regulated poker sites to avoid putting your personal and banking information at risk and to ensure standards for fair play are maintained at all times.

When did NJ legalize online poker?

NJ legalized online poker in 2013. The New Jersey legislature deemed this a necessary update to the Casino Control Act and kept the state competitive in the region’s online casino gambling markets.

Do I need to be a resident of New Jersey to play online poker there?

No, you do not need to be a resident of New Jersey to play online poker there. You can play if you are physically located within state borders and are at least 21 years old. However, if you live out of state and are already traveling to NJ to play, it may be more convenient to go to a land-based casino to play instead.

What is the minimum age to play online poker in New Jersey?

The minimum age to play online poker in New Jersey is 21. This age requirement is an industry standard across the states with legal online poker gaming.

Are there any responsible gambling resources for online poker players in New Jersey?

Yes, there are New Jersey responsible gambling resources available for online poker players. Those looking for more information about responsible gambling should browse the “Responsible Gaming in New Jersey” section of the Attorney General’s website (which is run by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement).

Can I play online poker on my mobile device in New Jersey?

Yes, you can play online poker on your mobile device in New Jersey. While you’ll be able to access online poker rooms through the web browser on your device, we instead recommend downloading the mobile application for a more optimized gambling experience.

Author Details

Dan Bradley

Dan Bradley

Dan Bradley is a researcher and betting expert at Betting NJ. He has over 10 seasons as a hockey broadcaster for junior teams in Illinois, Minnesota, and Ohio. When not writing or cohosting his NHL podcast, Pod Snipe Celly, he can often be spotted at the rink.