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Gambling has always been popular in New Jersey but was theoretically forbidden in the state from 1894 until 1934. Racetrack betting was made legal in 1938 but was terminated in 2006, that same year, the UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act) essentially made all forms of online betting illegal.

Fast forward to 2012, and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie decided to legalise sports betting once more, following a two-thirds majority result in a referendum. Initially, several sporting operations, including the NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL filed lawsuits to have this decision overturned, fearing match-fixing. They won, and sports betting was once again off the menu.

The Supreme Court first heard an appeal in 2017, and a verdict overturning the decision was made in 2018. On June 11 of that year, the new Governor of New Jersey, Phil Murphy, officially brought Assembly Bill 4111 into effect, which finally legalised sports betting in the state.

There are no plans (and potentially new avenues) for the major sporting enterprises to overturn the decision of the Supreme Court. In effect, this means that sports betting in New Jersey is here to stay, for the time being at least .

Despite sports betting in New Jersey being legal, there are a few restrictions and regulations in place. First and foremost, only licensed casinos in the state can offer sports betting, as well as four racetrack venues inside the state. No other premises are permitted to offer sports betting in the state. Moreover, any online sportsbooks which wish to offer sports betting must belong to one of the land-based, brick-and-mortar casinos.

Secondly, only players active inside the state of New Jersey are permitted to gamble on sports. Any resident of neighbouring states can, in theory, venture over the state line into New Jersey and place a physical bet on sports at a racetrack or in a brick-and-mortar casino. They are out of luck when it comes to online betting, though. Only players resident in the state of New Jersey are permitted to sign up for an account at a New Jersey site, which is where all online sports bets are taken.

Lastly, any online casino which does offer sports betting must be licensed by the New Jersey gambling authorities, the New Jersey Gambling Control Commission. Any site which is not licensed by this authority is not permitted to offer gambling games of any kind (including sports bets) to players in the state.

It is also worth noting that while major sporting events such as NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB can be wagered on, some college sports are out. The original bill by then-Governor Chris Christie permitted betting on college sports, but not those which took place inside the state, or involved any of the state’s own teams. That still appears to be the case. In effect, it means that you can bet on any sporting events, just not one which involves any New Jersey college team. Having a punt on professional teams based in New Jersey is still very much on the table, though.

There are several methods via which a New Jersey-based player can wager on sports. For players who aren’t residing in the state, popping along to a New Jersey racetrack or land-based casino is the most obvious answer. However, if you reside inside the state, you have a few more options open to you.

New Jersey residents are entitled to use their mobile gaming devices (such as apps) or online casinos (and sportsbooks) to place bets on their favourite sporting events. Not all New Jersey casinos offer sports betting capabilities, and again, not all are mobile-friendly. Those which are, most certainly  should be options you may wish to consider.

A few New Jersey casinos are licensed to offer sports betting games without having a physical land-based casino presence in the state. William Hill and 888 both run these types of sportsbooks. DraftKings, FanDuel, PointsBet, Bet365, Bet America and The Score represent other licensed companies which permit sports betting online.

Of course, many New Jersey players wish to bet on casino games, too. This means that local, land-based venues which offer sports betting are often very appealing. Some of the more recognisable casinos in Atlantic City (and beyond) which offer sports gambling include Caesars Casino, SugarHouse, MGM, Resorts Casino, Golden Nugget, and even Hard Rock.

Many New Jersey sportsbooks do offer welcome bonuses to their players, particularly when they sign up to play online. The chances of snapping up such deals in a land-based venue are remote at best. These deals may require promotional bonus codes to claim, although they are typically found on the casino/sportsbook’s promotions page. Similarly, exclusive one-off promos on sporting events are not unheard of.

A decent New Jersey sportsbook will provide players with access to a range of additional gaming content, such as slots and table games. They will also be able to deliver customer support around the clock, as well as deliver legal payment methods for players to use. These are certainly things worth considering before you decide to wager on sports at any New Jersey betting site.

However you decide to go about it, always ensure that you sign up at a legal venue, which is licensed by the New Jersey Gambling Control Commission. Only these entities have the authority to provide legitimate sports betting opportunities for players such as yourself inside the state of New Jersey.