Best New Jersey Online Sportsbooks And Apps
If there is one state that set the standard for the U.S. legal sports betting market, it's New Jersey. Online sports betting in the Garden State is now more than two years old and has been one of the most robust markets in the country since its launch in 2018.
Interestingly, New Jersey led the nation in overall betting handle in every month of the last year, both from its retail and online sports betting sites. That makes a lot of sense, both because New Jersey was one of the first states to allow sports betting and because New Jersey has over 20 online sportsbooks to choose from in addition to retail sportsbooks, where bettors can place bets in-person.
So if you're wondering whether online sports betting in New Jersey is legal, the answer is a resounding “Yes!” Not only is online sports betting legal, but New Jersey also offers one of the largest selections of online sportsbooks in one of the most developed sports betting markets in the United States.
For years, Nevada was the place to be if you wanted to place a wager on a sporting event. Nowadays, you can easily add New Jersey to the list of the leading sports betting states, and there are plenty of reasons for that.
The large selection of sportsbooks can be overwhelming for some, and things don't get easier knowing that New Jersey is the home of some of the leading brands in the industry. Still, there are a few online sportsbooks that are considered to be the best, which we will take a look at below.
Top NJ Sportsbooks
1. BetMGM
New Player Bonus: Up to $1,000 Risk Free Bet
Promo Code: PICKWATCHPRO
Claim this offer >>
2. Draftkings
New Player bonus: Bet $1 and Get $100 in Free Bets
Claim this offer >>
3. FanDuel
New Player bonus: Risk Free Bet up to $1,000
Claim this offer >>
Best Online New Jersey Sportsbooks
Online sports betting has been legal since Gov. Phil Murphy signed the New Jersey online sports betting bill into law in June 2018. Since then, the Garden State has seen an explosive growth of sports betting with its betting handle and the number of sportsbooks that entered the market.
Nowadays, a New Jersey bettor has more than enough options to choose from when picking out a sportsbook, resulting in one of the industry's most open sports betting markets. With so many top-of-the-line sportsbooks available, you can't go wrong picking out the right sportsbook for you; however, there are a few names that stand out.
DraftKings
Every bettor knows about DraftKings, and there is a good reason for that. DraftKings is one of the leading sports betting and Daily Fantasy Sports providers in the state and one of the most popular sportsbooks across the country.
It was one of the first sportsbooks to enter the New Jersey sports betting market and has since amassed a large following of punters, thanks to its excellent bonuses and promotions, as well as highly competitive odds and amazing sports betting mobile app.
However, most of all, DraftKings is known for its in-play betting experience, which allows you to bet on any game while it's happening by visiting the "In-Game" section on DraftKings’ app.
DraftKings Casino Partner: Resorts Digital Gaming
FanDuel
DraftKings's biggest rival in the DFS market, FanDuel, was one of the first sites to enter the New Jersey sports betting industry. And like DraftKings, FanDuel did not need long to emerge as one of the biggest names in the state.
FanDuel Sportsbook is a result of an acquisition of Flutter Entertainment and a partnership that includes IGT, so you can be sure that the quality of its service is superb. The platform was New Jersey's fourth online sportsbook when it launched in September 2018, just in time to start accepting bets on the new football season.
The decision to enter the New Jersey market as quickly as possible proved the right choice, which helped FanDuel take over as one of the most popular sportsbooks in the state. It currently also operates the retail sportsbook, found at the Meadowlands and Bally's Casino.
FanDuel Casino Partner: New Meadowlands Racetrack
BetMGM
No list of the top sportsbooks is complete without BetMGM, which has been operating for quite some time, formerly as Play MGM. However, it wasn't until it transformed to BetMGM that the brand emerged as one of the top sportsbooks in the state.
The introduction of new features, a software update, and a new mobile betting app have transformed BetMGM into an all-in-one gambling platform that will satisfy any bettor's needs. It has a large selection of betting markets, bet types, and great bonuses and promotions, and in-play betting.
Many New Jersey bettors will tell you that BetMGM is the best sportsbook out there, and while that's entirely subjective, you can't go wrong with creating an online betting account with the brand.
BetMGM Casino Partner: Borgata Hotel Casino
WynnBET
WynnBet needed a bit longer than its competition to enter the mobile sports betting market. It debuted its mobile sportsbook and casino offering in New Jersey in August 2020, meaning it's been in the business for a couple of years less than some of the most prominent brands.
