July 14, 2022
Can You Play Poker Online for Real Money in New Jersey?
- You can play online poker for real money in New Jersey at sites like WSOP.com, 888poker, BetMGM Poker, and Borgata Poker Online.
- You must be at least 21 years old to play online poker or other games at an online casino in New Jersey.
- You don’t have to be a New Jersey resident to play online poker in New Jersey, but you must physically be within state lines to login and play
Yes, you can legally and safely play online poker for real money in New Jersey. That’s because there are many legitimate and trustworthy online poker sites. In fact, the top online poker sites in New Jersey are run by or partner with industry titans, like MGM and Caesars.
You can play nearly any type of poker online for small bet amounts or large wagers, depending on your skill level and play style. If you’re new to poker, you can use online poker as a training ground, or you can demonstrate your poker skills and qualify for higher-stakes tournaments to pursue professional poker. Here’s everything you need to know about playing online poker for real money in New Jersey:
Where Can You Play Online Poker in New Jersey?
While you can find live dealer poker at many other online casinos in New Jersey, these are the top online poker sites you can play at:
WSOP.com
The World Series of Poker has its own online poker site that’s available in New Jersey. It’s operated by the same casino company that manages Caesars Casino & Sportsbook, so connecting accounts is easy. Currently, WSOP.com shares a player pool with 888Poker, so there are many players to compete against. What’s more, you can play in online-only tournaments to earn bracelets or play online poker tournaments that qualify you for the WSOP in-person tournaments, including the WSOP Main Event in Las Vegas.
PokerStars
PokerStars is a super recognizable online poker brand, and it has a home in New Jersey. However, the NJ-based site is not connected to the company’s much broader network of other sites and players. That means you’ll only be playing against other PokerStars players in the state of New Jersey. What’s more, PokerStars also has a modest online casino so you can get your slots fix, too.
BetMGM
The newly rebranded BetMGM Sportsbook and Casino also has an online poker site where you can play in the daily tournaments or join the mega tournaments from partners like partypoker. You can use the same account and bankroll as your BetMGM casino or sportsbook account — in fact, they’re all linked together. However, you must download the BetMGM Poker software to play.
888Poker
888Poker is a subsite of 888Casino, so you share the same account and bankroll across the two platforms. As mentioned previously, this site partners with WSOP.com to bring you more players to compete with and awesome tournaments on the regular. This site offers a wide range of poker tables, from Seven Card Stud to Texas Hold ’em to Omaha.
Partypoker
Partypoker is the poker-based subsite of PartyCasino, so you get to have just one account for two solid gaming platforms. This site offers daily tournaments, weekly mega tournaments boasting up to $30,000 in prizes, and regular casual play. You can also play against BetMGM poker players in their Progressive Knockout Tournament. Like BetMGM poker, you must download partypoker’s software to launch and play.
Borgata Poker Online
Borgata’s online NJ casino has a dedicated poker site, Borgata Online Poker. This site partners with BetMGM and partypoker in the Progressive Knockout Tournament, but it also hosts its own daily tourneys and regular daily play. You’ll find Sit & Go tournaments, Omaha, Texas Hold’em, Seven-Card Stud, and other game types. This site has even partnered with World Poker Tour (WPT) for online-only and qualifying tourneys.
Are There Apps for Playing Real Money Online Poker in New Jersey?
Yes, many of the most popular online poker sites in New Jersey also have mobile apps you can download and use to play poker wherever you are within New Jersey state lines. Here are the online poker apps in New Jersey:
- WSOP Real Money Poker – NJ, available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store
- PokerStars, Android download on the PokerStars website or for iOS in the Apple App Store
- BetMGM Poker – New Jersey, available in the Google Play Store
- BetMGM Online Poker, available at the Apple App Store
- 888Poker app, available for Android on the 888Poker website
- 888Poker NJ: Real Money Games, available for iOS on the Apple App Store
- partypoker mobile app, available for Android on the partypoker website
- partypoker – New Jersey, available for iOS on the App Store
- Borgata Poker & Texas Hold ‘Em, available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store
Is It Safe To Play Online Poker in New Jersey?
Yes, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement regulates all online casino and poker sites. This state agency makes sure all online casino sites (including poker sites) provide fair play by regularly reviewing each site’s random number generation-based poker software. When an online poker site passes the DGE’s inspection, they attain or maintain their Internet Gaming Permit. What’s more, online poker sites have advanced security measures to identify and remove poker bots so you’re always playing fair games against real players.
