Read a comparison of NJ online poker bonuses.

Latest NJ online poker news

• by Sean ChaffinJanuary 18, 2020
• by Sean ChaffinDecember 30, 2019
• by Sean ChaffinDecember 11, 2019

Oct 12, 2017  At the same time, companies in Australia who were able to take bets within should have an Australian license. However, the government does not license online poker but only sports betting. With this said, poker websites such as 888 and PokerStars had no other legitimate option but to quickly withdraw their services. A poker dealer (or croupier) is responsible for the distribution of cards and chips to players during a poker game. They maintain the flow of the game and ensure that the rules are followed.

Learn more about NJ’s legal online casino sites here.

NJ online poker sites/network overview

Contents

• 5 Good Signs: PokerStars Beefs Up PACOOP As Michigan Adds Online Poker
  • 5.1 NJ online poker sites/network overview
  • 5.2 Atlantic City partnerships
  • 5.8 NJ online poker FAQ
  • 5.9 NJ online poker banking

Regulated and entirely legal New Jersey online poker launched on Nov. 21, 2013.

There are currently four poker networks involving seven sites in the state. Borgata, PartyPoker, WSOP.com, PokerStars,888,Pala Pokerand playMGM Pokerare the licensed online poker rooms in New Jersey.

PokerStars won approval by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement on Sept. 30, 2015, with Resorts as its partner. The site launched to much fanfare in March 2016.

New Jersey poker sites are licensed through Atlantic City casinos. Playing poker online in Jersey is just as safe as playing it in person in Atlantic City.

Borgata, PartyPoker and playMGM are licensed through Borgata, while WSOP.com and 888 operate under Harrah’s gaming license. As mentioned, PokerStars has teamed up with Resorts to operate in the NJ market.

There were five online poker networks at the start of the New Jersey regulated online gaming industry. The largest out of the gate was party/Borgata. WSOP.com was the second largest. 888, Ultimate Poker, and Betfair rounded out the list.

It became apparent that early on in its online gambling days, New Jersey couldn’t handle five online poker networks. Ultimate Poker was the first to bow out of the New Jersey market.

Ultimate Poker and its parent company, Ultimate Gaming, cited the Trump Entertainment bankruptcy as the reason it left the New Jersey online gaming market. This was due to nonpayment of royalties in months by its former Atlantic City partner.

Betfair closed its online poker site in December 2014. It had virtually zero players for most of its one year of operations.

888 and WSOP.com merged a majority of the two sites’ player pools. The two New Jersey online poker rooms used the same platforms but had separate player pools before the January 2015 merger.

In April 2018, New Jersey joined the interstate online poker compact with Nevada and Delaware to create a tri-state liquidity pool. As the only operator in all three states, WSOP.com announced new player rewards and promotions to celebrate the exciting launch for players.

WSOP.com NJ review — an exclusive offer of $10 free!

Exclusive to USPoker.com, follow our link and use the coupon code 10FREE and get a $10 no-deposit bonus at WSOP.com. New players will also receive the deposit bonus, 100 percent up to $400 first-deposit bonus.

It clears at a rate of $10 for every $50 in rake or tournament fees paid. New players can also receive a free$10 in chips.

PokerStars NJ review

Resorts partnered with PokerStars, the world’s largest online poker site. PokerStars secured a New Jersey gaming license and launched on March 21, 2016. It’s currently the largest NJ online poker site.

PokerStars offers new players at $30 free play for a $20+ deposit, $20 in cash play and $10 in Sit & Go tickets.

888 Poker NJ review — $20 free!

888 offers new depositors a 100 percent, up to $1,500 first-deposit bonus. It clears at the same rate as the WSOP.com bonus.

There is also a $20 no-deposit bonus. New sign-ups get $4 in poker chips and six $1 tournament entries.

Pala Poker NJ review

Pala Poker is the newest online poker site launched in New Jersey. New players are given $15 free with bonus code OVBONUS.

New depositors are given 100 percent up to $500.

PartyPoker NJ review

PartyPoker is on the same network as Borgata poker. It offers a 100 percent, up to $1,000 bonus, to new depositors.

It clears at a rate of $1 for every $2 in rake or tournament fees paid and is released in 10 equal increments.

Players that do not wish to make a deposit will qualify for a $25 in free chips with bonus code MAXBONUS. This includes $10 in poker chips, $5 in tournament tickets and $10 in New Jersey casino free play.

Borgata poker review

Borgata is the most-profitable casino in Atlantic City regarding gaming revenue. It uses software powered by bwin.party.

The Borgata poker site offers new players a 100 percent, up to $600, first-deposit bonus. It clears at a rate of $1 for every $2 in rake and tournament fees paid — the bonus releases in 10 equal increments.

