Is Poker legal in New Jersey? Online & Live Poker Laws in NJ

New Jersey is one of the best states in the U.S. for legal online poker, offering a variety of regulated sites, major tournaments, and a thriving live poker scene. This guide will help you navigate everything you need to know about playing poker in the Garden State.

Learn about the top online poker rooms, live poker venues, key regulations, and how to get started with real-money play. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced player, this page covers deposit options, bonus offers, and the latest industry updates, ensuring you have the best experience playing poker in New Jersey.

Is Poker Legal in New Jersey?

Yes, live poker and online poker are regulated and legal in New Jersey.

Home to Atlantic City, New Jersey had its first casino open up in 1978. Online poker was later to the game and was legalized in New Jersey in 2013 after poker's Black Friday two years prior. You can play online poker in New Jersey through several regulated and legal poker sites, which you can see on this page.

Can I Play Online Poker in New Jersey?

Yes, online poker has been fully legal in New Jersey since 2013. The state remains one of the longest-standing regulated online poker markets in the U.S.

While New Jersey was once the top market for legal poker, revenue has plateaued in recent years. Online poker now accounts for just 4–6% of total online gambling revenue in the state, averaging around $1.5–$2 million per month.

Still, NJ players benefit from multi-state liquidity via the MSIGA, with operators like WSOP.com, PokerStars, BetMGM and Borgata Poker offering shared player pools, with the additional option of PartyPoker NJ.

New Jersey Online Poker Operator Comparison

Can I Play Live Poker in New Jersey?

After reaching a revenue peak in 2006, the famed "Boardwalk" declined in subsequent years, though it has revived recently. Currently, there are a handful of casinos that operate in Atlantic City, but legislative efforts to allow casinos elsewhere in the state have thus far failed to advance.

Most forms of gambling have been allowed in New Jersey casinos, with sports betting having been added as well in 2018. The state also has horse racing and off-track betting and was one of the first states to have a lottery (starting in 1969).

We'll cover the live poker options in New Jersey in more detail later in this article.

New Jersey Gambling Laws - Current Situation

As we’ve already mentioned, online poker is perfectly legal in New Jersey, as long as you play on a site that’s approved and licensed by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE), the state’s official regulatory body.

One of the most important milestones for poker in New Jersey came in 2018, when the state officially joined the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA). This allowed licensed online poker sites in New Jersey to share player pools with other MSIGA states.

As a result, New Jersey players now benefit from larger tournament fields, more consistent cash game traffic, and a broader overall poker ecosystem. Online poker remains fully legal in the Garden State, with major operators offering real-money tournament and cash game action every day.

Tax on Poker in New Jersey

Whether you're playing online or live, poker winnings in New Jersey are taxable at both the federal and state level. For big wins, operators are required to withhold a percentage for federal taxes and an additional amount for the state of New Jersey. These withholdings are automatic and reported using IRS Form W-2G.

All poker winnings must be reported as income on your federal tax return, even if no W-2G is issued. New Jersey residents are allowed to report only their net gambling winnings, which means you can deduct your losses up to the amount you’ve won. However, on your federal return, losses can only be deducted if you itemize, and only up to the amount of your winnings.

Players are strongly advised to keep accurate records of their play, especially if participating in frequent tournaments or high-stakes games. Keeping receipts, logs, and win/loss statements can help when filing and potentially reduce your overall tax bill.

In 2025, Congress passed the Trump administration’s Big Beautiful Bill, which caps gambling loss deductions at 90% of winnings, a move that experts say will negatively impact poker players come tax season.

Safe & Responsible Gambling in New Jersey

New Jersey is one of the most proactive states in the U.S. when it comes to protecting players. All licensed poker sites in the Garden State are required to offer responsible gambling tools, including deposit limits, timeouts, session limits, and self-exclusion options. These features are easy to set up and available directly within each platform.

The Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) also runs a formal self-exclusion program, allowing players to voluntarily ban themselves from all legal gambling sites and casinos in the state for six months, one year, five years, or permanently. Confidential support is available 24/7 through 1-800-GAMBLER.

