Nothing beats playing poker at a legal and regulated poker site.
Read our hands-on reviews of all 7 NJ online poker sites and find the best one for you!
We strongly believe that every NJ poker player deserves to play on a safe and regulated poker platform. Our contribution to making that dream a reality was launching njgames.org. By writing unbiased and honest reviews of NJ poker sites, we strive to provide players with comprehensive information about these operators. With no external interference, our ratings and reviews are made independently by our team of expert reviewers and poker players. What’s more, on our website, we only feature NJ poker websites that are licensed and regulated by the NJDGE. However, we do accept compensation from the operators that advertise on our pages which may affect their ranking.
This Is How We Do it
We downloaded the software and created a poker account.
Deposited funds and claimed welcome bonuses.
Played different poker variants across browsers and devices.
Researched poker sites’ security, payment policies, and customer support.
We wrote in-depth reviews of NJ online poker sites.
Expert Reviews of NJ Poker Sites
1. Borgata Poker
Borgata Poker
1. Borgata Poker
Key Features
Quick registration procedure
A variety of tournaments and solid player base
Large weekly tournament guarantees
Customer support available through social networks
Online poker in New Jersey became legal in 2013, and Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa quickly sprung into action by getting Borgata NJ online. The MGM-owned casino and poker giant partnered up with Bwin.Party and combined its online player pool with another site on our list – Party Poker.
Player pools and poker variants
When playing Borgata online poker in NJ, you can expect at least 80 other players to join you at any given time and many more during peak hours. There are standard cash games, fast forward games, and Sit & Go matches. As with many other best poker sites in NJ, there are plenty of ongoing tournaments. Game types include No Limit and Fixed Limit Texas Hold‘em as well as Pot Limit Omaha and Fixed Limit Seven-Card Stud.
Promotional offers and tournaments
You get a 100% matched bonus of up to $600 by registering with the code WELCOMEBONUS and depositing $10 or more. The bonus is released in ten equal increments after you earn 2x the bonus amount in poker games.
Living up to its reputation as one of the venues with the best poker online in NJ, Borgata has daily poker tournaments featuring No Limit Texas Hold’em from Monday to Sunday.
The buy-in is $100 + $9 and a guarantee of $10,000 for winning the pot. You can also play special No Limit Hold’Em tournaments on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.
The best offer is on Sundays and comes in the form of a $35,000 tournament with a buy-in of $215. There’s also an old school tournament with a buy-in of $35 for a 7,500 starting stack. Moreover, you get the chance to compete in the partypoker US Network Online Series, with players from the New Jersey poker rooms as well as those from Borgata’s sister site Party Poker and many others. You also get iRewards points for playing poker, and your VIP tier ranges from Red Label to Black Label Elite, depending on your average monthly rake.
User Experience
After registering on the site, just download the Borgata poker app, and find the game of your choice. There are dedicated apps for all platforms, including Android and iOS. While the apps run well, the software could use a bit more speed. The best online poker websites with real money are focused on ensuring convenience, and Borgata is no exception. Registration is quick, and the interface is well organized with the option to set up custom betting amounts and alerts. The site also features shark-proof waiting lists, which restrict players from joining the first available table that matches their preferences.
Safety and fairness
Borgata Poker is licenced by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, and the site is protected by a 128-bit SSL encryption. Borgata’s rake works at a rate of $0.01 for every $0.18 put into the pot, which comes to around 5.56%. You get two iRewards points for each dollar contributed to rake in cash games or tournament fees. So, in order to reach the 150 point Red Label Plus level, you need at least $75 in monthly rake.
Payment and Withdrawal Policies
This renowned New Jersey internet poker provider offers a wide selection of deposit and withdrawal methods. You can use online bank transfers, a Visa/Mastercard, or American Express. Other options include Borgata Online Prepaid Play+ account, PayNearMe, PayPal, Neteller, Skrill (max $50,000), or a VIP preferred e-check. For withdrawals, you can use bank transfers or credit/debit cards, Play+, PayPal, VIP Preferred™, Check By Mail, Skrill, or a Borgata cashier. The limits on deposits and withdrawals depend on the payment method.
