Best Online Poker Rooms in New Jersey

Get started with legal online poker with a great welcome bonus.

Rank
Our Rating
Welcome Bonus
Highlights
#1
$150 Freeplay
& 100% bonus up to $600
  • Great MTT Schedule
  • Quality Software
  • Mixed Games Offered
#2
100% up to $1000
& up to $75 in MTT tickets
  • Huge Welcome Bonus
  • Solid Traffic
  • Regular MTT Series
#3
100% up to $1000
& up to $75 in MTT tickets
  • Nice Welcome Offer
  • Established Operator
  • Shared Player Pool w/BetMGM
#4
Up to $100 Extra
& 100% bonus up to $1000
  • Top Quality Bonus
  • WSOP Bracelet Events
  • Interstate Shared Liquidity
#5
100% up to $600
on first deposit of $10+
  • Regular MTT Series
  • Shared Player Pool w/BetMGM
  • Valuable Daily MTTs

If you are looking for the most comprehensive reviews of New Jersey’s top online poker sites, NJ Gaming Review is exactly what you’re looking for. Our honest reviews include everything you need to know before joining an online casino, sportsbook, or poker site. This includes licensing information and all the latest news and updates. You can also quickly view all available bonuses to find the perfect New Jersey online poker room for you. We also review New Jersey online casinos and sportsbooks Many operators also let you seamlessly game across all their apps and sites using your poker account.

While online casinos were legalized in 2011, it was not until 2013 that most major online poker sites launched. The state is home to many famous poker room operators. Some famous names include BetMGM, WSOP, and PokerStars. These trusted names ensure that New Jersey’s poker sites are 100% legitimate and safe. Of course, it is always best to check our reviews for any site specifics before joining. We provide a complete look at its licensing and legal details.

Online Poker in New Jersey

New Jersey first legalized online gambling in 2011, although sites had to be hosted on servers located in licensed Atlantic City casinos. The bill was revised in 2013, allowing all 11 of Atlantic City’s casinos to operate online gambling sites. By 2017, the state offered 12 online casino brands. There are three major online poker networks in New Jersey.

  • PokerStars
  • BETMGM
  • WSOP

Aside from these famous operators, there are a number of smaller poker operators in the state. One example is Pala Poker, an online poker brand with few regular players.

PokerStars New Jersey

PokerStars is the world’s largest online poker operator and one of New Jersey’s leading regulated poker sites. The company has partnered with the Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, giving the site a physical presence in New Jersey to certify its legitimacy. The brand launched in 2001 and has since expanded worldwide. New Jersey players first gained access to the site in 2016.

In 2023, PokerStars NJ combined its player pool with PokerStars MI, following Michigan joining the MSIGA in 2022. The operator was first to seize the opportunity provided by this development, creating a platform that brought players from the two states together, resulting in better liquidity, which translated into even bigger tournaments and more active cash game tables around the clock.

PokerStars has also become a leading competitive poker site. It has sponsored many live poker tournaments, including the European Poker Tour. The operator even sponsors a professional poker team that includes former WSOP champion Chris Moneymaker.

One of the site’s main attractions is the many opportunities for players to take part in regular online tournaments. The site’s Multi-Table Tournaments (MTTs), such as the weekly Sunday Million, feature prize pools up to $1 million. These attract thousands of poker fans on a regular basis. The largest featured almost 60,000 players.

The World Championship of Online Poker is another famous event where the world’s best online poker players compete. The WSOP winners for 2003 and 2004 even qualified for this event through PokerStars tournaments. All the most popular poker types are available for tournament play, including:

  • Texas Hold 'em
  • Omaha
  • Seven Card Stud
  • Razz
  • Five Card Draw

BetMGM Poker New Jersey

BetMGM is one of the most famous online gambling operators, thanks to the success of the reputable Borgata Hotel and Casino, which the company partly owns. The brand’s parent company, MGM Resorts International, has a long history stretching back to 1987. Its BetMGM brand has been partly owned by the international gambling company Etain since 2018.

Etain also runs partypoker, one of the world’s largest poker rooms. This led to a partnership between partypoker, BetMGM, and Borgata Poker, a poker site run by Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa. These sites form the partypoker US Network, which features three skins to choose from for each of its members. This lets you customize your online poker experience to suit your preferences. You can pick between:

  • BetMGM Poker
  • Partypoker
  • Borgata Poker

All of these skins use the same poker software provided by partypoker. They also share a common player base in New Jersey, letting you play with others in the state no matter which skin you use.

WSOP New Jersey

WSOP New Jersey is the official online poker network of the legendary World Series of Poker tournaments. It is also the state’s largest poker site. You can even compete for official WSOP bracelets in certain events. The site was the first multi-state online poker network, allowing New Jersey players to play with others from Delaware and Nevada. This is made possible by the newly introduced shared liquidity that lets states share the same pool of players. Before this, players could only play against people from the same state since each state has its own gambling laws and regulations.

July 2021 saw the launch of WSOP Pennsylvania featuring Poker 8 software, the latest version of 888poker’s software. Poker 8 has become the standard online poker technology for sites worldwide. It features a modern, streamlined design with more filters to help you find the perfect table. These include filters for poker type, speed, and buy-in amount, making tournament play easier for participants. The mobile client is even more impressive, letting you play up to four tables at once by swiping between them.

Unfortunately, the mobile client is not yet available in the US. This is the first time a US poker site has received the Poker 8 software, even after being adopted in many other countries during the last 18 months. New Jersey expects to receive this stylish and accessible platform later in 2021.

Multi-State Online Poker in New Jersey

New Jersey joined the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) in 2017, creating a three-state pact at the time with Nevada and Delaware. This led to a host of benefits for players thanks to shared liquidity. In 2022, Michigan joined the MSIGA as well, opening brand-new opportunities for the operators.

WSOP

In 2015, WSOP also began sharing liquidity with 888poker, one of the world’s leading online poker rooms. Although some games are not shared, the bulk of games on these sites are playable between multiple states.

This led to WSOP New Jersey allowing players from other states besides Nevada to participate in tournaments and win WSOP bracelets. Also, Nevada’s own WSOP site currently shares liquidity with racinos in Denver and WSOP New Jersey.

One of the most recent launches was WSOP Pennsylvania in July 2021. This led to the state’s first official bracelet tournaments. WSOP Michigan went live at the end of March, 2022, and with Michigan now a part of the MSIGA, we expect that the operator will soon combine its WSOP MI pool with NJ, NV, and DE rooms, further bolstering the already-strong multi-state network.

Shared liquidity has had a massive impact on the revenue of WSOP and 888poker. In the few years since New Jersey debuted shared liquidity in April and May 2018, the partnership has become the state’s top-earning online poker network.

Partypoker US Network

BetMGM Poker expanded to Michigan in 2021, with plans to incorporate shared liquidity in the near future. Currently, there is no partypoker brand and no indication of Borgata Poker.

Pennsylvania also gained access to BetMGM Poker and Borgata Poker in April 2021. Again, there is no partypoker brand yet, and it is still uncertain when players can expect to see shared liquidity come into play.

The network is also looking to launch in Nevada as the possibility of shared liquidity grows. This would allow the state to combine its player pool with New Jersey and Michigan over the partypoker US Network. Currently, the site’s license is still pending approval. Launches in Connecticut and West Virginia are also a possibility in the future.

PokerStars

PokerStars was quick to take advantage of the latest developments in the multi-state poker arena, as they became the first operator to utilize opportunities provided by Michigan joining the MSIGA. Namely, at the start of 2023, the operator combined its NJ and MI player pools, creating a platform where players from both states can play together.

PokerStars also operates in Pennsylvania, and there is no doubt the room will seek to take advantage of any multi-state opportunities there. At the moment, PA is not a member of the MSIGA, but there is a high possibility of this happening, and it seems like PokerStars would be the first room seize the opportunity presented by such a development.

Benefits of Shared Liquidity

Shared liquidity allows users from many states to play together. One of the key benefits is larger tournaments with bigger prize pools. Online poker sites using shared liquidity will have more users and longer peak hours. This makes it easier to find populated tables.

The availability of tables allows for fast-fold poker. This game type lets you fold at any time and immediately join another table. Spin-and-Go/Sit-and-Go tournaments can also fill faster thanks to the higher player count. Live Poker in the US will especially benefit from an interconnected poker network. People in New Jersey could play at the same table as players from across the country.

The ability to play at different poker sites no matter where you live has let players access more poker variants. Poker types that were previously only available in certain states are now open to everyone. States that were previously uninterested in implementing online poker can now benefit from poker-only legislation.

Types of Online Poker Bonuses Available in New Jersey

Bonuses are one of the most important things to look at before choosing a poker site. If a site does not reward its players enough, then they will leave and find another one that offers better incentives to play.

The most common type of online poker bonus is the Welcome Bonus. These are usually awarded after you have created an account and made your first deposit, giving you a headstart on the site. While rewards are frequently based on your deposited amount, some sites offer no deposit bonuses just for registering.

Regular deposit bonuses, often called Reload Bonuses, provide all players with a constant stream of rewards. These are usually available on the same day every week or month, letting you earn a deposit bonus on a regular basis.

Reward programs allow players to earn points and benefits just from playing on the site. Aside from extra money and free bets, players can often claim unique benefits at a site’s land-based casino partner once they have earned enough loyalty points.

Competitive poker players will want to look for sites that offer tournament ticket bonuses that grant free entry to certain events. Sites usually offer a mix of ticket types and values, letting you try out a variety of tournaments.

How to Play Online Poker Legally in New Jersey

Legality and safety are two of the most important parts of a good online poker site, as real-money games are always a target for cybercriminals. Make sure to check whether an online poker room is properly licensed and regulated in New Jersey before joining.

How to Tell If a Poker Site Is Legal and Regulated

The easiest way to check the legitimacy of a poker site is to look for the New Jersey gaming regulator seal on the homepage. This ensures the site’s activities are held to the state’s safety regulations to protect your data.

All online poker rooms in New Jersey need to be associated with a land-based casino. You should always look for information on the site about its casino and hotel partnerships to confirm its legitimacy. When you sign up, you should also be told which states the site is legal in.

Poker rooms that do not provide this information are usually risky offshore sites that are not headquartered or regulated in the US. If you play on an unregulated offshore site, you could very well be putting your personal info, financial info, identity, and credit at serious risk. Since these sites operate outside of state and federal jurisdiction, no legal action can be taken if you fall victim to cybercrimes or other illicit activities on these sites.

Legal poker sites will always provide a phone number to contact customer service and provide real support. Licensed sites also usually have a rewards program that grants real bonuses to players. These features are often unavailable on unregulated poker networks.

There are many recognizable names that have already established themselves as safe and legal poker operators. Make sure to research the site and operator beforehand to see if they have a good reputation in New Jersey. You can check the reviews and info right here on MI Gaming Review and feel confident that any online poker room, casino, or sportsbook that we write about is 100% legal and safe. You can also check the official list of licensed operators on the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement’s website.

How to Choose the Best Online Poker Site in New Jersey

Safety is always the biggest concern to new players choosing an online poker site. Once you have determined that a site is legal and regulated, you can start reviewing all the extra bonuses and features that make each site unique.

New Jersey poker sites offer some of the best New Jersey online poker apps, which are a big draw for poker fans. These apps let them play at tables from anywhere and avoid missing out on important events. Of course, make sure you are using a licensed and regulated app directly from the poker operator.

Welcome bonuses are the first rewards that new users will receive when registering at a poker site and most operators showcase their most valuable bonuses here. Search around until you find a welcome offer with the most inticing rewards that are usable on your favorite poker types.

Once you have claimed your welcome offer, most sites let you qualify for a rewards program right away. The most common type of loyalty program awards points whenever you place a poker bet and these points then determine your rewards tier. Each operator offers unique benefits to earn, and many even feature rewards to claim at the site’s land-based casino partner. If you are interested in betting on sports or playing casino games in addition to poker, you can look for an operator that offers these options under one convenient user account letting you earn rewards across all its sites.

If you are planning on playing poker regularly on a site, you should make sure there are good promotions available. These are the primary ways that online poker rooms reward frequent users. New Jersey online poker promotions come in many different types, so always check beforehand to see if they cater to your preferences.

Of course, every New Jersey poker site should aim to make banking as convenient as possible. Payment methods vary between sites and might not offer the service that you use the most. It is important to check what deposit and withdrawal methods are available and how long the site takes to process your transactions. Finding these options should also be quick and easy so you can get back into a game.

How to Start Playing Online Poker in New Jersey

If you are confused about where to start once you have chosen an online poker site in New Jersey, our reviews help simplify the process. You can follow the link we provide to go directly to the site, where you will easily find the registration option. Most poker room operators make sure that the sign-up option is easily visible to help new players.

Now you can start creating your account by entering your personal details onto the registration forms. Some common information you need to provide includes:

  • Full name
  • Address
  • Email and phone number
  • SSN

Choose a username and password to finish signing up. Now that you have a unique account, all features on the site will become available.

The site might then ask you to verify your identity by providing a handful of identification documents. This helps the site prevent anyone else from accessing your account and helps process your transaction faster. You might not be able to make a deposit without going through the verification process.

Most online poker rooms offer an app that lets you play games and participate in events on the go. You can also access important features like deposits, withdrawals, and customer support when you do not have access to a computer.

Before you can start playing, you need to make your first deposit. Navigate to your account page on the app or desktop site and pick your preferred deposit method. Most sites will process your payment in just a few minutes.

Depending on the site, your first deposit may award you with a welcome bonus. These usually consist of extra cash based on your deposited amount. You can also register for additional New Jersey online poker bonuses once you have started playing. Make sure to check the promotions page for the latest offers and their terms and conditions. Ongoing and upcoming tournaments are also displayed here for you to enter.

FAQs

When Did New Jersey Start Allowing Legal Online Poker?

Online poker in New Jersey became legal in 2013 when the state started allowing online gambling. Initially, there were many restrictions, and the servers for every poker site had to be located at a physical casino in Atlantic City. The bill was revised in 2013 to allow many of the state’s poker operators to launch their poker networks simultaneously.

Is New Jersey Online Poker Rigged?

No, New Jersey online poker is guaranteed to be fair and randomly generated. Gambling sites in the state are usually partnered with a physical casino to ensure their legitimacy and accountability. The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement also regulates all poker rooms and holds them to industry standards of fair play.

Who Can Play Online Poker in New Jersey?

Anyone can play online poker in New Jersey, even if you do not live there. The only requirements are that you create an account on a regulated poker site and are within the state’s borders when you play. Of course, you will need to return to New Jersey anytime you want to access your account.

Does New Jersey Have Multi-State Online Poker?

Yes, New Jersey has multi-state online poker between Nevada and Delaware, with plans for shared liquidity with other states later in 2021. New Jersey joined MSIG in 2017 to create this three-state pact. Then, in 2022, Michigan became the fourth state to join the MSIGA, which led to PokerStars NJ combining its player pool with the Michigan site early in 2023.

Is it Safe to Play Online Poker in New Jersey?

Yes, New Jersey’s top online poker sites are operated by the state’s leading land-based casinos. This ensures the poker network is safe and tied to a reputable company. All online poker rooms are also regulated by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement. You can safely join any New Jersey online poker site without worrying about its legality.

Can I Play Online Poker in New Jersey on My Phone?

Yes, many New Jersey poker sites offer players a mobile app that lets you play online poker on your phone. New Jersey mobile poker apps usually include all features of the desktop site, such as banking options and customer service. It also lets you keep track of the latest tournaments and promotions to not miss out on limited-time events.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call the Virginia Council on Problem Gambling (VACPG) helpline at 1-888-532-3500

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