New Jersey Poker History (Timeline)

• Gambling Legalized in New Jersey (1977)
  New Jersey citizens approved the New Jersey Casino Control Act in 1976 and the law to effect the following year.
• First Atlantic City Casino Opens (1978)
  A year after the New Jersey Casino Control Act, the first Atlantic Casino opened its doors.
• US Government Shuts Down Online Poker (April 2011)
  2011's Black Friday effectively shut down online poker in the US as players had their funds seized by the US Department of Justice.
• Online Poker Legalized in New Jersey (October 2013)
  In 2013, New Jersey lawmakers passed Assembly Bill 2578, which legalized internet gambling in the state. Gov. Chris Christie signed the bill and took effect in October 2013.
• First Online Poker Sites Go Live (November 2013)
  After some casinos applied for and received licenses, the first online poker sites went live in the state.
• Shared Liquidity for Online Poker (May 2018)
  Since May 2018, shared liquidity has meant players in the New Jersey network have been able to play against players in Delaware and Nevada.
• Sports Betting Reaches New Jersey (May 2018)
  The US Supreme Court struck down a federal law prohibiting sports betting, and New Jersey lawmakers quickly moved to legalize sports betting in the state.
• Shared Liquidity with Michigan (January 2023)
  On January 1, 2023, PokerStars became the first online site to join their New Jersey player pool with that of Michigan.
• Pennsylvania joins MSIGA (April 2025)
  This extended shared liquidity to five states (NJ, NV, DE, MI, PA). WSOP.com and BetMGM promptly merged their PA pools with NJ, boosting prize pools and tournament schedules.

• Look out for BetRivers Poker (2025?)

  BetRivers Poker completed its multi-state rollout in 2025, becoming active in PA, MI, DE, and WV, and sets the stage for entry into New Jersey at some point in the not-too-distant future.

Play Legal Online Poker in New Jersey

Currently, there are a handful of online poker sites in operation in New Jersey. All are licensed through NJ casinos. For the best poker bonus offers in New Jersey, check out PokerNews' dedicated guide on it, or keep reading to learn a bit more about each site in The Garden State.

How to Play Legal Online Poker in NJ

WSOP.com NJ is on a network licensed through Harrah’s. BorgataPoker, PartyPoker NJ, and BetMGM Poker also share a network and are all licensed through Borgata. Shared liquidity means players on the NJ network can play against those playing on WSOP.com in Nevada, Michigan and Pennsylvania.

PokerStars NJ launched in March 2016, and is licensed through Resorts Casino Hotel. PalaPoker, which launched in July 2017, is the most recent entry in the state, operating on its own with its licensing through the Borgata.

Traffic-wise, the WSOP network is currently the most popular, particularly during special events such as the occasional WSOP Circuit “stops.” Players can satellite into WSOP events as well on the site. WSOP offers deposit bonuses, a rewards program, a wide variety of cash games, Sit & Go's, and multi-table tournaments (including many with guaranteed prize pools.)

PokerStars NJ enjoyed the largest market share when it first launched, although currently, the site ranks second behind the WSOP network. PokerStars NJ offers deposit bonuses and a variety of game options featuring the same software used by the global site. Thus unlike WSOP/888, which only provides hold’em and Omaha, one can find all the different stud and draw variants, mixed games, and more on PokerStars NJ, which shares a merged player pool with players from Michigan.

The PartyPoker NJ network (Borgata, PartyPoker NJ, and BetMGM) is currently third in traffic. The site does offer a no-deposit bonus and runs occasional tournament series, such as the Garden State Super Series. However, it only provides no-limit hold’em and pot-limit Omaha.

Meanwhile, since its launch, Pala Poker has seen very little traffic, though it offers various games and formats.

Play Legal Live Poker in New Jersey

New Jersey’s live poker scene is centered in Atlantic City, which remains a hub for legal poker in the Northeast. While fewer rooms operate today compared to the boom years, three well-established poker rooms still offer strong action daily.

Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa

The most well-known poker venue in New Jersey, Borgata offers a wide selection of cash games, with No-Limit Hold’em running regularly from $1/$3 up to $5/$10. Mixed games and higher-stakes action are available during peak hours and major tournament series. The Borgata has historically hosted some of the region’s largest live events.

Harrah’s Atlantic City

Harrah’s poker room offers consistent No-Limit Hold’em cash games along with some mixed game tables. What sets Harrah’s apart is its daily tournament schedule, with buy-ins ranging from $150 to $1,500. It’s a popular choice for recreational players looking to spin up a big score.

Tropicana Atlantic City

The Tropicana poker room offers a more laid-back atmosphere but still runs live No-Limit Hold’em cash games daily. While it doesn’t currently offer regular tournaments, it’s a dependable spot for low to mid-stakes ring games in a central boardwalk location.

Outside of Atlantic City, the best option for poker players in New Jersey is to travel across the border to Delaware or Eastern Pennsylvania, which are home to the likes of Delaware Park, Harrington Raceway & Casino, Live! Casino Philadelphia and Parx Casino.

Poker Legislation in New Jersey FAQs