Gambling has always been a big draw for people looking for fun and excitement. But for a long time, the only options were to visit casinos in person or bet at racetracks. That all changed when New Jersey made online gambling legal a few years back. Now gamblers in the Garden State can play casino games, bet on sports, join online poker games and more all from their laptop or smartphone.
One of the biggest benefits of legalized online casinos in New Jersey is how convenient it has become to play casino games like slots, blackjack and roulette without ever leaving home. Sites like Caesars, Golden Nugget and others let gamblers experience all the casino action from their couch.
How Online Gambling Got Legal in New Jersey
The push to legalize online gambling in New Jersey started back in 2011 when the state passed a law called the Internet Gaming Bill. This set the wheels in motion to start regulating and licensing online casinos and poker sites.
It took a couple more years, but finally, in November 2013, the first real money online gambling websites went live in NJ. This made New Jersey just the 3rd state to fully legalize it at the time after Nevada and Delaware.
There were a few big reasons driving the legalization effort. First off, regulating online gambling allowed the state to tax it and generate millions in new revenue. It also helped protect consumers from rogue, illegal offshore gambling sites by creating a safe, legal option. It gave a boost to New Jersey’s casino industry which was struggling at the time.
Types of Legal Online Gambling
Once it went live, New Jersey quickly rolled out a wide variety of legal online gambling options, including:
- Online Casinos: These let gamblers play all the classic casino games like slots, blackjack, roulette, etc. Lots of the big Atlantic City casinos have online sites now.
- Sports Betting: After a 2018 ruling, NJ was able to legalize online and mobile sports betting through licensed sportsbook apps and websites.
- Online Poker: Poker fans can play cash games and tournaments against others across the state on various gambling sites.
- Horse Racing Betting: Gamblers can legally bet on live horse races at NJ tracks or simulcast races from all over through online racebooks.
Licensing and Player Protections
For online gambling to operate legally in Jersey, the operators (casino companies, sportsbooks, etc.) have to get licensed by the state’s Division of Gaming Enforcement. The DGE does really extensive background checks, and audits, and makes sure sites follow a bunch of rules and standards around fairness, ID verification, preventing underage gambling and more.
All of this licensing and regulation is in place to keep the online gambling industry safe and secure for players. The DGE oversees everything to protect consumers and ensure all online games and betting are being run fairly and legally.
Responsible Gambling Measures
While online gambling is aimed at adults looking to have fun, the state takes responsible gambling really seriously too. That’s why online gambling sites have to incorporate lots of safeguards and protective measures, such as:
- Strict age verification to prevent anyone underage from gambling online.
- Self-exclusion programs that let gamblers voluntarily bar themselves from gambling sites temporarily or permanently.
- Ability to set deposit limits so gamblers can cap how much they’re spending.
- Resources on recognizing signs of problem gambling and ways to get help/support.
NJ online gambling apps and sites have to include all these types of responsible gambling features and information. It’s all about giving players more awareness and control over their habits.
Taxes on Winnings
One not-so-fun aspect of online gambling? Having to pay taxes on whatever winnings are obtained! Just like with casino winnings, lottery prizes, etc., any money won from gambling online is considered taxable income.
Most of the bigger wins will have taxes withheld upfront before the gambler even gets paid out. The gambling sites report those winnings to the IRS and handle the withholding taxes on their end.
For smaller casual winnings, the gambler will likely just need to report it as “other income” when filing their tax return each year and pay whatever taxes are due based on their total taxable income.
What’s Next for NJ Online Gambling
From all indications, online gambling in New Jersey isn’t going anywhere but up! More and more people are discovering how much fun and easy it is to play casino games, bet on sports, play poker and more over the internet.
Gambling site operators and sports betting companies are continuing to invest heavily in improving their apps, sites, and bonuses, and rolling out new innovative gaming and betting experiences to attract players.
There’s a ton of potential for emerging tech like virtual reality, crypto, and blockchain payments to revolutionize online gambling down the road too. And the state will keep evolving their regulations and consumer protections to keep up with industry developments.
NJ was an early adopter state for legal online gambling, but it has grown into a massively popular form of entertainment that fits modern, mobile-driven lifestyles perfectly.
The Bottom Line
Overall, New Jersey offers a safe, regulated environment for adults to explore and enjoy all types of legal online gambling from the convenience of home. Gamblers now have access to quality online casinos, sportsbooks, poker sites and more at their fingertips 24/7.
While it provides awesome entertainment value, gambling always needs to be done responsibly and within one’s means. Gamblers should take advantage of deposit limits, timeouts and other tools to stay in control of their habits.
