New Jersey

The Garden State was no stranger to gambling prior to PASPA being overturned. After this change, NJ did not take long to build an impressive online betting market, giving residents over a dozen of well-known sportsbooks to choose from.

Residents of New Jersey who are of legal betting age have free rein to wager on professional sports. Betting on collegiate sports is also a legal option in NJ; however, residents cannot wager on in-state colleges or any college games that may be taking place in the state. Soon, there could be even more restrictions on betting on college sports, as the state is looking into legislation that would ban all wagering on collegiate player props.

Wagering on eSports is also available within NJ, and residents can participate in contests related to eSports or pro/collegiate sports through daily fantasy sports apps. All DFS products have been legal in NJ since 2017, so much like online sportsbooks, there are plenty of options.

Horse racing is also a significant facet in the Garden State, so betting on it is 100% legal. Outside of sporting events, betting on entertainment events is legal, but betting on politics is not.

Online sports betting in The Garden State

Sports betting caught the attention of voters in New Jersey back in 2011. After a voter referendum that year, a sports betting law in NJ was passed in 2012, but unfortunately, that didn’t mean residents had free rein to start firing off wagers on pro sports. Instead, the subject of sports betting was at the forefront of lawsuits and appeals for the next five years until the Supreme Court decided to overturn PASPA in 2018.

Now that no one could legally challenge New Jersey’s sports betting law, Governor Phil Murphy signed an updated law later in 2018. The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement was appointed to approve and hand out licenses.

When PASPA was overturned in 2018, New Jersey was able to launch retail betting in June of that year and mobile betting in August. Since the state already had a strong base of casinos and racetracks, it was easier for NJ to roll out mobile betting, as the law allowed those casinos and racetracks to partner with up to three online operators.

DraftKings was the first mobile sportsbook to enter NJ, but since then, plenty of big-name operators have followed, including BetMGM, BetRivers, Bet365, FanDuel, Fanatics, and more.

The best way to describe the online sports betting scene in New Jersey is vast. In 2025, 13 mobile sportsbooks and one betting exchange are available for residents to download or access through their web platforms. That is not the end of the market, either, as two more sportsbooks and other exchange-based sports betting apps are expected to launch within the year.

It is not surprising that many mobile operators wanted to get in on the action in New Jersey, as the state has become one of the largest sports betting markets in the U.S.

All legal NJ sports betting apps in 2025 (from newest to oldest):

In addition, bettors can access a few other not-so-traditional wagering platforms in NJ, such as Mojo and Sporttrade, which are available here. However, these platforms are sports betting exchanges that allow their customers to trade sports bets in a stock-like manner.

Recently Closed Online Sportsbooks

Top NJ betting apps in terms of popularity (2025)

As of October 2025 YTD, FanDuel and DraftKings collectively control 69.55% of New Jersey's online sports betting market, with FanDuel holding 40.79% (down from 43.71% in 2024) and DraftKings 28.48% (up from 27.51%). While FanDuel remains the market leader, it has lost over 3 percentage points, indicating slight erosion of dominance. DraftKings, meanwhile, has modestly strengthened its position.

Among notable climbers, Bet365 saw a strong rise from 4.17% to 5.51%, continuing its growth trajectory in the U.S. Similarly, ESPN Bet expanded its share significantly from 0.83% to 3.05%, becoming a mid-tier player within just one year. Hard Rock Bet also more than doubled its share from 0.78% to 1.67%.

Fanatics, however, experienced the largest drop—from 10.57% to 7.23%, losing over three percentage points, suggesting user churn or reduced promotional aggressiveness. FanDuel's decline may signal tightening competition at the top, as newer brands gain traction.

While traditional names like Caesars and BetMGM held relatively steady, the rise of ESPN Bet, Bet365, and even Prime Sportsbook (up from 0.05% to 0.19%) signals a diversifying market. Still, the top two platforms remain dominant forces shaping New Jersey's betting landscape.

