A debt of gratitude is owed to the Garden State for the massive expansion of legal sports betting that is coming to the United States. New Jersey – albeit with vested interests firmly at the forefront – exhibited impressive persistence in its mission to legalize the activity within its borders. The near-decade-long quest culminated in a favorable Supreme Court decision on May 14, 2018, effectively permitting New Jersey and every other state to legalize sports betting.

NJ sports betting status

The long battle for New Jersey is over. On June 7, the state legislature unanimously voted to legalize sports betting, paving the way for casinos and racetracks to accept bets within state lines. Four days later, Gov. Philip Murphy put pen to paper and signed the bill into law. The first legal bet was placed by Murphy at Monmouth Park on Thursday, June 14.

New Jersey residents will now have plenty of potential options as far where they’ll be able to wager. The following New Jersey casinos are currently open or will soon be open, with most (if not all) offering sports betting:

• Bally’s/Wild West Casino
• Borgata
• Caesar’s Atlantic City Hotel and Casino
• Golden Nugget Atlantic City
• Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Atlantic City (expected to open June 2018)
• Hard Rock Casino at Meadowlands
• Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City
• Ocean Resort Casino (expected to open June 2018)
• Resorts Casino Hotel
• Tropicana Casino and Resort Atlantic City

The following racetracks are currently open in New Jersey:

• Freehold Raceway
• Meadowlands Racetrack
• Monmouth Park Racetrack

Casino giants MGM and Caesars are expected to lead the charge by opening a number of sportsbooks in New Jersey.

Caesars owns Caesars, Bally’s and Harrah’s in Atlantic City is expected to utilize two or perhaps all three casinos as bases for their sports betting operations.

Borgata, which is owned and run by MGM Resorts, became one of the first sports betting sites in New Jersey to stake its claim to the burgeoning market.

The darkhorse in the race for market share is Resorts Casino Hotel, which partnered with daily fantasy sports leader DraftKings to offer sports betting. With millions of customers already in its Rolodex, DraftKings should compete as soon as its app is available.

NJ sports betting bill facts and figures

Provisions in the recently-passed New Jersey bill include:

• Casinos taxed at 8.5 percent of revenue, with an additional 1.25 percent fee to help market Atlantic City.
• The 1.25 percent add-on fee for tracks will be jointly absorbed by the host community and the county in which the track operates.
• Online wagering taxed at 13.0 percent of revenue. Online betting won’t begin until 30 days after the law officially takes effect.
• No betting allowed on high school sports, on college events taking place in the state, or on any sporting event involving a New Jersey-based school, regardless of where the event takes place.
• No wagering by referees, players or coaches on the sports in which they participate.
• Anyone placing a wager must be 21 years of age or older
• No wagering on high school sports will be allowed.
• No integrity fees to the leagues are included in the bill.

NJ Sports Betting FAQ

When will sports betting be legal in New Jersey?

It’s legal right now. Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill into law on Monday, June 11, giving licensed operators the green light to begin accepting sports wagers. Monmouth Park took first legal wager on Thursday, June 14. Borgata followed by opening its sportsbook the same day. Many others will join the fray before the start of football season.

Where can I place sports bets when it becomes legal in NJ?

Any casino or racetrack in the state can offer sports betting. That includes all of the licensed properties in Atlantic City, as well the three racetracks: Monmouth Park, The Meadlowlands, and Freehold. Monmouth Park is expected to be the first betting operator to accept a legal sports bet on June 14.

Do I need to register for an online sportsbook account and make my initial deposit in person?

Not in New Jersey. Bettors can register and deposit funds online without visiting a physical sportsbook. In-person registration won’t be required unless a bet of more than $10,000 is made.

Can I bet on my mobile device?

Online sports betting in New Jersey will not launch as quickly as land-based sportsbooks, but mobile sports betting will eventually get off the ground when operators are ready (likely within 30 days of physical sportsbooks launching).

Which sports teams in New Jersey can I bet on?

New Jersey residents will be able to place single-game bets on all professional and college sports games EXCEPT those that include teams located in New Jersey. This includes local pro teams like the New York Giants, New York Jets, and New Jersey Devils, as well as Rutgers college athletics events.

What else can I bet on in New Jersey?

New Jersey is currently one of three states that offer some form of online gambling. NJ online casinos and poker sites have been operating in NJ since November 2013.

How will the Supreme Court ruling have an impact on other states?

Now that SCOTUS has found PASPA unconstitutional, the door is open for any state to legalize and regulate sports betting.

Delaware went live with full-scale sports betting on June 5, 2018. Mississippi, West Virginia, Connecticut and Pennsylvania have already passed laws that legalize sports betting with a favorable Supreme Court ruling. Many other states are expected to follow.

Can I get into trouble for placing bets with unregulated online sportsbooks in New Jersey?

Federal law states that unregulated sports books are illegal and anyone placing or accepting bets through such practices in the United States are subject to prosecution. However, there has yet to be a known instance of such a crime being carried out in a court.