Customer Support
Top online poker sites take customer service very seriously, and Borgata is no different. Customer support is available through email, live chat, phone, and even social media from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. every day. You might end up waiting slightly longer than you would like, but the staff is very helpful and knowledgeable.
Originally launched in 2001, Party Poker has always been synonymous with NJ internet poker even before the famous 2006 gambling ban. In 2013, Governor Chris Christie signed a bill that legalized online gambling in New Jersey, and the site has been growing stronger ever since.
Player pools and poker variants
When playing real money online poker at Party Poker, you can count on a large number of opponents at any time of day, with peak hours featuring thousands of players. The selection of games includes Limit Texas Hold’em, Pot-limit Texas Hold’em, Pot-limit Omaha, Pot-limit Omaha HI-Lo, Seven-Card Stud, Seven-Card Stud Hi-Lo as well as blackjack and roulette.
Promotional offers and tournaments
Like all other leading New Jersey online poker rooms, Party Poker offers plenty of promotions and tournaments. You’re welcomed with a generous 100% matched bonus of up to $1,000 on your initial deposit of $10 or more. You have two months to clear the bonus, which is paid in ten installments at a rate of $1 per four points that you collect playing poker or eight points playing in the casino. You also get a $25 free cash bonus to spend on casino and poker games after signing up. There are numerous ongoing promotions such as weekly reloads through bonus codes, 10% cashback on Saturdays, and Click and Win promotions every Sunday.
Party Poker is part of the elite club of NJ poker sites with a VIP system. It features four tiers from Bronze to Palladium, which offer cash prizes and tournament tickets for playing regularly. Tournaments are mostly similar to those on offer at BorgataPoker, with Mega Tuesday 500 offering a guaranteed $15,000 for a buy-in of $535. You can also take part in the US Network Online Series tournaments.
User Experience
Party Poker and BorgataPoker use the same proprietary software, so you can expect a similar experience to the one outlined in the previous review. In short, registration is quick. The software has some innovative features, but it tends to run a little sluggish at times. Mobile apps for Android and iOS offer mostly the same experience as the desktop app.
Safety and fairness
While looking for the best online poker bonus or game selection, you need to be certain you are dealing with a safe and fair operator. Party Poker is a licensed website, and it’s regulated by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement. The site features top-notch SSL encryption, and your Social Security number gets checked before your online account is confirmed. You earn two points for every dollar spent on tournament fees or the rake for cash games. The rake itself varies from $0.01 per $0.20 pot (max $0.50) to $1 per $100 pot (max $5).
Payment and Withdrawal Policies
Online poker websites in New Jersey tend to offer a variety of payment options, and Party Poker is a good example of that. You can make deposits with credit and debit cards, bank transfers, PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, Paysafecard, and the Party Poker prepaid card. Withdrawals add Western Union and email checks to the list of options. The maximum amount that you can withdraw depends on the method you choose. The minimum deposit is generally $10, and it allows you to take advantage of the welcome bonus.
Customer Support
While it may not be a top poker site in every category, Party Poker has a truly excellent customer support service. Support agents are available 24/7 via email and live chat. When compared to its sister site Borgata Poker, we have to give the edge to Party Poker since its staff is available around the clock.
Pala Poker has been around since 2017 and is considered one of the newer poker sites in NJ. The site is owned by Pala Interactive and is part of the digital branch of the Pala Casino Spa and Resort in California. While it did partner with Borgata Casino & Spa, it doesn’t share player pools with other venues, and it has a custom in-house poker software.
Player pools and poker variants
Pala’s biggest downside is the absence of a player base. You can find around 20 to 30 players on standard weeknights, and peak times are roughly on par with Borgata’s usual poker site traffic. Moreover, Pala isn’t the best NJ poker site when it comes to game variety. You can only play Texas Hold’em, Omaha Poker and Seven-Card Stud. We’re expecting both the player count and game variety to improve as the site grows.
Promotional offers and tournaments
First off, there’s a $25 free cash bonus when signing up. You get $20 right away and another $5 after taking your first spin on the PalaCasino.com Million Dollar Slot Machine. The slot machine offers daily chances to win the $1,000,000 jackpot, and it’s completely free for all registered players on the site. Like many other online poker sites in NJ, you can also get a 100% matched deposit of up to $500 upon your initial deposit, but this is a casino focused bonus.
