New Jersey Casinos & Local Gambling Laws

Apart from a few gaming devices at select New Jersey racetracks, the casino industry in the state is limited to Atlantic City. While the gaming in AC is down from its peak in 2006, the result is a leaner but more stable Atlantic City casino scene. The nine Atlantic City casinos are:

• Bally’s Atlantic City: Slot machines, table games like blackjack, craps, pai gow, and Spanish 21, and a 42-table poker room
• Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa: Slot machines, table games like blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat, pai gow, and Let It Ride, and a poker room featuring daily tournaments
• Caesars at Atlantic City: More than 2,000 slot machines and table games like blackjack, craps, roulette, high card flush, and pai gow
• Golden Nugget Atlantic City: 1,500 slot machines, table games like blackjack, craps, roulette, three card poker, and pai gow, and a poker room located on the casino’s 4th floor
• Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City: 2,150 slot machines, table games like blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat, pai gow, and Let It Ride, and a 40-table poker room
• Resorts Casino Hotel: Over 700 slot machines and table games like blackjack, craps, roulette, three card poker, baccarat, and Let It Ride
• Tropicana Casino Resort: More than 2,400 slot machines, table games like blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat, and Let It Ride, and an 18-table poker room
• Hard Rock Atlantic City: 2,100 slot machines and 120 table games
• Ocean Resort Casino: Slot machines, table games like blackjack, craps, three card poker, and pai gow, and a poker room

Almost all of these establishments also offer online casinos – New Jersey is one of the industry leaders in legal online gaming.

You must be at least 21 years to play in person or online.

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New Jersey Sportsbooks & Sports betting

The influence of New Jersey on the sports betting wave that is currently sweeping America can't be overlooked. It was the campaign of the Garden State that went to the Supreme Court, prompting a landmark decision that now permits states to set their own sports betting regulations.

Gambling on sports is sanctioned in New Jersey. Nowadays, it is accessible through nine varied license holders and has become a major victory for tax collecting lawmakers. I suggest we explore this more later.

The Monmouth Park Racetrack initially commenced taking bets in June of 2018, as did the Borgata Ocean Park Casino. Digital sports betting launched at the close of August, and in September, the initial full month of online sports wagering, bookmakers generated $24 million in gross revenue. This covered $2.6 million in tax receipts collected, 11% of that particular month’s total gaming income.

Online sports bets now account for more than half of all sports wagering in New Jersey.

Sports bettors in the Garden State must be at least 21 years old.

Fantasy sports gambling

Daily fantasy sports have been legal and regulated in New Jersey since 2017. Even before then, all major DFS operators were already operating in the state under the assumption that the practice was not illegal due to ambiguous laws.

Fantasy sports operators in New Jersey must apply for a permit from the Division of Consumer Affairs and pay a 10.5% fee on gross revenue to the state each financial quarter. There are also substantial fines levied against DFS companies operating in New Jersey without a state-issued permit.

You must be at least 18 to legally play fantasy sports in New Jersey.

Animal racing

While other states are struggling to maintain their horse racing facilities, New Jersey has three racecourses where you can attend live racing:

• Monmouth Park (Oceanport): 52 days of live thoroughbred racing extending from May through September
• Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment (East Rutherford): 95 days of live harness racing extending from January through December
• Freehold Raceway (Freehold): 83 days of live harness racing extending from January through  May and August through December

The above locations also offer year-round simulcast racing, as do the sportsbooks in the state. There are also a half-dozen other OTB locations in New Jersey.

You must be 18 to place a pari-mutuel wager.

There is no live greyhound racing in New Jersey.

New Jersey Poker Games

There are six live poker rooms in New Jersey, all of them located in Atlantic City. The casinos that host poker are:

• Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa
• Harrah’s Atlantic City
• Tropicana Casino
• Golden Nugget Atlantic City
• Ocean Resort Casino
• Bally’s Atlantic City

New Jersey has also been at the forefront of legalizing and regulating online poker – there are several online poker rooms operating in the state.

All legal live and online poker rooms require players to be at least 21 years old.

Lottery

New Jersey has been operating a legal lottery since 1971. Along with scratch-off tickets, the following draw games can be played:

• Pick 3
• Pick 4
• Jersey Cash 5
• Pick 6
• Cash 4 Life (multi-state)
• Mega Millions (multi-state)
• Powerball (multi-state)

All winning tickets must be cashed in within one year.

You must be at least 18 to purchase a lottery ticket.

Bingo

New Jersey charitable laws allow qualified non-profit organizations to obtain a gaming license for the purpose of hosting bingo games. The following regulations must be observed:

• A $100 application fee must be paid
• A list of all members of the organization must be submitted
• No prize greater than $1,000 may be awarded in any one bingo game
• The value of prizes awarded in a single bingo session must not exceed $3,000
• Financial reports must be filed on the 15th of the month following the month of receipts

You must be at least 18 years old to participate.

You can find weekly bingo games in more than 175 New Jersey cities.

Updated: 07.05.2025