For many years, Atlantic City, New Jersey, has been the premier gambling location on the East Coast. In many ways, it rivals Las Vegas in Nevada and is able to generate a massive amount of income for players, the casinos, and the state itself. However, the rise of online gambling almost spelled the end of traditional gaming since players could now visit sites closer to home. Luckily for players, the competitiveness of online gambling has driven many casinos to have their own sites where you can create an account and play real games like poker and blackjack through a registered institution.

When choosing the top five online casinos of New Jersey, we had to consider several key factors. The most important ones are how easy it is to create an account and play, what types of games are offered, and what type of software the casinos use. Here are our top picks.

1. Golden Nugget Online Casino

This is one of the top picks for many reasons, not just the fun of the name. This casino might make you feel like a 19th-century prospector because you’ll have struck gold just by making an account. The Golden Nugget has been a casino since 1946 and was one of the first to establish an online presence to better appeal to players. It uses state-of-the-art software and does require a download to function efficiently. However, there are numerous perks.

The Golden Nugget online casinos currently hosts 631 different games including poker, blackjack, roulette, slots, and baccarat. While there is no online poker room, there are still plenty of opportunities to compete against other players. There are multiple live dealer options for blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and Texas Hold ‘em. Many of the slots are licensed by major brands or franchises, including the band KISS and Dungeons and Dragons.

For online playing, the Golden Nugget NJ has one of the most seamless transitions and rapid loading times. Apps are available for Android and iOS smartphones, and there are numerous payment options, player bonuses, and online rewards. Users can deposit into their bankroll using Visa, Mastercard, and even PayPal.

2. Tropicana Online Casino

Tropicana is another casino that was already well established when online gambling became popular, and it was quick to create its own website and software to appeal to gamblers throughout the state of New Jersey. Tropicana is fully registered and has some of the best bonuses for new and repeat players alike. It also regularly doles out rewards and has a great VIP club, making it the best online casino for individuals who like getting freebies out of their games.

Tropicana’s New Jersey online casino has a total of 241 games which include slots, blackjack, roulette, multiple types of poker, and baccarat. It should be noted this casino offers the highest returns on video poker machines anywhere in the state of New Jersey.

There are apps available for Android and iOS, and the computer interface is sleek and streamlined. This casino has rapid loading times and excellent online security. It is possible to deposit money using Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal, and users are able to take advantage of new player casino bonuses.

3. Virgin Online Casino

Virgin NJ online casino is on this list because it is perhaps one of the most consistent and well-rounded of all the virtual casinos in New Jersey.

What does this mean?

This is a great casino that is lacking some of the distinctions of the Golden Nugget or Tropicana. It has a modest number of games — 236 to be exact — and offers all of the favorites like poker, blackjack, roulette, and slots. It has bonuses, as well, but not as many as Tropicana. The software works well but took longer to develop than that of rival casinos. Simply put, it falls in the middle for most measurable attributes.

Virgin does offer a polished player experience that works well for individuals across any device. It is an excellent casino choice for new players looking to get their feet wet with online gambling.

4. 888 Online Casino

The 888 online casino is affiliated with Caesars Casino in Las Vegas and is a highly polished technical delight for players who enjoy a broad range of games. There are over 254 offerings from this casino, with numerous selections like progressive jackpots that are not available from other online casinos.

It is with these offerings that the 888 truly stands out. The graphics and software are stellar and work on phones, tablets, and regular computers without difficulty. Customer support is also great, and there are a reasonable number of bonuses available to new and regular players alike.

The bankroll is additionally easy to navigate, and you can add money to your account using Visa, Mastercard, or PayPal. The one catch to the games is there are no live dealers, and if you want to play with other real people, you might be disappointed.

Instead, the 888 is recommended if you care about graphics and want more complex offerings like progressive slot jackpots.

5. BetMGM Online Casino

BetMGM is the last NJ online casino that you definitely need to know about. It was created when MGM Resorts International bought out Boyd Gaming Corporation’s interest in the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa. The result was a competent online casino that features over 412 games and a great loyalty program.

If you choose this casino, you gain access to hundreds of slots, a selection of poker games, and you can also other popular casino games like blackjack, roulette, keno, and baccarat. Additionally, online banking is simple with seamless deposit and withdrawal options. However, one of the more memorable features is definitely the loyalty program, which rewards players every time they choose to play on the platform.

You have a lot of options when it comes to gambling online in New Jersey, and while there are 20+ legal casinos at your disposal — you may want to consider the five above to start, as they are some of the more popular NJ online casinos.