The loyalty program starts at the Silver level and goes up all the way to Elite. You earn points by generating rake from poker games and playing casino games. This earns you Status and Reward Points that can be used for cash rewards and other benefits.
Bear in mind that New Jersey poker tournaments are very low key. The daily tournament buy-ins range from $0 to $20 and rewards from $50 to $250. Occasionally, they throw weekly tournaments with higher buy-ins and rewards but nothing that attracts the whales.
User Experience
Some of the best online poker rooms in New Jersey such as Party Poker and Borgata use the same software. Pala Poker tries to do things a bit differently with its own proprietary software that has recently completed beta testing. Although it’s visually impressive, there aren’t any options for customizing the UI other than turning off sound notifications. The web interface also leaves something to be desired, but the desktop and mobile apps work very well. The registration process is quick and only requires you to submit your Social Security number - standard procedure for legal poker sites these days.
Safety and fairness
The site is protected by SSL encryption and regulated by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement. The rake is 5% on all games with stakes determining the maximum amounts that range from $1 for micro stakes to $4 on higher stakes tables. Unlike other New Jersey online poker sites, Pala Poker isn’t geared towards high rollers, but is tailored to more conservative players.
Payment and Withdrawal Policies
When it comes to deposits, you can use ACH and online bank transfers, Visa/Mastercard, PayNearMe, PayPal, Neteller, or Borgata’s cashiers. Deposit limits depend on the method used, but most cap out at $10,000. There is no limit on the cashier. You can use pretty much the same methods to cash out. PayPal, Neteller, and cashier are the quickest methods if you live in Atlantic City, and postal checks are the slowest.
Customer Support
The Pala Poker site has a detailed FAQ section and great customer support agents that can be reached 24/7 via email, phone, or live chat. Although their claim about being the best NJ poker website for customer service is debatable, their support team is helpful and friendly.
Sin City’s MGM Grand Poker Room is one of the hottest places on the Strip to play poker. In 2017, BetMGM was launched as its online branch in New Jersey.
Player pools and poker variants
BetMGM offers versatile player pools and a variety of games. It’s not as busy as Party Poker, but you’ll still find around 30 tables during peak hours with hundreds of players. It might not be the biggest poker site in terms of games, but there is a sufficient selection that includes Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, Seven-Card Stud, and Seven-Card Stud Hi/Lo.
Promotional offers and tournaments
BetMGM is equally impressive in the promotions department. You get a matched bonus of up to $1,000 on your first deposit and an additional $25 on the house - $10 in online cash and $15 in tournament bonus funds. The matched bonus gets paid in increments based on iRewards points that you get by playing at the poker tables or in the casino.
In terms of ongoing tournaments, MGM poker NJ shares a number of similarities with Borgata Casino. For starters, there are a lot of regular NJ poker tournaments to choose from. The options include $10k daily guaranteed pots with buy-ins of $109, Mega Tuesdays with $535 buy-ins guaranteeing $12k, and the big one - Network Sundays with $35k for a buy-in of just $215.
BetMGM falls into the category of sites that offer an existing loyalty program. You accumulate iRewards points by playing real money games that can be redeemed for bonuses and accessories. You can also accumulate Tire Credits to rank up in the M Life Rewards Program for perks at venues owned by MGM.
User Experience
NJ online poker sites have excellent software. BetMGM’s software is very similar to that of Borgata Casino’s. It generally runs well across a variety of platforms, and the mobile apps for Android and iOS systems are well designed. The UI is fairly straightforward, and registration takes only a couple of minutes. In order to complete your registration and be allowed to make deposits/withdrawals, you need to enter your SSN.
Safety and fairness
The casino is licensed and regulated by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement. It’s protected by the same SSL encryption used on the best NJ online poker platforms such as Borgata Casino. The rake generated is proportional to the percentage contributed to the pot and works out to $0.01 for every $0.18 put into the pot. It’s calculated into the tournament buy-ins along with the standard fee for getting your chips.
