Betting on Sports in New Jersey - Dec 2024

No state has had a greater influence on sports betting in the USA than New Jersey. Not only was it among the first to legalize online sportsbooks, but lawmakers also paved the way for others to control their own legislation. Today, the New Jersey sports betting handle is bigger than that of any other US state.

In this article, we’ll explain more about the history of legal betting in the Garden State, as well as the different sports and bets available to wager on. First though, we’ll reveal the best sports betting operators to play at in New Jersey.

Best New Jersey Sports Betting Sites 2024

With more than 20 legal sportsbooks in New Jersey, punters have plenty of choice. However, in our expert opinion, these are the best sites for sports betting in the Garden State.

Top NJ Sports Betting Sites by Category

When it comes to placing wagers, everyone is different. For every bettor who specializes in one specific sport, there’s a guy or girl who wants to bet on anything and everything. Some people prefer to gamble before the game starts, while others favor in-play betting. 

Whatever your personal preferences, we’ve got a recommendation for you in the following section.

BetMGM - Best Range of Sports

With two dozen sports from across the globe, you won’t be short of betting opportunities at BetMGM. What’s more, we love the innovative “Edit My Bet” feature, plus the app is really easy to use.

bet365 - Best Range of Markets

BetRivers gets an honorary mention here, with over 200 markets per NBA game and more than 750 for the Super Bowl alone. However, few bookmakers can match the sheer depth of coverage offered by bet365, especially when it comes to soccer.

Caesars - Best Site for High Rollers

The best place in NJ for higher-staking players is Caesars Sportsbook. It starts with the welcome bonus, where your first bet of up to $1,000 is refunded if you lose. More generally, few sites offer such sizable bet limits as Caesars.

Betway - Best for Live Betting

With an intuitive in-play console, plenty of streams and a ton of stats, Betway is a must-try app for live betting. This globally-respected brand has developed one of the smoothest betting apps around.

FanDuel - Best Site for NFL Betting

A giant of the industry, FanDuel’s DFS roots help to make it one of the top sportsbooks for football betting. Its selection of player props is unrivalled, while the NFL odds are some of the most generous in the country. 

BetMGM - Best for NBA Betting

Basketball fans must check out the depth of BetMGM’s NBA product. Expect dozens of betting opportunities per game, allowing you to build some of the most rewarding Same Game Parlays. The odds are fantastic, too, making it easily one of the best basketball betting sites.

bet365 - Best Site for Soccer Betting

In terms of soccer, bet365 doesn’t just dominate New Jersey, or even the United States, but the entire planet. Few sites offer as many markets, but they also release odds quickly.

Sports Betting Sites in New Jersey to Avoid

We’ve shown you our top list of sports betting brands, but there are many you should look to avoid. For starters, if a site isn’t licensed and regulated by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, give them a miss.

Many overseas operators welcome gamblers from the United States, including New Jersey. Technically, they’re not breaking the law, since they’re based offshore — they’re exploiting a legal gray area. But since they’re unregulated, you can’t guarantee the safety of your funds or the security of your account. As such, we’d recommend avoiding them.

Start Betting on Sports in New Jersey Today

It’s surprisingly easy to start betting on sports. Still, if you’re uncertain about where to begin, we’ve got you. Follow the steps below and you’ll be placing bets in no time.

1. 1

   Choose your Sportsbook

   There are plenty to choose from, but our guide to the best New Jersey sports betting sites will help you decide. 

2. 2

   Create an Account

   Open the registration form and fill in the required fields to create your new account.

3. 3

   Verify your Account

   Some sites ask you to confirm that the email address you supplied is valid before continuing as well as looking to verify through ID.

4. 4

   Deposit some Funds

   After logging into your account, visit the cashier page, choose your preferred payment option and make a deposit.

5. 5

   Build a Bet

   You’re now free to browse the many different betting opportunities and add them to your betslip. Enter your desired stake and confirm your first bet. Good luck!

Winning Sports Betting Strategies

Sadly, there’s no quick and easy strategy to make money from sports betting. If you’re going to turn a long-term profit, you’ll need to invest serious amounts of time, effort and perhaps even money, into your endeavors.

Ultimately, sports betting is entertainment, and it’s important to remember that. Although professional gamblers exist, sports betting isn’t really something which should be viewed as a source of income. Instead, treat it as a way to increase your enjoyment of sports.

Don’t get carried away after a win, thinking that you’ve cracked the code. After all, there’s a lot of luck involved in gambling. That said, there are definitely a few things you can read up on that could improve your chances of making money.

