On Nov. 26, 2013, New Jersey became the third U.S .state, after Nevada and Delaware, to launch legalized state-run online casino gambling. On that day, seven NJ online casinos launched, of which five (888, Borgata, Caesars, Harrah’s, and Tropicana) still exist under their original name; one (Betfair) has been rebranded as Stardust Casino, and only one (Ultimate Gaming) folded.
How Online Casinos in New Jersey Work
Before any of the above-mentioned online casinos were legally permitted to operate, they needed to apply for a license from the New Jersey regulating and licensing agency, the NJ Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE). Any intended land-based or online partners, unless they already had a license from the DGE, had to apply and be approved as well.
The DGE also requires every online casino operator within its jurisdiction, along with any affiliated software partners, to be affiliated with a currently operating Atlantic City casino. Even if the online casino is already licensed and operating in another state, before it can open to New Jersey players, it still has to go through the same rigorous application process as a brand new casino to obtain a license from the DGE. You will note that the above table shows that each of the currently operating NJ online casinos does in fact have an Atlantic City casino partner and which casino it is.
What about new online casinos that want to open in New Jersey and NJ live casinos and sportsbooks?
Live dealer games, despite their tremendous popularity today, were not an option at all in New Jersey until 2016, and sports betting did not become legal in New Jersey until 2018. Now any existing or potential online gambling operator in the state is welcome to apply for permission to include these wagering platforms. However, before the site can implement them, the request is subject to DGE approval. The DGE needs to thoroughly review every game and type of wagering a site intends to offer in order to ascertain that all of the games are fair and honest.
New Jersey doesn’t seem to have any clearly stated restriction on the number of online casinos that can operate in the state as some other states do. In other words, the more the merrier. Despite there already being 30, more applications are under review at this time. However, each of the nine Atlantic City casinos is only allowed to operate up to three online sportsbooks, and most of the slots are already filled. Sports teams cannot be the primary operator of a NJ sportsbook, but they can partner with existing sportsbooks.
One thing the DGE has always been very strict about is maintaining very high standards for determining if an applicant is fit to hold a license. The DGE also continues to monitor every existing online casino and sportsbook closely to make sure they are in full compliance with all state regulations.
Two rules that are strictly enforced pertain to customer geolocation and age requirements. Players don’t necessarily have to live in New Jersey, but they must be physically located inside the state when betting real money online or with a NJ online casino app. All players must also be 21 years of age or older.
Another rule pertains to college games, and this one is specific to this state. Wagering on college games is permitted with two exceptions. No wagers are accepted on college games involving New Jersey teams or on any college games being played in New Jersey.
How to Start Playing New Jersey Live Casino Games
“Live dealer games” or NJ “live casino games” look like and mostly resemble the most popular table games that online casinos have been offering all along–blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and casino table poker. The main difference, though, and the reason why live casino games in New Jersey and wherever they are offered are all the rage is the presence of a live dealer.
The dealer spins the wheel or deals the cards and pays the winners in real-time, and players even have the opportunity to use the live chat window to engage in light conversation with the other players at the virtual table and the dealer.
Far more than any other online casino game, live dealer games give players a taste of the lively social interaction they experience at an actual casino.
If you would like to start playing live casino games in New Jersey, here are the simple steps you need to follow:
Pick the casino where you want to play and complete the registration form
You can choose whichever means of registration you find most convenient–online or with the NJ online casino app. All NJ online casino apps are designed to work with all currently used Apple iOS and Android devices. To locate the app that you need to download for your device, iOS users will need to visit the App Store. Android users, unless specifically instructed to download the app directly from the casino, can get the App from the Google Play Store.
Alternatively, in lieu of downloading the app, you can enter the URL of the casino on the web browser of your desktop or mobile device. This will take you directly to the home page of the site.
Either way, you will instantly spot the tab marked “Register” or “Sign Up.” Complete the form with all of the basic information requested: your full name, mailing address, email address, phone number, date of birth, social security number, user name, and password.
The casino will then verify your information, and once you are approved, open your account and invite you to make a deposit and start playing. Some NJ online casinos also offer a small sign-up bonus ($20-30) just for registering, even before you make the first deposit.
Make your first deposit
Most NJ online casinos extend a much more generous offer to first-time players called a welcome bonus, but this offer does require a deposit. The nature of the offer and specific terms and conditions vary from one casino to another, so it is important to read the details carefully beforehand and try to select the best offer for your budget and style of play.