Payment and Withdrawal Policies
Another similarity between BetMGM Poker and Borgata concerns payment methods. The options include credit and debit cards, bank transfers, PayNearMe, PayPal, Play+, Skrill (maximum of $50,000), or a VIP Preferred e-check. For withdrawals, similar methods are available, including the Borgata Casino cashier. The limits depend on the payment method used.
Customer Support
Customer support is easily accessible with the best online poker sites for US players, and BetMGM adheres to this standard. Its dedicated agents can be reached by phone, email, or live chat that’s available 24/7. The staff is quick to respond and very helpful. The site also features plenty of useful articles explaining the basics of online poker.
If you are serious about poker, you’re probably familiar with the World Series of Poker. In recent years, WSOP.com has been bringing the online version of this highly prestigious tournament to the world. The site was established in 2013 and is owned by Caesars Interactive Entertainment Inc.
Player pools and poker variants
WSOP.com is an industry heavyweight, and following the 2013 launch of its New Jersey online branch, it’s ranked high on every NJ online poker list. This is thanks largely to an agreement between New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware that allowed poker sites from those states to share player pools. In terms of games, you can enjoy the highly popular No Limit Hold‘em as well as Fixed Limit Hold‘Em, Pot Limit Omaha, Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo, Fixed Limit Omaha Hi/Lo, Seven Card Stud, and Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo.
Promotional offers and tournaments
The site greets players with a generous welcome offer. By depositing at least $10 after signing up, you become eligible for a 100% matched deposit bonus of up to $1,000. As with most online poker in New Jersey, the bonus is gradual as you earn rewards by playing poker.
New players are also eligible for seven free $100 tournament tickets, which are valid for a week. These special tournaments are the central feature of the WSOP.com experience.
NJ online poker doesn’t get much better than this: regular Sunday tournaments offer a guaranteed $100,000 for a buy-in of just $320. The Weekend Warriors event offers a variety of highly rewarding tournaments between Friday and Sunday nights, while nightly tournaments guarantee $10,000 with a $30 buy-in every night of the week.
In addition to regular tournaments, WSOP.com might just be the best online poker site for seasonal and special promotions. These include the WSOP free poker chips, the online World Series, and player appreciation tournaments with huge prizes. Most NJ poker websites have a loyalty program with various levels ranging from Player to Elite. WSOP.com allows you to earn two reward points for every $1 in rake fees and can turn the accumulated points into cash or various other rewards.
User Experience
When compared to the competition, the WSOP.com design is slightly outdated. However, both the browser and app versions run flawlessly on several platforms. The dedicated apps for mobile devices are equally exceptional. The quick and easy registration process offers further proof that the platform is one of the best NJ poker sites. You can register with just a few basic details including your name and email address.
Safety and fairness
The site has high-grade RSA protection, and WSOP online poker NJ takes special care to be transparent about its business model. It is regulated and licensed by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, and the fairness of its games is validated independently by eCOGRA. The rake per pot is $0.01 per $0.18 with the maximum never exceeding $3.50. You can earn around 8% rake back with the bronze level membership, while the top membership tier gives up to 32%.
Payment and Withdrawal Policies
WSOP.com has less deposit and withdrawal options than a typical New Jersey poker site, but most users will find it sufficient. You can make deposits through e-checks, Visa and Mastercard, PayPal, PayNearMe, or in person at any of the casinos owned by the Caesars Entertainment Corporation. The minimum deposit is $10, while the maximum depends on the method you use. If you make the deposits in person, the limit can go up to $100,000. All of the above methods except credit/debit cards and PayNearMe may be used for withdrawals, and there are no withdrawal limits.
Customer Support
Online poker reviews often focus on the importance of good customer service because regardless of how efficient the gaming platform is, players are bound to run into problems and have questions. When it comes to WSOP, customer support agents can either be reached by telephone or around the clock via email and live chat. There is also a section for commonly asked questions, earning WSOP.com full marks in this department.
888 Holdings is a giant in the world of online gambling. This trusted brand is the proud owner of numerous online gambling venues including 888poker, which joined the online poker gambling world in 2002.