Regardless, the company has amassed a large following of punters in no time, largely thanks to its renown for the iconic casino properties in Las Vegas. WynnBet gained access to the New Jersey sports betting market via a deal with Caesars Atlantic City.
WynnBet Casino Partner: Caesars Atlantic City
SugarHouse
Known as BetRivers Sportsbook in other states, SugarHouse Sportsbook is widely known as one of the biggest brands in the New Jersey sports betting market. Thanks to its large selection of betting markets and great prices, SugarHouse can compete with any other sportsbook in the state and holds an edge over some due to its excellent bonuses and promotions.
SugarHouse became the third legal sportsbook to start offering its online sports betting service in New Jersey after it launched in August 2018. The sportsbook splits its gambling license between Golden Hugget for online casino and Monmouth Park for sports betting and operates with Kambi.
SugarHouse Casino Partner: Darby Development (Monmouth Park)
TwinSpires
BetAmerica debuted its online sportsbook in New Jersey in February 2019, which was a calculated entry into the market – just in time for the Super Bowl. The strategic access helped it gain a large following extremely quickly, mainly due to the promotions it offered for new users.
The next big step BetAmerica took to propel at the top of the New Jersey online sports betting food chain happened in 2021 when it renamed to TwinSpires as a part of a large rebranding of its mobile betting app.
The TwinSpires sportsbook gained access to the market via Golden Nugget and is powered by SBTech. The company is also a member of Churchill Downs Inc., which owns several racetracks and casinos under its umbrella.
TwinSpires Casino Partner: Golden Nugget Atlantic City
Popular Sports In New Jersey
New Jersey sportsbooks handled over $117 million in wagers on Super Bowl LV in 2021 – only Nevada posted higher numbers. So it's very evident that football is prominent in the Garden State.
Beyond NFL, New Jersey online bettors also enjoy placing wagers on NCAA tournaments, granted they're limited compared to other states. That is because betting on in-state college teams and events in New Jersey is prohibited.
That, however, could change by the end of 2021 or in 2022. There have been proposed constitutional amendments that would allow for betting on New Jersey college teams and college games played inside the state, waiting for approval.
We can expect New Jersey's betting on college football to skyrocket if the amendments come through, primarily because New Jersey is often an NCAA tournament site. Most notably, New Jersey will host the 2025 NCAA Tournament East Regional at Prudential Center in Newark.
Beyond betting on football, MLB, NBA, and NHL are all extremely popular in the New Jersey betting market, primarily the MLB playoffs, NBA Finals, and the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The state is also the home to one of the most popular and prestigious events in horse racing, the Haskell Invitational and harness racing (Hambletonian). Adding to that, New Jersey is the home to one of the most significant LPGA Tour events and is set to host the 2023 Women's PGA Championship.
If we draw a line, football is the most popular sport in New Jersey. Still, it's anything but the only sport New Jersey punters bet on. The team at NFLPickwatch offer all of our guides completely free of charge.
Betting Options In New Jersey Sportsbooks
If you're looking for a state that has one of the most extensive and most all-inclusive betting options in the United States, look no further than New Jersey. The Garden State is the home to over 20 sportsbooks on top of countless casinos, racetracks, and retail sportsbooks you can visit and bet at.
Beyond that, all sportsbooks have their own mobile betting app, allowing you to bet on the go no matter where you are, as long as you're located within the state's borders. The only real limitation to sports betting in New Jersey is college games and the law, which requires you to be at least 21-years of age to place your first bet.
Featuring some of the biggest brands in the sports betting industry, you can be sure that you won't lack betting options when using any of the available sportsbooks in New Jersey. Sites like FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, WynnBet, and TwinSpires are all known for their large selection of markets and bet types, meaning there is always something to bet on.
Overall, New Jersey is the place to be if you want to engage in online sports betting.
Legislation For Online Sports Betting on New Jersey
New Jersey has become synonymous with sports betting in the United States. The state has played a crucial role in shaping the betting landscape in the country and was the state to make it all happen.
In some ways, it's fair to say that without the efforts of governors and lawmakers in New Jersey, the sports betting renaissance in the United States would never happen. Following a decade-long battle with the NCAA and professional sports leagues, New Jersey achieved the end of a ban on sports betting outside of Nevada in 2018, when the U.S. Supreme Court declared the law unconstitutional.
New Jersey grabbed the opportunity with both hands and quickly facilitated legal sports betting, just four weeks after the ban was lifted, and saw its first bet placed on June 14, 2018, at Monmouth Park Racetrack.
