Best Betting Sites in New Jerseys

Sports betting in New Jersey is legal; you can bet online and in person.

Best NJ betting sites

Here are the online sportsbooks we recommend:

Betting in person

If you prefer to visit a casino, you have these options to bet in person:

Local betting rules and regulations

New Jersey set the standard for sports betting regulations when it became one of the first states to legalize the industry after PASPA was overturned. Many other states have modeled their own rules after New Jersey’s framework.

The legal sports betting age in New Jersey is 21. While you don’t have to be a resident to place a bet, you must be physically located within state lines to place bets.

In New Jersey, you can bet on both professional and college sports, but there is one significant restriction:

• No betting on in-state college teams (e.g., Rutgers, Seton Hall).
• No betting on college games played within New Jersey, even if the teams are from out of state.

What do folks bet on in New Jersey?

One of the main reasons New Jersey became a sports betting powerhouse (aside from being the first state to legalize it) is its proximity to multiple major sports franchises. 

There’s no shortage of local and semi-local teams for bettors to bet on here.

• Football: The New York Giants and New York Jets, despite inconsistent performances, continue to drive betting action.
• Basketball: New Jersey bettors typically follow the Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks, two teams that always attract betting interest.
• Hockey: The New Jersey Devils, along with the New York Rangers and New York Islanders, bring NHL betting action, though hockey betting remains smaller compared to other sports.
• Baseball: The New York Yankees and New York Mets split fan loyalty in New Jersey, but MLB betting is generally less popular compared to the NFL or NBA.

If you're new to betting, here are some quick tips

Getting started with sports betting in New Jersey can be exciting, but it’s important to have a strategy.

We have a ton of content for new AND experience bettors in our betting guide catalog. The TL;DR version is this:

1. Manage your bankroll. Set a budget before you start betting and stick to a consistent unit size to avoid emotional or reckless wagering.
2. Do your research. Betting based on team loyalty isn’t a great strategy. Check injury reports, matchups, and trends before placing a bet.
3. Find the best odds. Shopping around at different sportsbooks can help you get better lines and maximize your winnings.
4. Expect some losses. Even the best Betting Lady loses sometimes. Stick to your plan and avoid chasing losses with impulsive bets.

I'll put a link to these articles at the end of this post. Read these and you're ready to bet like a pro in no-time. 

Historical background

As mentioned, New Jersey was a pioneer in the sports betting industry. After leading the fight to overturn PASPA (the federal sports betting ban), the state became one of the first to launch legal sportsbooks in June 2018.

For a time, New Jersey held the title of the largest sports betting market in the U.S., routinely setting monthly handle (the amount of money wagered) records. While New York has since taken over the top spot, New Jersey remains a major player in the industry, benefiting from both in-state bettors and visitors from neighboring states.

In addition to sports betting, New Jersey also allows online casino gaming, which has contributed to its status as one of the most successful gambling markets in the country.

Did you know that New Jersey voters first approved sports betting in 2012, but legal challenges delayed the rollout? After PASPA was overturned in 2018, lawmakers quickly finalized regulations, and sportsbooks started taking bets in June of that year.

A 2021 referendum sought to repeal the ban on betting on in-state college teams, but voters rejected the proposal, keeping the current college betting restrictions in place.