New Jersey Gambling Guide

The State of New Jersey, also known as the “Garden State” is the 11th-most populous state, with 9 million residents as of 2018.

New Jersey is centered between Boston and New York City to the northeast, and Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C., to the southwest.

New Jersey is home to Atlantic City which is known for its casino industry and beaches. The city has struggled with a declining economy in the last few decades but gambling and especially internet gambling has helped improve the economy and create new jobs.

Gambling History

New Jersey has been ahead of the game when it comes to gambling. The state started legalizing gambling in the 1950's and fully legalized the industry by the 1970's.

Casino gambling first appeared on the ballot for New Jersey voters in 1974 but it did not receive enough support to make it legal.

The issue appeared again on the ballot in 1976 but now limiting gambling to Atlantic City. The voters approved of the second referendum when approximately 1.5 million voters were in favor of it while 1.14 million opposed it.

Resorts International casino was the first operator to open its doors on May 26, 1978 and continues to operate in the state today

Sports Betting

The issue of sports betting was first put on the ballot in November of 2011 for New Jersey voters to decide on. The voters were in favor of sports betting coming to the “Garden State” and the Sports Wagering Act of 2012 was signed into law by Governor Chris Christie.

However, the excitement would be short-lived as the major sports leagues (NFL, MLB, NHL and NCAA) challenged the law and filed a lawsuit to stop sports betting from becoming a reality in the state.

This back and forth with the major sports leagues continued on until New Jersey was granted a hearing with the US Supreme Court.

New Jersey received support by the American Gaming Association and almost 20 states who had filed an amicus brief supporting New Jersey in getting sports betting legalized.

This led to the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) getting overturned therefore opening up the sports betting market in the United States.

Governor Phil Murphy signed Assembly Bill 4111 on June 11, 2018 which legalized sports betting at casinos and racetracks within New Jersey.

Online Gambling

Online gambling was first introduced by Senator Raymond Lesniak on January 11, 2010. Senator Lesniak introduced Senate Bill 3167 which would allow internet wagering in Atlantic City under certain circumstances.

The Bill received bi-partisan support but was vetoed by Governor Chris Christie in March 2011. Many thought the veto was politically motivated while the governor stated that he feared the legislation could expand unregulated casino-style gambling throughout the state.

Senator Lesniak along with Senate colleague and co-sponsor James Whelen (D – Atlantic City) introduced Senate Bill 1565 and its companion, Assembly Bill 2578, in February 2012.

Assembly Bill 2578 received strong support in the New Jersey Assembly passing by 48-24 margin and moving it to the Senate floor where it passed with a 33-3 margin.

The Bill made its way to Governor Christ Christie desk on February 7, 2013 but he conditionally vetoed it expressing some concerns with the language. Senator Lesniak was encouraged by the governor’s statement who expressed support of online gambling but had requested a few minor changes.

Senator Lesniak went straight back to work in February 2013 to modify the existing Bill which included bumping up the tax rate on casinos' online winnings from 10 percent to 15 percent.

The final version of the Bill AB 2578 (sponsored by John J Burzichelli, Vincent Prieto and Ruben J Ramos) was signed into law by Governor Chris Christie on February 26, 2013 after the Bill passed the Assembly by a margin of 68-5, and the Senate by a vote of 35-1.

Online gambling was now legalized in the state of New Jersey

Caesars Entertainment filed its application in April 2013 to obtain a license in the state to roll out its online gambling platform. And by July of 2013, all 12 Atlantic City casinos had applied for an online gambling license in the state.

November 26, 2013 was a big day for New Jersey’s online gambling operators as they launched their platforms in the state. This made New Jersey the third (and most dense) state in the country to roll out online gambling within its state borders.

Types of gambling available in New Jersey

List of Casino Operators

List of Sports Betting Operators

New Jersey Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS)

Daily Fantasy Sports was legalized on August 24, 2017 when former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed Assembly Bill 3532 into law.

Under the law, Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) will be regulated by the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs and not the Division of Gaming Enforcement.

A Daily Fantasy Sports operator will be required to pay a 10.5% tax of sports gross revenue to the state of New Jersey on a quarterly basis.

New Jersey Gambling Timeline

New Jersey Online gambling and sportsbetting FAQ 

Disclaimer: This information is not intended to serve as legal advice or instructions. The information you read here is my interpretation of the laws as made available online. We recommend that you seek legal advice from a licensed attorney for further or official guidance.