Players that are not ready to deposit may take advantage of a free $10 in chips. Players receive an additional $10 in pending bonus.

playMGM poker review

PlayMGM launched in 2017 as the third poker site on Borgata’s license. It operates in much the same way that its sister sites (Borgata and PartyPoker) do, and uses GVC’s software platform to power the site.

New players to playMGM can receive $25 free, just for signing up. The only requirements are that the player is 21 or older and physically located in New Jersey.

Additionally, playMGM will match 100 percent of the player’s first deposit. The match extends to $1,000, so playMGM is home to one of the most generous offers in all of New Jersey.

Atlantic City partnerships

New Jersey requires all software companies to partner with an Atlantic City casino to operate in the New Jersey online gaming market. These are the current partnerships.

Several New Jersey sites do not spread poker and only offer house-banked casino games.

Poker and casino

• Borgata Casino and Borgata Poker/PartyPoker and Casino/playMGM Poker and Casino
• Harrah’s Casino/WSOP/888 Poker and 888 Casino
• PokerStarsand Resorts

Casino-only

• Tropicana and Virgin
• Golden Nugget and Betfair
• Caesars Casino and Caesars
• Resorts and Sportech NYX Gaming
• Mohegan Sun Casino and Sportech NYX Gaming

New Jersey online poker cash games

The most popular online poker game in New Jersey is No Limit Texas Hold ’em. It is common to find this game in blinds starting at 1-2 cents up to $1-$2 during most hours of the day. Six max and full ring tables are spread.

The other popular online poker games in New Jersey are Pot Limit Omaha and Pot Limit Omaha High/Low. These have blinds that start at pennies and often run from 1 cent to $1.

Seven Card Stud and Seven Card Stud High/Low are available in New Jersey. The action at these tables is scarce.

NJ poker Sit & Go tournaments

Most New Jersey Sit & Go tournaments are No Limit Texas Hold ’em. The lowest buy-in is $1.

Peak hours spread Sit & Gos up to the $25 level. Sit & Gos have a spread as high as $200. A handful of Pot Limit Omaha and Pot Limit Omaha High/Low Sit & Go tournaments are available during peak hours.

NJ online poker tournaments

There are more than $300,000 in weekly guaranteed poker tournaments in New Jersey. Borgata and PartyPoker combine to offer a $200 buy-in tournament that has a $50,000 guaranteed prize pool. This doubles to $100,000 once a month.

WSOP.com and 888 offer a $200 buy-in every Sunday where the prize pool varies. It is anywhere from $25,000 to $50,000, depending on the weekend.

Both networks spread at least a dozen guaranteed tournaments every day of the week. Most are rebuy and add-on events. Virtually all are No-limit Texas Hold ’em.

New Jersey geolocation

Players must be located in New Jersey at the time of log-in to sit at real money tables.

New Jersey poker and casino sites use multiple layers of geolocation software to determine whether a player is eligible. A wireless device determines the location of a player based on other connections within reach of the player.

Cellphone triangulation is also used. To determine a player’s location, they use local cellphone towers to ping their mobile device. The IP of the connection must also be in New Jersey.

A player that meets the site’s location requirements may play for real money immediately. Players that cannot be located can disconnect and attempt again within seconds. The success rate of this technology is over 99 percent.

New Jersey legal online poker timeline

New Jersey legalized and regulated online poker and casino games in February 2013. A bill originally passed the New Jersey Legislature in December 2012.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie conditionally vetoed the first version of the bill. Christie demanded that they raise the tax from 10 to 15 percent and that more funds go toward problem gambling programs.

The New Jersey Legislature quickly obliged. They signed the bill into law within a matter of days.

This was not the first attempt to legalize and regulate online poker and casino games in New Jersey. An online gambling bill passed the state legislature in January 2011. Gov. Christie vetoed the bill, citing constitutional concerns.

At the time, Christie felt that offering online gambling outside of Atlantic City violated the state constitution, even if the location of the servers was in Atlantic City. That opinion clearly changed before February 2013.

It only took New Jersey nine months to put regulations and licensing into place. A soft launch of online poker and casino games occurred on Nov. 21, 2013. This was a five-day beta testing period that went well for all but one licensee.

Full regulated online gaming went live on Nov. 26, 2013. Golden Nugget missed the original launch date. It was able to go live in December 2013.

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NJ online poker FAQ

When did New Jersey online gaming launch?

New Jersey online poker and casino games soft-launched on Nov. 21, 2013. It opened to all New Jersey residents within a few days.

What online poker rooms are live in New Jersey?