Player pools and poker variants
888poker shares its traffic with the New Jersey branch of WSOP.com. That gives them around 200 players pooled from New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware at any given time. You can play various versions of Texas Hold‘em, Omaha Hi and Hi/Lo as well as 888’s very own Blast poker. This game features a timer, and when the countdown reaches zero, the players automatically go all-in to determine the winner.
Promotional offers and tournaments
888poker NJ has one of the best welcome offers in the business. You get $20 to play at their tables just for signing up with no deposit required. Should you decide to make a deposit, they will match it 100% up to $1,500. As with other online poker sites in New Jersey, bonuses are paid in installments in accordance with the amount of money you spend at the tables. And just like other real money poker sites, there are numerous ongoing promotions with freerolls, rake back, and cash back rewards.
If you are in the mood for tournaments, the site’s partnership with WSOP allows you to play in highly rewarding World Series contests where you are guaranteed six-figure prizes for relatively low buy-ins. You can also get daily $5,000 and $10,000 guarantees and up to $30,000 on Sundays. For something more unique, swing over to the Blast poker tables that have fewer players but comparatively smaller rewards.
User Experience
888’s software runs equally well on PC and Mac computers. Meanwhile, it has some of the most well-designed NJ poker apps in the business. The Android and iOS apps are very quick, featuring responsive controls and a user-friendly interface. Registration is quick, and you can start using your no deposit bonus at one of the tables within minutes.
Safety and fairness
The 888 poker network is massive, and 888 Holdings practically holds every existing gambling licence in the world. For US operations, it’s licensed and regulated by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement. The site also features excellent RSA encryption, and it is very transparent about its rake and limits. The system in place is very similar to that of WSOP.com and other NJ legal poker sites. $0.01 is taken for every $0.18 in the pot with the limit being $5.
Payment and Withdrawal Policies
The list of deposit and withdrawal methods is also similar to WSOP. You can make payments through bank transfers, credit and debit cards, PayPal, PayNearMe, or in person at the Caesars Atlantic City cage. Withdrawals can be made with the same methods except for cards and PayNearMe. There are no minimum limits on withdrawals that you make in person, while ACH bank transfers require you to withdraw at least $10, and with Paypal the minimum is $20.
Customer Support
Customer support at 888poker offers the same quality of service as any of the local or offshore poker sites but there’s currently no live chat available. Still you can reach the very helpful and knowledgeable staff 24/7 by telephone or by shooting them an email.
We’ve saved the best for last in our online poker site review. PokerStars is a true giant in the world of online poker. But when it comes to NJ poker online, the site lags behind WSOP.com and 888poker because it doesn’t operate in Delaware and Nevada. As such, it relies solely on the New Jersey player pool.
Player pools and poker variants
Even though the site relies entirely on players from New Jersey, you can expect to find several hundred players online most of the time. That number is even higher during peak hours. One way to explain these numbers is to look at the selection of games.
PokerStars New Jersey offers real money poker in NJ. In addition to variations of online Texas Hold’em, you can play different versions of Omaha and Seven-Card Stud as well as less common games like 2-7 Triple Draw & 2-7 Single Draw, Razz (reverse Seven-Card Stud with the worst hands winning), Five Card Draw, and Badugi.
Promotional offers and tournaments
The welcome bonus is made up of two parts, which is standard practice when it comes to NJ online poker. If you make a cash deposit using the bonus code STARS600, PokerStars will give you a 100% matched bonus of up to $600. You get five redemption points for every $1 spent in tournament fees or rakes, and 140 points will release $10 up to a maximum of $600. By using the code FREE30 and depositing at least $20, you will get $20 as a cash bonus and $10 in tickets to play Spin & Go tournaments. Aside from Sit & Go, our PokerStars NJ review should mention that the site also hosts Spin & Go tournaments that require a certain number of players to get underway. Meanwhile, Sit & Go involves spinning a wheel, which determines the prize pool. Buy-ins range from $25 to $500.
