Poker is one of the most popular casino games around the world, and online poker has taken off over the last few decades thanks to televised events like the WSOP. If you’re considering playing NJ online poker, then you’ll want to read this article.

In the competitive online casino industry, video slot machines are king because of the easy programming, the new graphics technologies, and the insane variety. However, the best online casinos feature robust poker games, variations, live dealers, and even online tournaments. For the more strategy-minded online gamblers, poker is the game of choice.

Choosing which to play is a serious question, but using the infrastructure of Atlantic City’s major casino brands, the New Jersey online casinos have some of the best poker programs around. For those that want gambling experiences as authentic to the land-based casino experience as possible, the New Jersey Online casino market is the place to go, whether you’re playing in your off-time or hoping to win big.

Infrastructure

The first reason why New Jersey online casinos are so popular for poker players is the infrastructure of the long-standing land-based casinos in Atlantic City. These, like the Golden Nugget Hotel and Resort, Tropicana, and Caesars Resorts, are established name brands whose partnerships with online software developers and other casino brands have created an environment perfectly suited for competitive options in online gambling.

Each of the nine major Atlantic City casinos has its own online partners and virtual poker options. This gives you more options than anywhere in terms of established franchises operating legal, accredited, and acclaimed poker games online. Here are two of the major players in this competitive industry and why you should play at each (or both) of them.

888 Poker

Since 2013, 888 Poker has been a frontrunner in the New Jersey online casino scene. Though many players have different preferences, it is widely regarded as a top option in New Jersey and elsewhere for online poker games.

The first thing people notice about 888 Poker is its marketing-driven upfront bonuses that range from $8 to $88 depending on when you do it. In fact, many of their promotions are some of the best in the business, offering players enticing deposit bonuses at 100%, and many other seasonal promotions that you should stay on top of if you want to make the most of signing up with them.

However, there are two main reasons besides those that 888 Poker is a frontrunner in the online poker scene: its casual audience and Instant Play format.

A format tailored to a casual audience means lower stakes and more accessible game formats, things that are soft-core at 888 Poker in comparison to other sites. This is mirrored in their more casual, user-friendly presentation. This site isn’t for elitist players, but for casual poker gamers that want to get better at the game and win some money in a lower-stakes environment.

That doesn’t mean that 888 Poker isn’t intense: they still put out great games with big pots, lots of options, and they have the professional dealer base you’d expect from a casino sponsored by some of the best in the world. They just focus on more casual clientele. If that’s you, 888 Poker is probably your site of choice.

WSOP

WSOP.com is one of the most trafficked and respected brands of online poker in New Jersey. The reason is that it’s the only site in New Jersey that takes advantage of the multi-state online gaming compact, which means that its pool of players extends not only throughout New Jersey but to Nevada and Delaware as well.

This means that WSOP is an interstate poker environment that fosters competition among the best poker players in the three major gambling states. There’s no online casino with as many dedicated poker services as the network of WSOP-affiliated casinos.

WSOP operates through the Caesars license and runs on the same software as the 888 Poker casino. WSOP, however, is tailored to more experienced players, with higher stakes in its big-bet poker games than the smaller fish at 888. Six-max and nine-handed tables at WSOP have frequented high stakes games for the more elite players, with stakes as high as $100/$200.

Since WSOP shares its clients with the All American Poker Network, you can be sure that you’re playing with the most serious players from all around. Its single tables, lottery poker programs, and tournaments are the best in the business.

Instant Play

The Instant Play format of many New Jersey online casinos like 888 Poker is one of the biggest draws to their services. Instant Play, as opposed to download play, means that you don’t need a dedicated software client to download any files to play at casinos that advertise it.

This not only lets you play your favorite poker games right from your browser to avoid the risk of viruses, but it gets you in the game quickly without worrying about software requirements or configurations. Instant Play is the most convenient option for online poker software and the New Jersey casinos that offer it have become some of the most popular for that reason.

The Takeaway

If there’s one thing you should take away from this list it’s that no single poker site is the best for all types of players (though thankfully, New Jersey has access to a lot of them). To make the right choice for you, you have to know what kind of player you are or hope to be in terms of your competitiveness, your willingness to take big risks, your skill level, and your experience.

888 Poker is softcore in all these factors, whereas other sites like WSOP are for more elite players. PokerStars is another popular and well-known option, as well as many others.

Due to its proximity to some of the most successful casinos in the world, the online casino market in New Jersey has some of the most trafficked national poker tournaments, advanced software, and authentic games. Whether you consider yourself to be a casual or elite poker player, the online casino industry in New Jersey has something for you.