Since then, New Jersey has blossomed into the largest sports betting market in the U.S., both with its betting options and the number of available sportsbooks and mobile apps. There are over 20 legal online sportsbooks licensed by the The Division Of Gaming Enforcement, including some of the industry's biggest names.
New Jersey Sports Betting Timeline:
May 2018 – U.S. Supreme Court overturns PASPA, allowing the states to legalize sports betting.
June 2018 – Gov. Phil Murphy signs off on sports betting legislation, and the first New Jersey sportsbooks go live.
July 2019 – Online sports betting launches in New Jersey – William Hill, DraftKings, FanDuel, and SugarHouse are some of the first betting operators to offer mobile betting in the state.
March 2019 – New Jersey reports over $20 million in monthly revenue from mobile sports betting.
May 2019 – New Jersey writes history as it overtakes Nevada as the no.1 sports betting state for overall sports betting handle.
October 2019 – New Jersey mobile sports betting produces $38.7 million in revenue, a new record high in the United States.
January 2020 – New Jersey sets a new record with online sportsbooks reporting $46.6 million in monthly revenue.
December 2020 – Another all-time high in revenue is reached, as New Jersey online sportsbooks report $58.7 million in revenue – bringing the combined betting handle from online and live betting to $996.3 million.
May 2021 – New Jersey proposed a constitutional amendment that would allow betting on state college teams.
August 2021 – Caesars Sportsbooks launches a mobile betting app following the acquisition of William Hill. Caesars Sportsbooks is joined by Beway and Barstool, who introduced sports betting app in the state.
October 2021 – New Jersey reports over $1 billion in sports betting handle in September, setting the new record for the highest betting handle reported for one month.
What to Consider When Shopping For The Best New Jersey Online Sportsbooks and Apps
We have listed some of the best New Jersey sportsbooks above; however, those are by no means the only brands you should consider. With so much selection of excellent sportsbooks in the New Jersey betting market, it's not difficult to find the right one, but there are a few things you should consider when picking the best New Jersey online sportsbook and app for you.
First and foremost, you will want to find a reputable brand, which has built its name for offering excellent betting service. Several names fall into that category, but there's more to look at before creating your account.
The quality of the odds is one of the most important things a sports bettor will want to look at, as it will heavily affect his long-term success. Knowing that the offered betting odds are not the same across all sportsbooks, you will have to check how and where they differ – mainly by sport.
If your goal is to bet on football, finding a sportsbook with the best football betting odds makes sense. You might also want to check whether the sportsbook has all the features you want, including in-play betting, cash-out, and futures markets.
If you're a mobile bettor, you should consider the quality of the mobile betting app. Even if you find a sportsbook with great odds and features, a crappy mobile app will make your betting experience far less enjoyable, so you should test out the mobile apps before creating an account.
Some of the least important things to consider are bonuses, promotions, and the look of the platform. Although bonuses and promotions are a great way to grab some free cash, they should not be the main reason you picked a sportsbook.
Similarly, the app's look is not nearly as important as the quality of the odds; granted, you should always pick a sportsbook that you enjoy using.
Conclusion
New Jersey stands at the front of the curve when it comes to the U.S. betting industry and the place to be if you want to engage in online or in-person sports betting. It offers plenty of land-based casinos and sportsbooks for you to visit and over 20 different mobile sportsbooks, providing one of the biggest sports betting markets in the country.
There are very few downsides with New Jersey sports betting; granted, the state has yet to allow betting on in-state college teams and college games that happen inside the state. However, that is expected to change, as amendments have been proposed, which would lift the ban.
Beyond that, you could find a negative in that there aren't that many retail sports betting options outside of Atlantic City and the Meadowlands. However, that's hardly a deal-breaker, considering how many online sports betting options the bettors have at their disposal.
While some bettors still prefer to place bets in person, the growth of mobile and online betting shouldn't be overlooked. As evident, most bettors seem to prefer betting on the go, via their phones, or from the comfort of their homes, so having more mobile options available compared to retail sportsbooks is more of a positive.
All in all, sports betting in New Jersey is as good as it can get, and after the state legalizes college betting, the situation will improve even further.
If you came here looking for the best New Jersey sportsbook and mobile app, we're here to say that there is so much selection of great sportsbooks that you can't go wrong with either of them – as long as you know what you're looking for. Learn more about the NFLPickwatch team and see what else we offer.