• Manage your bankroll - This is the single most important piece of strategy advice. It doesn’t matter if you’re a betting genius if you can’t manage your money. Stay disciplined, bet with small units of your bankroll and don’t chase losses.
• Compare the odds - Inexperienced bettors often remain loyal to one or two betting sites. Take advantage of odds comparison tools to shop around and grab the best price. Accepting lower odds means smaller potential returns. This adds up over time.
• Price games yourself - You’re not going to master the art of handicapping overnight, but learning how to price markets yourself is the best way to get an edge. If the bookies are out of line with your own odds, it’s time to bet.
• Learn hedging strategies - Betting sports doesn’t have to be about landing glorious parlays and big wins. Any profit, no matter how small, is still a profit. By hedging and trading, it’s possible to lock in smaller wins, regardless of the game’s final result.
• Read the news - Knowing which players are injured, who could be rested and other snippets of vital information won’t give you an edge. The best bookmakers already know. However, staying on top of the news could keep you from making a bad bet.
• Consider the location - Home-field advantage is a phenomenon that’s well-understood. But there’s more to it than simply travel fatigue. Think about potential changes in climate or other conditions, which increase a team’s edge.

What Sports Can I Bet on in NJ?

If you are sports betting in New Jersey, you can wager on all kinds of events. Each betting brand varies slightly in terms of the different competitions and games available. However, one thing is quite clear. Although it’s legal to bet on college sports, you can’t wager on any game that’s actually taking place in New Jersey.

That aside, there are several sports which you’ll find at every single bookmaker in the region. Let’s take a look and learn more about them. Let's have a look in focus at the bigger wagering sports:

• Football
• Basketball
• Baseball
• Soccer
• Hockey

Football

The NFL is the most popular sports betting market in the United States, and it’s not even close. More than 80% of regular bettors in the country like a flutter on a football game. The Super Bowl is a particularly big deal, but even college events are popular with local gamblers.

That’s why all of the best bookies in the Garden State focus so much on their football product. You’ll find far more than just the regular moneylines, totals and spreads, with a plethora of player props and enticing offers available.

Basketball

Second only to the NFL, around 54% of US bettors like to wager on NBA games. This is definitely a trend that continues into New Jersey, especially given the relative proximity of the New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets.

It’s not just local games that capture the imagination of bettors in the state, however. You can bet on teams all around the world, from China and South Korea to Italy, Spain and Turkey.

Baseball

They call it “America’s game” for a reason, and the good people of New Jersey also love their baseball. Although there’s no MLB team carrying the state’s name, just like in the NBA, there’s a couple right on the doorstep.

Along with the Mets and the legendary Yankees, there are plenty of successful college and minor league teams. Irrespective of who you support, leading sites offer dozens of markets on baseball games. Not to mention live streaming opportunities.

Soccer

With New York Red Bulls competing in the MLS and NJ/NY Gotham FC in the NWSL, there’s plenty of local soccer to enjoy. But it’s the rising popularity of the English Premier League, Spain’s La Liga and of course, the UEFA Champions League, which is driving soccer betting.

The best soccer betting sites in the Garden State tend to offer more lines and props than most other sports. So you’ll always have an interesting new way to get involved with the beautiful game.

Hockey

Another huge sport when it comes to New Jersey handle is hockey and in particular the NHL, with the New Jersey Devils stealing the show.

The best hockey betting sites will offer you great promos like bet365's Early Payout promo, but they'll also offer great product features like live streaming, such as BetMGM do.

Others

You can legally bet on literally dozens of other sports in New Jersey, but the most popular are as follows.

• Golf
• MMA
• Boxing
• Tennis - Grand Slams and global tours
• NASCAR
• Formula 1
• Cricket
• Rugby Union
• Pool

Sports Betting Opportunities in New Jersey

You’ve seen the most common sports available, but what bets can you actually place? Well, the industry’s come a long way in recent years and, depending on the sport, there could easily be 100+ different lines on offer. Here are some of the most popular with New Jersey bettors and we go into deeper detail below:

• Moneyline
• Totals
• Spreads
• Futures
• Props
• Parlays
• Single Game Parlays

Moneyline

The most simple bet type of all, you won’t find a single New Jersey sports betting company that doesn’t offer moneylines. The aim of the game is simply to identify the winning team or participant.

Its popularity lies in the fact that you don’t need to over-analyze anything. Don’t worry about points spreads or totals; just predict who’ll emerge victorious.

Spreads

Another classic wagering opportunity, the handicap spread evolved in order to make a more attractive betting proposition when teams are unevenly matched. Bettors have to decide which team will win after an artificial head start is applied to the underdog.

Although it’s definitely easier to play the money line, if there’s a heavy favorite, the odds can be unappealing. That’s where the spread comes into play.

Totals

When you hear people talking about “over” and “under”, they’re discussing points totals. The bookmaker sets a line and you need to figure out whether the reality will be higher or lower.