Sports betting & gambling legislation in NJ

While all the casinos in New Jersey are located in one area, residents do not need to be present in those casinos to create a mobile betting account. Remote registration is available to bettors, provided they are at least 21 years old. As a result, they can create an account on as many NJ sports betting apps as they wish.

Bettors do not need to be residents of NJ to place a legal sports wager in the state; they just need to be located inside state lines. The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement enforces all rules and regulations regarding sports betting in the Garden State.

Aside from the gambling age, one of the most critical things bettors need to know before placing a bet is the tax rate. In New Jersey, gambling winnings are considered taxable income and have a tax rate of 3%.

Since iGaming, horserace betting, and sports betting are all legal in NJ, there are not many more gambling-related topics for the state to discuss during upcoming legislative sessions. Updates to the law can occur as the market shifts over time, but for now, residents can expect the sports betting scene to remain unchanged.

Real Housewives of New Jersey: The state’s untapped betting opportunity

In the world of reality TV, few franchises bring the drama quite like The Real Housewives of New Jersey. With table-flipping, rekindled feuds, and wine glass throwing moments being a part of nearly every episode, it’s no wonder fans treat each season like must-watch games. 

As entertainment betting gains traction globally, New Jersey could lead the charge by introducing regulated, TV-based novelty props. These novelty wagers could include “Who storms off set first during the reunion?”, “Which Housewife delivers the best one-liner?” or even “Who follows/unfollows whom on Instagram post-episode?” With structured episodes and cast interviews airing on schedule, odds could be calculated and offered just like traditional futures markets. Of course, additional regulatory restrictions would need to be implemented for this market to even be considered by licensed sportsbooks. 

Beyond profits, it could attract a demographic of entertainment fans who are not into traditional sports betting. From Bravo superfans to TikTok drama analysts, this crossover between pop culture and gambling could establish New Jersey as a pioneer in creative wagering.

Betting on the best pizza slice in New Jersey: A new twist on local wagers

New Jersey takes its pizza seriously, and now, that obsession and pride could make its way into the betting world. A prop market where bettors can wager on which local pizzeria will be crowned the "Best Slice" of the season, judged by customer reviews, social media engagement, or influencer taste tests, could be the next wave of novelty bets to hit sportsbooks. Whether it's a legendary spot in Hoboken or a rising slice star in Asbury Park, the odds could shift weekly based on online polls or food critic reviews. 

If sportsbooks or state tourism boards adopt this local betting format, it could drive both culinary tourism and increased betting engagement from non-sports fans. By combining food culture and fandom like cheese and sauce, New Jersey could pioneer a profitable way to gamify one of the state's most heated debates.

Most recent updates from the NJ sports betting scene

• October 30, 2025: Following their come-from-behind win over Purdue, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights will go on the road to play Illinois as (+12.5) favorites.

• October 17, 2025: New Jersey Councilman Anand Shah has been indicted on 18 charges that are connected to an illegal gambling ring.

• October 17, 2025: In the midst of a three-game losing streak, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights will host the Oregon Ducks as (+17.5) home underdogs.

• October 6, 2025: Sitting at 3-2 coming out of their bye week, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights will travel to Washington, where they sit as (+10) underdogs to the Huskies.

• September 26, 2025: With a loss in their first conference game, Rutgers will head on the road to Minnesota to play the Golden Gophers as (+5.5) underdogs.

• September 24, 2025: A potential gap in New Jersey's online horse racing market looms as regulators caution that delays in transitioning to NYRA Bets could leave the state without a legal digital pari-mutuel betting option after March 2026. While TVG's 4NJBets remains active, the long-promised broader market access hasn't materialized, raising concerns among both regulators and bettors.

• September 18, 2025: New Jersey's gaming regulators propose a three-step plan to tackle problem gambling. First, operators must alert at-risk players to responsible gaming tools. If issues continue, players must watch a mandatory video on gambling risks. As a final step, operators must personally contact the player to discuss concerns and offer professional help.