There are seven online poker sites live in New Jersey:

1. PartyPoker
2. Borgata
3. WSOP
4. PokerStars
5. 888
6. Pala Poker
7. playMGM Poker

What poker networks are there in New Jersey?

There are four poker networks in New Jersey.

• WSOP.com and 888
• Borgata and playMGM and Party Poker

Do New Jersey sites offer casino games and poker?

Yes, any game approved in Atlantic City may be offered over the internet.

Does a player have to be in New Jersey to use regulated gaming sites?

Yes, players must be located within New Jersey at the time of play.

Does a player have to be a New Jersey resident?

No, visitors are welcome to play while in the state.

How does a site know if a player is in New Jersey?

A player’s IP address determines the computer’s location. Cellphone triangulation and Wi-Fi positioning determine the location of the player.

This technology allows multiple cellphone towers to ping a phone to determine its location, as well as local wireless signals.

How accurate is cellphone triangulation?

Cellphone triangulation may be off by as much as one mile. Players located within one mile of the state line will likely face exclusion due to this issue.

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How old do you have to be to play at New Jersey regulated online casinos?

Players must be at least 21 years of age at the time of play. This is the same age as Atlantic City casinos.

Will New Jersey poker sites network with other states or countries?

New Jersey poker sites did not network with other states at first, but in May 2018 the state joined Nevada and Delaware to create a tri-state online poker network. Poker players in New Jersey can compete with players in Nevada and Delaware only on WSOP.com. International player pools are unlikely in the near future.

Are player to player transfers allowed?

New Jersey does not permit player-to-player transfers due to money laundering and other fraud concerns.

Why did Ultimate Poker close in New Jersey?

Ultimate Poker and UCasino’s partner Trump Entertainment, the parent company of Trump Taj Mahal and Trump Plaza, filed for bankruptcy protection in September 2014. Ultimate Poker’s parent company stated it was owed $1.5 million by Trump Entertainment.

They had to cut their losses and leave the New Jersey market. It also left the Nevada market on Nov. 17, 2014. It has since ceased all operations. All the players were paid.

What happened to Betfair New Jersey’s poker site?

Betfair’s poker site never drew action in New Jersey. It decided to close its online poker business in the state. Betfair still operates a casino site in New Jersey and all gaming products, including poker, in most other countries.

NJ online poker banking

How can a player deposit at New Jersey poker and casino sites?

Cash deposits at casino cages are mandated by New Jersey interactive gaming law. Credit cards, debit cards, electronic checks and any other method approved by gaming regulators will be accepted.

Options other than cash deposits will be up to the individual site. Prepaid debit cards will not be an option unless the player’s name is imprinted on the card. Neteller, Skrill and PayNearMe are among the unique banking options.

Does a player have to be in New Jersey at the time of deposit?

No, players will be able to deposit without being in New Jersey.

How can a player withdraw from New Jersey poker and casino sites?

Cash withdrawals at NJ online gambling sites are mandated by New Jersey interactive gaming law. Other options include electronic checks and paper checks. Credit and debit cards may only be used for withdrawal if the same card was used for the deposit.

Skrill and Neteller debit cards are available for withdrawals.

Does a player have to be in New Jersey to request a withdrawal?

No, a player may request a withdrawal from anywhere.

PokerStars PA is up and running in Pennsylvania at last. The site got off with a bang, with more than 600 players on the site during the first night of testing. That number surpassed how many people were playing on PokerStars New Jersey during peak hours. even though online poker has been up and running in New Jersey since 2013.

With so much interest in the game, there is room for online poker in Pennsylvania to really excel. This is just the start of what will likely be the biggest online poker market in the United States.

For now, PA poker games are ring-fenced. This means that tables will not be shared with poker players from other regulated states like New Jersey and Nevada.

This page covers everything poker-related for Pennsylvania. You’ll find a list of the poker rooms expected in the Keystone State, along with their live casino partners. After this, you’ll find a brief explanation of how the new online poker sites will work. Bonuses, deposits and a detailed PA poker FAQ are located at the bottom of this page.

Pennsylvania online poker partnerships

Three major international brands already partnered with Pennsylvania casinos, with only PokerStars and Mount Airy Casino live with their online poker product. More announcements are expected soon to clarify plans for online poker.

Here are the high-profile partnerships:

#1 – Mount Airy Casino and PokerStars: This partnership brought the first major site live in Pennsylvania. PokerStars is the biggest online poker room worldwide. They are known for their excellent software platform. The site launched with your basic offerings like MTTs, cash games, and Sit & Gos. Other features available in New Jersey like Zoom Poker and Spin & Gos will be added at a later date.