For example, imagine Brooklyn are taking on the Lakers. If the bookies set a line of 201.5 and the final score is 103 to 99, that’s a total score of 202. If you bet on “over”, congratulations!

Futures

So-called because the events are taking place far into the future, these bets are much harder to land. They tend to focus on long-term propositions, such as Rookie of the Year, series MVPs, or championship winners early in the season.

Such bets are especially popular in horse racing, where people look to predict future Kentucky Derby winners, for instance. Because there’s so much uncertainty involved, the odds can be quite generous.

Props

These are bets on various outcomes that don’t affect the final result of a game. For instance, Buddy Hield to make four three-point shots in a game, or Juan Soto to hit a home run.

New Jersey sports betting companies are offering more player and team props than ever, meaning there’s always a fun new way to enjoy the big game.

Parlays

If you’ve ever dreamed of turning a few cents into a big win, parlays are the bet for you. In fact, this is the most popular way for most sports fans to enjoy a bet.

By combining multiple individual wagers into one big wager, it’s possible to multiply the payout and land a sizeable score. Of course, the flip side is that these bets can be tough to win, as one pick can ruin the entire bet.

Same Game Parlays

Recent advancements in online betting technology have given birth to the Same Game Parlay, more commonly dubbed “SGP”. It’s just like a regular parlay, but instead of guessing the outcome of multiple games, you’re predicting multiple situations in the same event.

Build an SGP with as many selections as you like, on all kinds of props, giving you complete control over your bets.

How Do Sportsbook Odds Work?

Other countries format their odds differently, with some using fractions and others preferring decimals. But in the United States, you’ll always see positive and negative numbers.

A minus sign indicates the favorite. The number beside it tells you how much to bet in order to make a profit of exactly $100. So, if a team is priced at -145, a bet of $145 returns $245, which is $100 plus the original wager.

On the other hand, a positive number tells you how much you’ll win if you stake exactly $100. A winning bet of $100 on the underdog at +122 would return $222. That’s a profit of $122 on top of the $100 stake.

Of course, you don’t have to bet in such round units and these numbers are purely illustrative. Many of the top New Jersey bookmakers accept wagers of just $5 or $10. They’ll also let you switch the odds format if you’d prefer to see UK-style fractions or European decimals.

New Jersey Sports Betting Bonuses

With so many different bookies to choose from in the Garden State, there's never been a better time to get involved. These brands understand how competitive the industry is, so they’re always finding creative new promotions to attract and retain players.

From signup incentives and reload bonuses, to rewards programs and cash back rebates. If you can imagine it, some bookie will be offering it. You can learn more about the best sports betting bonuses in New Jersey elsewhere on this site.

Live Sports Betting in NJ

Gone are the days of placing your bet before the game starts and then watching events unfold. Nowadays, there’s no need to worry if you miss the tip-off. Simply load up the live betting console of your favorite website or app and bet in-play.

Live betting is also a great way for true sports fans to put their knowledge and judgment to the test. You can react to the ebb and flow of a game in real time, spotting shifts in momentum or tactical tweaks, then bet accordingly.

The popularity of live betting has even led to many creative new bet types. And of course, it’s also possible to stream many games in high definition through your chosen sportsbook. Where a live stream isn’t available you’ll have visual tools to help you follow the game. Not to mention more stats than you can shake a stick at.

Is Sports Betting Legal in New Jersey?

Sports betting has been legal in the Garden State since June 2018, and the first online bet was placed in August of that year. The industry is regulated by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement. Any sportsbook operating without a license from the DGE is doing so illegally.

Many offshore sportsbooks target players in the United States, and these can be accessed from New Jersey. While it’s possible to join, deposit and bet at such sites, we wouldn’t recommend it. Because they aren’t properly regulated, you can never be sure that winnings will be paid, or that your funds and sensitive data are kept safe.

New Jersey Sports Betting Laws

Sports betting in New Jersey was originally given the green light in January 2012. Governor Chris Christie approved a law that granted the state’s casinos and horse racing tracks permission to accept bets on both collegiate and professional sports. However, just a year later, a lawsuit brought by several sports associations, including the NBA and NFL, resulted in a ban.

It wasn’t until May 2018, after several years of legal wrangling, that the Supreme Court eventually overturned the 1992 Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. This gave every state control over its own betting laws. Since the necessary legislation was already in place, New Jersey was able to move quickly, re-legalizing sports betting a month later.

Conclusion

The New Jersey sports betting handle is consistently over a billion dollars, making the Garden State the country’s biggest industry player. And it’s not hard to see why.

There are so many high-quality sportsbooks to choose from, all of which run tantalizing promotions and offer a wide variety of markets. The future of sports betting in New Jersey looks extremely bright, and you can be a part of it.

FAQs