The NJ online poker tournament schedule is packed. There are multi-table tournaments and the venue offers daily and weekly tournaments including Sunday Majors with guaranteed prizes ranging from $500 to $10,000 per tournament. Moreover, you make use of various ongoing timed promotions. The VIP scheme is pretty standard and involves getting reward points for playing various poker games. The rewards can be used fo
User Experience
Simply put, PokerStars has the best platform in the business. In addition to being compatible with all operating systems, the PokerStars NJ app is great, and the site’s interface is very user friendly and customizable. It is one of the best poker sites for US players who are looking for reliable and quick software. The registration process is also quick, earning PokerStars top marks.
Safety and fairness
PokerStars is licensed and regulated by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement. With the help of a highly complex encryption, your personal information is kept safe. In cash games, the rake is a percentage of the final pot. Meanwhile, tournament fees tend to be lower as stakes increase. Rake ends up being around 5% for most games.
Payment and Withdrawal Policies
Like with every other top NJ poker site, you have plenty of options for withdrawals and deposits. Payments can be made through eChecks and bank transfers, Skrill and Paypal, PayNearMe, the Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, PokerStars Play+ Card as well as credit and debit cards. Withdrawals can be made with those same methods except for cards and PayNearMe. Deposit limits depend on the method used, and withdrawals can take up to 48 hours to process.
Customer Support
Customer service agents received plenty of praise from the site’s users. However, they can only be reached through email, and there is a phone number but only for emergencies. When compared to the many options that are available with the site’s competitors, we feel that this category needs improvement.
How We Evaluate the Best Online Poker Sites in NJ?
As you may have gathered from our poker site reviews, there are several things we examine in order to determine the quality of an NJ online poker site. All these different factors contribute to the overall impression of an online poker platform.
• User experience (how long is the registration procedure, do players download the software or play online, is there a mobile app, how easy it is to navigate the site, are there any bugs and glitches, etc.)
• Promotional offers (no deposit bonus, deposit bonus) and tournaments
• Safety and fairness (gambling license from The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, random number generator, rake)
• Player pools (number of players on the platform, their level of experience, can they play with players from Nevada and Delaware) and poker variants (Texas Hold em, Omaha, Stud Poker, Zoom Poker, etc.)
• Customer support (when are they available, through which channels, and how supportive are they)
• Payment and Withdrawal Policies (accepted payment methods, deposit and withdrawal times and limits)
Player Pools and Poker Variants
When choosing the best site to play poker online in NJ, we looked at several factors. Two of the most important ones are the player pool and the game selection. Player pool is important because these are the people you’ll be playing against. We believe that a platform with a lot of players who range in skill levels is the best.
Just as diversity is important in players, it matters in poker variants. If a site offers more than standard Texas Hold’em and Omaha poker variants, it ranked better on our list.
Promotional Offers and Tournaments
Every gambling site tries to lure players with promotions. NJ poker sites offer various incentives to both new and existing players. In this category, we examined welcome bonuses and ongoing tournaments/VIP programs to determine what the site is doing to appeal to new players and keep existing members engaged.
User Experience
The best online poker sites not only have a large selection of poker games and a solid player pool, but they also offer a great playing experience. Ideally, the sites or dedicated apps work well on a variety of devices without major bugs and glitches. The registration procedure should be quick, and the user interface easy to navigate. Mobile optimization is also important, and dedicated mobile apps are even better.
Safety and Fairness
Another thing to consider when making NJ online poker rankings is how safe and fair the poker site is. Free online poker sites are a dime a dozen, but that doesn’t mean that they are good for you. Does the site comply with NJ online poker laws, and does it hold a license from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement? There are plenty of sites around, but we made sure to identify the ones that have a valid licence. We also examined the level of security and whether the rake/rewards and card dealing systems are fair.
Payment and Withdrawal Policies
This category looks at the accepted payment and withdrawal methods. We also checked out deposit and withdrawal times and any existing limits. Again, we valued a variety of payment options, fast transactions, and a lack of limitations. You want to spend your time playing, not waiting around for a payment to come through.
Customer Support
The final aspect that we assess when picking the best poker sites for NJ players is the quality of the customer service. We looked at the number of methods with which you can contact support staff, how quickly they reply, and how helpful they are. While customer support may not be the single most important consideration when picking a casino, it can have an impact on the overall gaming experience.