#2 – Valley Forge Casino and GVC / partypoker: One of the oldest poker brands, partypoker (owned by GVC holdings) already has established partnerships in New Jersey. Their software has changed dramatically since they left the US in 2006, though this brand remains popular among recreational players.

#3 – Harrah’s Casino and 888 / WSOP.com: 888 has worked with Caesars Entertainment properties in other states and are expected to run under the Harrah’s Philadelphia license in Pennsylvania. By combining the WSOP.com and 888 player pools, this site currently has the biggest active player pool of the state-regulated sites.

This is the full list of the PA casinos which have licenses to open online poker rooms:

How legal online poker sites in Pennsylvania work

For online casinos and sportsbooks, you’ll normally access the website to enjoy gambling. Poker sites are different. Most players prefer to download a desktop software client to access the games. This gives you all the game types, and the ability to comfortably multi-table (play more than one table at a time). It also ensures the games are stable. Avoiding the client crashing just as you get dealt pocket aces is important.

You will also be able to download Android apps for some sites, giving you mobile options. Apple apps are expected to follow once new technical requirements requested at the App Store have been resolved.

PokerStars PA launched with both an Android and an iOS app available.

When you access the poker rooms, you will find four main poker formats. Which are available (and have games running) will depend on the size of the player pool at each site.

Here are the main formats:

• Cash games: Your chips have a real monetary value and can be topped up to the table maximum at any time. Online poker cash games start at $2 buy-ins (micro-stakes) up to around $1,000+ buy-ins. The stakes at these tables range from $.02/$.04 to $1,000/$2,000. Tables typically have two, six, or nine players.
• Poker tournaments: A knockout format where each player starts with a stack of chips in exchange for their buy-in. The bet sizes increase steadily, and play continues until one player has all the chips. Expect 10% or so of the field to get prizes. There are many variations in speed, poker game type, and the ability to rebuy or re-enter if you bust.
• Sit & Go tournaments: Usually single table games, these kick off whenever a table is full. New variations include PokerStars’ Spin & Go. These are three-handed games with a random prize pool of up to 10,000x your buy-in.
• Fast-fold poker: This innovation dispenses with the waiting time while other players finish hands by taking you to a new hand as soon as you fold. Players sit in pools rather than individual tables. Fast fold poker is used for both cash games and tournaments but is not available in Pennsylvania yet.

At international sites, there are a lot of poker variations to enjoy. The smaller player pools in Pennsylvania will mean that only No-Limit Hold’em and some Omaha variations like PLO and PLO8 will be available. If PA joins a wider group of state sites then Stud, Draw, and mixed games could become available.

Pennsylvania online poker: Bonuses and promotions

The online poker sites which have the most players in PA will have a huge advantage over competitors. PokerStars got a leg up on the competition as the first to market and exceeded expectations right away, taking in nearly $2 million in rake and tournament fees in its first month back in November.

As the number of players grows, bigger tournaments, better promotions, and a wider choice of cash games will become available. This has the effect of attracting more players.

Once more online poker rooms go live in Pennsylvania, there will be fierce competition for new players. You can take advantage of this by getting your bankroll off to a great start thanks to the sites’ big marketing budgets and generous bonus offers.

Based on poker rooms in other regulated states, here is what to expect:

• No-deposit bonuses: Some poker sites will offer completely free chips, no deposit needed. This will sometimes come in the form of buy-ins to different tournaments or cash games. You’ll need to play this money through a set number of times before it can be withdrawn.
• Matched welcome bonuses: Expect your first deposit to be given a 100% (or better) match. Some sites offer up to $1,000 in bonus money this way. This is usually released in increments as you play.
• Freeroll tournaments: New players will be given access to beginners or depositors freerolls with real money prize pools. There may be additional entries based on loyalty schemes or future deposits.
• Reload bonuses: If your bankroll gets depleted, you will usually be offered an extra bonus to reload. Be advised these are usually smaller offers than the initial deposit bonus.
• Loyalty schemes: Poker sites all handle their loyalty programs differently. For PokerStars PA, expect to be awarded treasure chests, which have prizes tailored to your individual gambling preferences.

Depending on the brand, you might also be offered crossover promotions for the different gambling verticals.

Sports betting and casino games are well established in Pennsylvania, with many of the license holders for poker involved in all three industries. For example, players can now sign up for Fox Bet online sports betting and also access the PokerStars PA online poker and online casino verticals.

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Depositing and withdrawing at PA online poker rooms

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With poker being a skill game, more players will withdraw money than the other gambling verticals. You’ll have a lot of choices for how to get your money on board and your profits back off again.