The choice of methods you can use to fund your account can also vary from one casino to another, but not that much since all deposit methods must be approved ahead of time by the DGE. Here are the deposit options that most NJ online casinos offer:
- MasterCard and Visa credit or debit cards: These can be hit or miss since many banks decline transactions for gambling purposes, and they cannot be used for withdrawal.
- eCheck (ACH)
- PayPal
- Online Banking Transfer
- Play+ card provided by the casino
- PayNearMe cash deposit at 7-Eleven or other participating retailers: Cannot be used for withdrawal
- Cash deposit at the casher’s cage of the affiliated Atlantic City casino
Note that players using the last two methods might not be eligible for a bonus.
Choose which live dealer game you want to play.
The three most popular live dealer games are blackjack, roulette, and baccarat. All of the NJ live casino platforms include blackjack and roulette, usually in multiple varieties, and most also offer baccarat. Other live casino games in New Jersey that are available in some casinos include Casino Hold’em, Three Card Poker, and Dream Catcher.
Live Dealer Games
Blackjack
Blackjack is by far the most popular table game at online casinos, and the same is true at live dealer casinos. Many novice blackjack players actually prefer the live dealer tables because of the friendlier, more relaxed atmosphere where the others are more likely to help players who are new to the game than blame them when they play incorrectly.
Out of all of the live dealer games, blackjack is the most favorable to the player. However, due to unfavorable rules like eight decks and the dealer hitting rather than standing on soft 17, the house edge is higher than at many regular online blackjack tables.
Many online casinos offer a special variation of live blackjack called Unlimited Blackjack, with a minimum bet of only $1 and never any waiting for a seat. Instead, an unlimited or infinite number of people can play at once since everyone starts with the same two cards.
Roulette
Standard roulette can get boring after a while, but at live dealer tables, multiple varieties of the game like the following ensure that roulette players will always be happily entertained.
- Multiview Roulette: Offering a closeup view of the action from three different angles
- Casino Floor Roulette: Live-streamed from the casino floor rather than a studio
- Lightning Roulette: Allowing an infinite number of players to participate at once and also offering extra chances to win with 1-5 lucky numbers “struck by lightning” on every spin
The only negative feature of live dealer roulette is that almost all of the games are American Roulette with both a single and a double zero on the wheel. This raises the house edge to a hefty 5.26% as compared to 2.7% for European Roulette.
Baccarat
Some NJ online casinos offer a variety called Dragon Baccarat where you can make an optional side bet that pays out on both natural and non-natural wins by four or more points.
Casino Hold’em and Three Card Poker
In these games, you are trying to beat the dealer rather than the other players.
Dream Catcher
This game is similar to the Big Six Wheel in land-based casinos.
Withdrawing Your Winnings At A Live Dealer Casino
While the list of available withdrawal options, the procedure for requesting them, and the average processing time can vary slightly depending on the casino, at most NJ online casinos, you can choose from the following methods:
- Play+ Prepared Card: Instant availability at ATMs or anywhere Discover is accepted
- eCheck (ACH): Allow up to 72 hours for processing plus a couple of additional days for funds to post in your bank account.
- PayPal: Same as for ACH withdrawals but available at ATMs immediately after approval; can only be used for withdrawals if PayPal was also used for the deposit
- Cash at the affiliated Atlantic City casino cage: Available immediately after approval
- Bank Wire Transfer: Allow 5-7 business days
- Check by Mail: Can take two weeks or longer
NJ Live Dealer Casinos FAQ
How old do you have to be to play online casino games in New Jersey?
The minimum age to play at any NJ online casinos or on any NJ online casino app is 21.
Do New Jersey online casinos offer live dealer games?
Yes. However, not every NJ online casino offers this option. As of this writing, live dealer games are available at the following NJ online casinos:
- 888
- Barstool
- BetMGM
- Borgata
- Caesars
- DraftKings
- FanDuel
- Golden Nugget
- Hard Rock
- Mohegan Sun
- Ocean Online
- Party
- PlaySugarHouse
- Resorts
- Stardust
- Unibet‘
Is DraftKings Casino available in New Jersey?
Yes, DraftKings operates an online casino, online sportsbook, and a daily fantasy sports site. All three are open to New Jersey players.
Is FanDuel Casino available in New Jersey?
Yes, like DraftKings, FanDuel operates an online casino, online sportsbook, and a DFS site, all of which NJ players can access. In fact, FanDuel is DraftKings’ major competitor.
Who regulates legal online casinos in New Jersey?
The agency that is responsible for licensing and regulating all legal NJ online casinos and sportsbooks and their affiliates is the NJ Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE).