Is There Online Poker In Nj

4/1/2022

New Jersey is a hub of the live and online poker scene in the northeast. From major events at Atlantic City properties like the Borgata to one of the best legal online poker markets, the state is a leader in poker. On this page we cover all the legalities of playing online poker for New Jersey residents and visitors, operators’ safety and security measures, and some information about all the major operators in the state. True, there is a lot of trust involved with relying on the poker sites without HUD support to follow up on cheating claims, but there's a lot of trust involved with the free market that is online poker to begin with.

The New Jersey online poker market came to fruition less than a decade ago. Since then, the state has become a leader in both the number of players and platform variety.

All legally-licensed online poker sites are safe and legitimate thanks to regulations imposed by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement. If you’re ever unsure if an online poker site is legit, simply visit their website to review the complete list.

The rates for rake (commission fee charged by the online poker site) is between 5 and 7 percent and depends on the tournament or game.

New Jersey also has shared-liquidity, or interstate player pools, with Delaware and Nevada. That means you can play against folks in both states as well as any other states that legalize online poker and join those pools.

List Of Legal Online Poker Sites In New Jersey

This is the complete list of legal New Jersey online poker sites in alphabetical order:

888Poker
BetMGM Poker
Borgata Poker
Pala Poker
Party Poker
PokerStars
WSOP.com

888Poker

888Poker has had its ups and downs since its New Jersey launch in November 2013.

The 888Poker site saw impressive numbers initially. The site saw a steady revenue decline in 2017, 2018, and 2019 until COVID-19 shuttered land-based casinos in 2020. They’ve since bounced back as have other online poker sites.

The land-based partner is Caesars Palace Atlantic City, which 888Poker shares with WSOP.com. Because of this, the two online poker platforms often combine player pools for tournaments and cash games.

BetMGM Poker

BetMGM Poker’s land-based partner is Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, and it launched in 2017 as playMGM.

While it’s not the most popular option as a stand-alone, BetMGM NJ is part of the PartyPoker network. That means playing at BetMGM also means you can play against players at PartyPoker as well as Borgata Poker.

The reason you’d want to play here over the other two is access to the BetMGM online casino and sportsbook in NJ.

Borgata Poker

The Borgata Poker site is the exact same as the MGM site except for the logo. They both have the same tournaments, promotions, and player pool. The sportsbook odds between the two are the same.

The only slight difference between Borgata and MGM is the online casino. While the catalog is practically identical, you can find a few more titles at Borgata. If you like to play online casino games as well as poker, we’d recommend comparing the two in that regard.

Otherwise, there’s no significant difference.

PalaPoker

PalaPoker is also a Borgata Hotel Casino partner, same as BetMGM and PartyPoker. However, it does not share a player pool, which makes it easy to wonder why it even exists. There’s virtually no one in the poker rooms.

PalaPoker does have a few decent promotions, though, including a No Deposit Bonus. So it might be worthwhile to join for that, play as much as you can, then withdraw and play elsewhere.

Even the PalaPoker website itself looks dated. Its future is uncertain.

PartyPoker

PartyPoker is one of the best options among the many New Jersey online poker sites. As a Borgata Hotel Casino partner, it shares a player pool with Borgata Poker as well as BetMGM.

It’s also the biggest name among these shared-network brands. That means it will be the last one to go out of business (if any do), so you won’t have to worry about migrating your account.

The only downside to PartyPoker is the lack of an online sportsbook. If you enjoy betting on sports and want access to the PartyPoker player pool, join BetMGM or Borgata Poker.

PokerStars

PokerStars has the highest number of players than any other brand in the world. And while New Jersey players can’t legally compete against folks overseas, it’s a testament to the PokerStars NJ overall quality.

PokerStars NJ officially launched in March 2016. Its land-based partner is Resorts Casino Hotel Atlantic City. And the promotions, large player pool, and huge tournament prizes make this well-worth considering for both new players and seasoned online poker pros alike.

WSOP.com

While PokerStars is the biggest name in online poker, the World Series of Poker (WSOP) is the biggest name in poker, period.

This Caesars affiliate also shares a player pool with folks in Nevada, Delaware, and members of 888Poker. You can also play online at WSOP.com to qualify for the World Series that takes place annually in Las Vegas.

WSOP.com’s New Jersey launch was November 21, 2013, making this brand among the first legally licensed platforms in the state.

Learn more in our complete Guide To Online Gambling In New Jersey.

What Is The Biggest Online Poker Site In New Jersey?

The biggest individual online poker site in New Jersey—by both revenue and number of players—is PokerStars NJ. This brand also happens to be one of the largest online poker sites in the world. In April 2020, they brought in $2,066,293.

However, the All American Poker Network encompasses both WSOP.com and 888Poker. According to an 888Poker press release, “Micro and low-limit cash games and select tournaments will be part of the shared liquidity.”

WSOP.com NJ made $1,862,004 in April 2020, which means PokerStars NJ beat it by $204,289. And revenue is a reflection of player variety as well as tournament size and cash game win potential.

While a search for 888Poker’s April 2020 revenue proved unsuccessful, it did see a 60 percent jump in traffic that month. It’s also one of the most well-known brands in the world of online gambling. So it’s a very safe bet that WSOP.com and 888Poker combined create the biggest online poker site in New Jersey.

Also, the only live online poker site in Delaware is 888, and the only one live in Nevada is WSOP.com. So the only way to take advantage of New Jersey’s shared-liquidity across state lines is through 888Poker and WSOP.com.

Does New Jersey Share Online Poker Player Pools With Any Other States?

Yes. New Jersey shares online poker player pools with Nevada and Delaware.