In-person sports betting sites and locations

Atlantic City, also known as Monopoly City, is home to all nine casinos in the state, and each offers retail sports betting. According to the state’s sports betting law, each casino can partner with up to three online operators; however, most have only one partner.

Some online operators that partner with these casinos include BetMGM, Bally Bet, Caesars, DraftKings, and more. Race tracks are also present throughout the state, and they can partner with three online skins as well.

Atlantic City casinos driving growth in New Jersey’s sports betting market

Atlantic City has long been the heart of New Jersey’s gambling industry, and its influence is a lifeblood to the state’s booming sports betting market. Since the legalization of sports betting in 2018, partnerships between casinos and sportsbooks have played a vital role in shaping the industry. Major operators like DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM have aligned with Atlantic City casinos to access the state’s market and establish both retail and online sportsbooks.

In-person sports betting at Atlantic City casinos has added a new dimension to the city’s gambling appeal. High-end sportsbooks with premier lounges and VIP betting experiences attract both casual and high-stakes bettors, keeping business flowing even during slower tourism months. These venues also provide a big jolt to New Jersey’s sports betting revenue, as in-person betting continues to complement the state’s dominant online wagering market.

Furthermore, Atlantic City’s casinos serve as a testing ground for new betting innovations. As casino operators look to expand their digital presence, Atlantic City remains the golden ticket in New Jersey’s evolving sports betting market, ensuring that the city remains one of the more competitive forces in the country’s gambling landscape.

MetLife Stadium events fuel unique betting markets in New Jersey

New Jersey isn’t just a hotspot for sports betting; it’s also a premier location for pop culture wagering, thanks to its proximity to MetLife Stadium. As a frequent venue for massive events like the Super Bowl and major concerts, MetLife fuels a unique betting market that includes wagers on celebrity appearances, halftime performances, and even song setlists.

Taylor Swift’s presence at Chiefs games has already made waves through sportsbooks, with NJ bettors placing odds on her next appearance, what color she’ll wear, or the number of times she’ll be shown on camera during the Super Bowl. Similarly, past Super Bowls at MetLife saw plenty of handle on markets, like which song the halftime artist performs first or who the surprise guest could be. With NJ’s deep connection to both sports and entertainment, expect pop culture bets to remain a unique but popular side of the state’s gambling landscape.

Sports betting in neighboring states

New Jersey is part of a strong group of northeastern states that have legalized sports betting. The only state that has outdone NJ in terms of overall sports betting handle is New York, while Pennsylvania and Delaware certainly have strong betting markets as well.

By clicking on a state in the box below, New Jersey residents who need to cross state lines can find out what type of sports betting market they are walking into.

Sports betting revenue impact on New Jersey's economy

The licensing process in New Jersey varies depending on whether or not it is a retail or online license. Retail licenses for casinos and racetracks have a fee of $100,000, while online operators have to pay a $400,000 license fee on top of a $250,000 responsible gambling fee.

Tax rates also vary depending on whether we are talking about retail or mobile. The retail tax rate is 8.5%, while the online tax rate is 19.75%. One stipulation is that racetracks have a tax rate of 14.25% for online wagers. Previously, the NJ sports betting tax was set at 15%, while iGaming revenue was taxed at 13%, but starting July 1, 2025, both of these taxes were raised to 19.75%

Between Atlantic City and the wide range of mobile apps the state offers, New Jersey is among the states with the highest earnings for sports betting handle and revenue. After posting $1.6 billion in handle in November 2023, not only did the Garden State make it onto the list of top ten handles in a month since legalized sports betting, but they also raised their yearly handle to $10.69 billion, which was the second highest in the U.S. in 2023.

Looking at the total figures, as of October 2025, the NJ sports betting scene has seen over $65.9 billion worth of real-money wagers all-time, which has resulted in more than $5.2 billion in sportsbooks' revenue and over $680 million in tax income for the state itself.