While not all the online poker rooms will have all of the methods listed, the deposit methods below are the most commonly accepted.

• Credit / debit cards: Instant payments can be made with your regular bank cards. Visa and MasterCard are accepted by all the sites. Some sites will also allow deposits with Discover cards as well.
• Prepaid Play+ cards: Many gambling sites have branded debit cards. These add security and can be used for withdrawing your winnings. Then players can access funds via ATMs.
• Casino cage: You’ll be able to deposit and withdraw at the casino associated with each of the poker room brands.
• PayNearMe: This is another way of depositing cash, this time via 7-Eleven or CVS stores. Note that the fixed costs make this expensive for smaller deposits.
• PayPal: This is a popular online wallet system. It is used as a secure bridge between your bank and online merchants. PayPal is used for both deposits and withdrawals. However, do not be surprised if this option is not available at most online poker sites. The fees associated with PayPal, combined with the high tax rates for PA online operators mean this will be a rare option, not a common one.
• Neteller / Skrill: Owned by the same company, these wallet services work in a similar way to PayPal. They have been popular with poker players internationally for many years. Like PayPal, there is a chance these will not be available at every site because of hefty fees.
• eChecks: Also known as ACH transfers, this poker deposit method comes directly from your bank. You can get pre-verified, making your eCheck deposits and withdrawals instant.
• Bill pay: If you use a major bank, you might already pay your utility bills with Bill Pay. Paying into your poker account works in the same way. This banking option is not used for withdrawals.
• Bank wire: This is a slower way to transfer from your bank, though can still be used if you wish to securely transfer large amounts.
• Money order / paper check: Another slower banking method welcomed by many sites. If there are no alternative ‘online’ methods, you can withdraw your profits via a paper check.

Is online poker legal in PA?

How To Obtain Online Gambling License

Yes. Seven casinos took up the poker license, most as part of a package deal.

Instead of $4 million per gambling vertical, several PA casinos paid $10 million for poker, online slots, and online table games licenses. Many also spent $10 million for a separate sports betting license.

It has taken a long time since the gambling expansion act (H 271) of 2017 was passed for online poker games to appear. License holders prioritized sports betting and casinos as these have higher revenue than poker.

At 16%, the tax rate for online poker games for the operators is lower than for slots (54%) and sports betting (36%). It shares the same tax rate as online table games.

Live poker in Pennsylvania

There are 10 live poker rooms in Pennsylvania. They are:

• Harrah’s Philadelphia: This poker room is branded using the World Series of Poker name. It is open 24/7 and has 28 tables featuring cash games and tournaments. Types of poker include the popular No-Limit Hold’em, Seven-Card Stud, and Omaha.
• Mohegan Sun Pocono: Located close to Wilkes-Barre, this poker room holds 18 tables. Daily tournaments include bounty events. The room also offers bad beat and royal flush jackpots for cash games.
• Parx Casino: This is one of the bigger poker rooms, hosting 48 tables including a separated three-table high-limit poker room. Parx is located at Bensalem, northeast of Philadelphia. They hold big buy-in tournament events, as well their own regular schedule of tournaments and cash games.
• Rivers Casino: Located in Pittsburgh, Rivers Casino hosts a 30-table poker room, which covers more than 8,000 square feet. Hourly high-hand bonuses keep the cash games lively, while bigger buy-in tournament events run alongside their busy weekly schedule.
• The Meadows Casino: Rather than a separate room, the 14 poker tables at The Meadows are on the main casino floor. You’ll have a view of the live racing while you play. This room is located 25 miles southwest of Pittsburgh, at Strabane Township.
• Hollywood Casino: This live poker venue is located at the Penn National Racecourse, at Grantville, PA. They have 17 tables and run cash games with a high hand promotion. Tournaments include both standard and turbo blind options.
• Mount Airy Casino: The poker parlor at the Mount Airy resort in northwest PA is a smaller live poker venue. With only nine tables, Texas Hold’em is the only variation you will find here.
• Presque Isle Casino: This is the smallest poker room in Pennsylvania, with only seven tables. While most rooms are 24/7, this one opens at 10 a.m. / 12 p.m. and continues only as long as there is substantial play. Single and multi-table tournaments are advertised, in addition to cash games.
• Sugarhouse Casino: Located in Philadelphia, Sugarhouse offers a 24/7 poker room which holds 28 tables. High hand and bad beat jackpots are run. Buy-ins for their cash games range from $60 to $3,000.
• Wind Creek Casino: This 28-table live poker room is located close to Bethlehem, PA. This was previously known as Sands Casino. With a complimentary beverage service, tableside dining, and a lot of TV’s showing sporting action, this poker room is advertised as state of the art.