Legal Online Poker in NJ
Atlantic City has been known as the Las Vegas of the east ever since a referendum in 1976 made its casinos legal (gambling age in NJ is 21), and the Casino Control Commission was established the following year. However, it wasn’t until 2013 that the multi-billion-dollar industry moved NJ gambling online with the Commission, allowing NJ online poker sites to open its doors to players nationwide. Nevertheless, there were still caveats, as the sites had to be the property of existing brick-and-mortar casinos or their partners. Following the creation of the tri-state gaming agreement, players from New Jersey can join people across Delaware and Nevada. Casino operators from all three states can benefit from sharing their player base and liquidity.
Tristate Agreement with Nevada and Delaware
Delaware and Nevada were the first states who started legalizing online gambling and poker for real money in 2012. New Jersey followed shortly afterwards, and various poker websites started popping up in 2013. Initially, however, all of the states operated separately until Nevada and Delaware joined forces in 2014 in order to share online poker liquidity. The Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement was established, and the Multi-State Internet Gaming Association was set up in Delaware. The two states started sharing online liquidity in 2015. New Jersey poker sites joined the party in 2017, forming the current tri-state agreement with Nevada and Delaware. During the same year, Pennsylvania became the fourth state to legalize online gambling in the United States and is likely to join the tri-state agreement at some point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you play online poker in NJ?
Yes.
Online gambling was legalized in New Jersey back in 2013. However, the player pool was restricted to people from New Jersey until 2017 when the tri-state agreement was signed with Nevada and Delaware. Today, you can play online poker through any of the legalized providers and with players from any of the three states.
Are online poker sites rigged?
Most are not.
Top poker sites in NJ and other tri-state territories simply cannot afford the controversy of rigged matches. Word of mouth spreads like wildfire on the internet, and rigged sites tend to be discovered and shunned by the community rather quickly. That being said, smaller sites have been known to conduct shady practices in the past.
What is the best poker site for real money?
Any of the options on our list.
Borgata Poker, Party Poker, Pala Poker, MGM Poker, WSOP.com, 888poker, or PokerStars all offer excellent gaming experiences. But the sites have different welcoming bonuses and ongoing tournaments.
Can I play poker on my phone for real money?
Yes.
The best NJ online poker sites such as 888poker offer excellent mobile apps that allow you to take your game with you wherever you go.
Is online poker legal in NJ?
Yes, it is.
When it comes to online poker, NJ legalized it almost a decade ago. However, the player pool of New Jersey poker sites was restricted to people from NJ until 2017, when the tri-state agreement was signed with Nevada and Delaware.
When was online poker made legal in NJ?
Back in 2013.
It was done by governor Chris Christie, who signed a bill that legalized online gambling in the state.
Is it legal to play poker online for real money?
Yes, as long as you play in one of the legally regulated states.
There are four states that have regulated games at the moment: Nevada, New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania.
Are NJ poker sites secure and reliable?
Yes.
Top poker sites in NJ and other tri-state territories pay special attention to security, as they simply cannot afford the controversy of rigged matches. Word of mouth spreads like wildfire on the internet, and rigged sites tend to be discovered and shunned by the gambling community.
Which NJ poker sites have the most players?
888poker, Borgata and Party Poker, as well as WSOP.com have a lot of players at any given time, with peak times being especially busy.
What are the best online poker sites in NJ?
Any of the options on our list.
Although not all of them are based in NJ, Borgata Poker, Party Poker, Pala Poker, MGM Poker, WSOP.com, 888poker, or PokerStars all have NJ-aimed sites that offer excellent gaming experiences. But the sites have different welcoming bonuses and ongoing online poker tournaments.
Do you have to live in NJ to play online poker in NJ?
Yes and no.
Some NJ online poker sites allow you to set up and manage your account, deposit money, and even claim free bonuses while outside of New Jersey. However, if you want to sit down and play at real money tables, you’ll have to either be physically located in New Jersey or be in one of the other tri-state territories that your casino of choice operates in – technically you’re not playing in NJ, but with players from NJ.
Key Features
Welcome bonus
Player pools and poker variants 
Promotional offers and tournaments 
User Experience 
Safety and fairness 
Payment and Withdrawal Policies 
Customer Support 
Can you play online poker in NJ?