New Jersey sports betting record months:

• Sports betting handle: January 2024 ($1,719,170,088)

• Revenue: January 2024 ($170,758,334)

• Tax income: January 2024 ($22,211,910)

Latest NJ sports betting revenue report breakdown (September 2025)

• Total betting handle: $1,130,008,177

  • Internet/mobile betting handle: $1,069,913,122

  • Retail betting handle: $60,095,055

• Winnings paid to players: $1,040,190,442

  • Hold: 7.95%

• Total gross revenue: $89,817,735

  • Online wagering gross revenue: $89,830,908

  • Retail betting gross revenue: -$13,173

• Tax revenue for the state: $17,900,031

  • Online sports wagering tax (19.75%): $17,631,490

  • Retail sports wagering tax (8.5%): $268,541

Reported by The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.

What sports have NJ bettors wagered the most in 2025?

1. Basketball ($2.09bn total handle YTD)

2. Baseball ($1.21bn)

3. Football ($784.2m)

4. Other sports ($1.90bn)

   • Total amount of parlay bets: $2.67bn

Top performing sports betting apps in the state in September 2025:

1. FanDuel (Meadowlands):

   • Revenue: $37.7m, YTD revenue: $318.6m

2. DraftKings (Resorts):

   • Revenue: $22.6m, YTD revenue: $222.4m

3. BetMGM (Borgata):

   • Revenue: $7.1m, YTD revenue: $56.9m

4. Fanatics Sportsbook (Bally's):

   • Revenue: $6.9m, YTD revenue: $56.5m

5. Bet365 (Hard Rock):

   • Revenue: $5.4m, YTD revenue: $43.0m

6. Caesars (CIENJ Tropicana + Monmouth):

   • Revenue: $3.7m, YTD revenue: $26.7m

7. ESPN Bet (Resorts):

   • Revenue: $2.4m, YTD revenue: $23.8m

8. Hard Rock Bet:

   • Revenue: $1.7m, YTD revenue: $13.0m

9. Betrivers (Monmouth):

   • Revenue: $784,235, YTD revenue: $8.1m

10. Borgata:

    • Revenue: $748,669, YTD revenue: $5.8m

11. Prime Sportsbook (Ocean Casino):

    • Revenue: $493,210, YTD revenue: $1.5m

12. BetParx (CIENJ [Harrah's]):

    • Revenue: $180,197, YTD revenue: $1.9m

13. Sporttrade Exchange (Bally's):

    • Revenue: $144,015, YTD revenue: $1.0m

14. Bally Bet (Bally's):

    • Revenue: -$28,805, YTD revenue: $1.9m

NJ online sports betting market share (based on revenue) - September 2025

New Jersey online sports betting market shares for the entire 2024 year

Recent revenue report data - Compared to the previous year (YoY)

NJ sports betting revenue in 2025

The New Jersey Department of Gaming Enforcement reports the state's sports betting handle, revenue, and tax incomes on a monthly basis, and we have gathered the data from the 2025 year conveniently in the table below. The percentage in brackets represents how the handle and revenue have evolved compared to the month prior.

2024 revenue data

Yearly revenue totals

Tapping into New Jersey’s mafia lore for gambling market growth

Atlantic City has long been connected with high-stakes gambling; in fact, it was built on it. Could it take things a step further by embracing its pop culture and former mafia connections? With The Sopranos and classic mob films showcasing New Jersey as a hotspot for underworld dealings, a mafia-themed casino resort could be a marketing goldmine.

A fully immersive experience could feature themed dining with Italian restaurants, themed slot machines, and live entertainment showcasing Frank Sinatra impersonators. While the idea might raise eyebrows due to its connection to organized crime and the fact that AC has tried to move past that era, if it can walk the fine line of making an exciting themed resort to highlight the greatest show to ever take place in the state, it could be a big money maker.

If marketed correctly, such a destination could increase annual visitation by 10–15%, generating an estimated $150–$200 million in additional gambling revenue and tourist spending annually. With NJ's casino tax rate of 8.5%, all this could result in an extra $12–$16 million in tax income each year.