However, Nevada’s only licensed online poker site is WSOP.com. If you’re in Delaware, your only option is 888Poker. So New Jersey online poker players looking to take advantage of liquidity-sharing need to join one of those two sites.

Thankfully, WSOP.com and 888Poker share a player pool, so joining one or the other gives you access to it all.

If the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board allows online poker sites to share player pools, that would mean twice as many players. (PA has as many residents as New Jersey, Delaware, and Nevada combined.)

Since PokerStars PA is the number one choice in that state, that would mean PokerStars would have the biggest player pool in New Jersey.

But, for now, that title goes to All American Poker Network, which consists of WSOP.com and 888Poker – and extends to NJ, DE, and NV.

Do New Jersey’s Online Poker Sites Offer Mobile Apps?

Yes. All legally-licensed New Jersey online poker sites have a mobile app for both iOS and Android. They’re all also download-only for desktop versions, meaning you can’t play a flash version of any poker site directly on its website.

Different real-money poker apps are distinguished by their individual quality. If you play online poker on your phone, we highly recommend looking into the reviews before joining.

A common complaint is that the app can be glitchy and quit. That would be devastating if you’re in the middle of a tournament or a high-stakes hand. In fact, it would be grounds to never play at that poker app again.

Generally speaking, it’s probably best to play tournaments on your desktop. The computing power greatly reduces the chances that your app will quit unexpectedly. If you’re using an older mobile device, that can further increase the chances of poker app issues.

This is not meant to scare anyone out of playing online poker via a mobile app. A few have glowing reviews. The ones with consistently bad marks are working to improve their performance.

It’s also worth noting that many of these online poker brands have been operating through desktop apps since the 1990s. Mobile apps are comparatively new, so there’s a bit of a learning curve that’s to be expected.

For Android Users: Steps For Downloading A Poker App

Visit the online poker website from your Android device.
Download the app directly from the site.
Sign in or create an account through the app.
You can now deposit, play, and cashout, all on your Android app.

It is required to turn on your location tracking. The Google Play store also does not allow gambling apps, which is why you need to download it directly from the online poker site.

For iOS Users: Steps For Downloading A Poker App

Search the app store or visit the online poker website and use their direct App Store link.
Download the New Jersey version of the online poker app.
Create an account or log in to an existing one.
Accept location tracking (it’s required!)
From here, you’re able to make deposits, play in all tournaments and games, and withdraw.

What Online Poker Bonuses Are Available In New Jersey?

Because New Jersey online poker sites are competing against one another, each will have its own promotional offers. However, all offers fall under the following categories:

No Deposit Bonus

No Deposit Bonuses give players free money just for signing up.

At 888Poker NJ, you can receive a $20 signup bonus that consists of $10 in free play money, six tournament tickets, and $4 in bonus cash. No deposit is required. There are also no stipulations. This means you can withdraw any money using this 888Poker NJ No Deposit Bonus without worrying about playthrough requirements.

First-Deposit Match Bonus

This one comes with a few stipulations. Every online poker site offers the deposit-match bonus, including PokerStars, PartyPoker, 888, and WSOP.

For example, the PokerStars NJ version doubles your first deposit up to $600. As you buy tournament tickets or pay the rake, you earn points. The more points you earn, the more of your bonus money gets unlocked.

The playthrough requirement is usually 1x.

Reload Bonus

The reload bonus is the same as the first-deposit match bonus. The only difference is that it applies to when you add money to your account, or “reload” your bankroll.

Freerolls

Freeroll tournaments are promotional tournaments that are free to enter but have real-money pots. At PokerStars NJ, the “Start-Up Freeroll” tournament is open to all first-time depositors. But at 888Poker, there are daily, weekly, and monthly freerolls.

Free Tournament Tickets

A lot of deposit promotions at online poker sites in New Jersey include free tournament buy-ins. At WSOP.com, the Mystery Blast Offer gives depositors a randomly-generated tournament ticket.

Leaderboard Prize Pools

Leaderboard tournaments are commonly held at all major New Jersey online poker sites. At PokerStars New Jersey, placing in the top 15 percent of a tournament scores leaderboard points. The players with the most points at the end of the promo period receive a slice of the prize pool.

New Jersey Online Poker FAQ

What is the age minimum for playing at New Jersey online poker sites?

You have to be 21 years or older to play online poker in New Jersey. The same applies to playing at a brick-and-mortar casino anywhere in the Garden State, including Atlantic City. You also have to be 21 to play at NJ online casinos and NJ online sportsbooks.

Is DraftKings online poker offered in New Jersey?

Technically speaking, no. DraftKings New Jersey runs an online casino and sportsbook platform separate from other Resorts Casino Hotel Atlantic City partner products. While the DraftKings NJ casino has casino poker, it does not offer player vs. player poker.

However, DraftKings does share Resorts Casino as a land-based casino partner with PokerStars NJ. But PokerStars is owned by The Stars Group, which runs the FOX Bet NJ sportsbook. That means you can use your PokerStars NJ account to bet at the FOX Bet sportsbook, but not the DraftKings sportsbook.

Licensing in New Jersey is all over the place. But the bottom line is that DraftKings NJ does not offer online poker.

PokerStars New Jersey is available for download through a unique URL specifically for NJ players. There, you can download the desktop version of the platform as well as find a direct link to the apps.

Because PokerStars has products specific to various states, each one has its own URL. For example, the PokerStars Pennsylvania URL is also unique to the state.

What are the deposit methods available at New Jersey online poker sites?

New Jersey poker sites accept all major methods of payment for deposits. These include:

Visa and MasterCard debit or credit
PayNearMe locations (cash deposits)
Direct bank transfer
Echeck
PayPal
Skrill

You also have the option to deposit at the partnering land-based casino cage.