To keep yourself safe while playing online poker in New Jersey, make sure that you’re signing up for an account with a vetted online operator that has an official Internet Gaming Permit. Unlicensed poker rooms and sites don’t complete any regulated testing and may not follow the state’s laws regarding software, betting, taxation, and secure payments.
How Do You Sign Up To Play Real Money Poker Online in New Jersey?
First, research the sites you’re interested in. Read online casino reviews to get to know the kind of player traffic they have, the quality of their customer service, their payout policies, and more. Be sure to also validate that they’re a legit site by looking for information about their Internet Gaming Permit and DGE regulation.
Next, create a new account. You’ll need to provide your full name, home address, phone number, and email address. You may be asked to provide your Social Security number for taxation and ID purposes,and you may also have to provide a photo ID to verify your identity. Make sure all your information is correct as incorrect registration information can be tricky to fix and cause problems down the road when you want to withdraw your winnings.
Finally, select a payment method with which to deposit money into your account. Each site takes a different variety of popular payment methods, including PayPal, Skrill, and other e-wallets, credit or debit cards, instant bank transfers, and PayNearMe transactions.
Do You Have To Live in New Jersey To Play Online Poker?
No, you don’t have to be a New Jersey resident, but you do have to be physically located in New Jersey in order to play. However, you can create and manage your account from anywhere; you just won’t be able to play until you are actually in New Jersey.
Online poker sites and their mobile app counterparts use geolocation services to verify your location when you play. If you are currently located in the state of New Jersey when you want to play but the site is saying you’re not within state lines, you should make sure that:
- Your geolocation services are on (check your computer’s or device’s settings)
- You’re not using a VPN, which shields your IP address (and thus your actual location) while online
How Old Do You Have To Be To Play Online Poker in New Jersey?
You must be 21 or older to play online poker in New Jersey. In general, you must be at least 21 years of age to register an account and play any games at any online casino. This age requirement is the same at brick-and-mortar casinos in New Jersey, too.
Can You Use Bonus Money To Play Online Poker for Real Money in New Jersey?
Many legitimate online poker sites in New Jersey offer some sort of free play bonuses to new and loyal players. These sites typically count 100% of every qualifying bet at the table toward meeting the playthrough requirements. But always check the terms and conditions for the bonus to make sure you can meet the playthrough requirements (including wagering amounts and deadlines). If you’re not able to meet playthrough requirements in time, you may end up forfeiting your winnings.
Some online casinos that offer welcome bonuses and other free-play opportunities may allow you to use these free benefits to play online poker. However, the playthrough requirements (the amount you must wager of your own money before you’re able to withdraw winnings) may be more severe when you use your bonus money on skill-based games, like poker.
That’s because every wager of the qualifying amount may only count a small percentage toward the playthrough. For instance, an online casino accepts 100% of each qualifying wager at the online slots but only accepts 10% of each qualifying wager at the online poker table. That means you’ll have to make 10 qualifying wagers at the poker table compared to just 1 qualifying wager at the online slots. So, it may not be worth your time and money to spend that online casino bonus money at the poker table.
What Are the Perks of Playing Online Poker in New Jersey?
- Lower stakes and buy-ins: That means beginners can practice their poker skills and get used to playing online before going for the big tables and wagering (and potentially losing) larger amounts of money.
- Always an open seat at the table: There are many active players at all hours of the day, so it’s not usually a struggle to find a table.
- Quicker games: On average, online poker games see up to 50 hands per hour, nearly double the amount you’d get at a land-based casino. That’s because online poker sites automatically shuffle and deal the cards and require players to make their decision within a short timeframe.
- Ability to play multiple tables simultaneously: You can play even more games and have even more chances of outwitting your opponents and winning.
- More competition: Some sites have shared state player pools, meaning you get to play with more people from different areas and for bigger pots and prizes.
- Access to tournament play: Many online poker sites offer online tournaments so you can boost your skills and even qualify for huge in-person tournaments.
Need Advice on the Top NJ Online Poker Sites?
It can be time-consuming to research every legitimate online poker site to make sure it has what you need. That’s why we’ve reviewed all the top online casinos in New Jersey, including those that offer online poker, so you don’t have to. Check out our reviews to learn more about these online poker sites to find the one for you.