Every online betting site is different: Some sportsbooks will have the best odds, while others will have better promotions. Some might have a good reputation in the industry and others might have black marks against their names. Hopefully some might be perfect for your needs.

The PlayRight team is here to put all that information into your hands, so you can sign up to a NJ online sports betting site in full confidence you have made the right choice. The experts at PlayRight review the top bookmaker sites in New Jersey, providing an impartial analysis of each sportsbook and highlighting pros and cons to help you make an informed decision before you place that first bet online.

Legal Sports Betting in New Jersey

Is sports betting legal in New Jersey? Yes. The State of New Jersey has authorized legal online sports betting. The first legal sportsbook, DraftKings, went live on August 1st, 2018, and was soon followed by several other website and app launches from major betting companies. Indeed, in May 2019, sports betting revenue in New Jersey even exceeded that of Nevada.

How We Choose the Best NJ Betting Sites

Our aim is to guide you towards the very best sports betting sites. As we review each sportsbook, and hopefully giving it our seal of approval, we focus on five key areas:

Safety and Trustworthiness – The sportsbook must carry an official license from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (NJDGE). In addition, our team looks at other factors to determine trustworthiness, including player testimonials, disputes and the brand’s reputation in the wider gambling industry.

Betting Markets – It’s crucial that you find your favorite sports, teams and markets to bet on. Our goal is to highlight the range of markets and judge their quality. It’s important that major sports are covered, but the best sportsbooks bring niche markets too.

Odds Quality – Perhaps the most important factor of all is that a sportsbook is offering the best betting odds online. We analyze the lines from different bookmakers, comparing the prices in order to determine the best sports betting site with the most generous odds.

Payment Methods – Offering a varied range of fast and reliable payment methods is a must. In addition, the sportsbook should ensure that your financial transactions are secure by using the latest encryption technologies.

Platforms – We look at the range of platforms offered for the online sportsbook, including mobile sports betting, app functionality, site navigation, design and usability.

Free Bets and New Player Offers 

Aside from the key factors listed above, we also evaluate the quality of welcome offers and promotions. The majority of sportsbooks will offer some sort of incentive for signing up and/or making a first deposit. In addition, the best sports betting sites online should offer regular promotions to retain your business.

Some NJ sports betting sites will offer free bets or other incentives simply for signing up, whereas others will require you to make a deposit in order to release free bets or bonus cash. Below is a guide to some of the betting promotions you can expect from top betting sites:

Free Bet – a token that allows you to place a risk-free bet. Normally, the stake is not returned with any winnings.

No Deposit Free Bet/No Deposit Bonus – a promotion that gives you a free bet or bonus cash without the need to make a deposit. This may require registration or a promotion code.

Enhanced Odds – sportsbooks will sometimes offer enhanced odds on a betting market as a promotion to encourage new customers or retain existing ones.

Matched Bet – a type of free bet that matches the value of your original bet. Sometimes this will come in the form of a refunded stake if your initial bet loses.

It should be noted that there are usually terms and conditions attached to sportsbook promotions: You may have to use a free bet within a specific timeframe; you may have to choose a betting line with a minimum odds threshold; you may have to wager the value of free bet winnings before withdrawal. Our betting team looks at these promotional terms and provides an unbiased analysis on their fairness. Moreover, we will also point you in the direction of the most generous sports betting offers.

A Guide to Online Sports Betting 

Not everyone will be an expert bettor, and it’s important to know how it works and some of the terminology used before you place a bet online:

Betting Types

Below is a list of the different types of bets that can be made on sports:

Moneyline Bet – basically a straight bet on the winner of a game. E.g. Ravens to beat the Patriots in an NFL game. (As if.)

Spread Bet – a bet wherein one team will have a theoretical handicap and another an advantage. E.g. the Yankees to beat the Red Sox with a (theoretical) 2 run advantage in an MLB game.

Totals (Over/Under) – a bet on some aspect of a game having over or under a certain amount at the end of the game. E.g. LA Galaxy to have over or under 10.5 corners in an MLS game.

Props Bet – a props bet covers anything in the game that doesn’t relate to the win/lose outcome. E.g. Golden State Warriors to score more than 30 points in the 1st quarter.

Parlay Bet – a combination of bets with accumulated odds. All legs must be successful to pay. E.g. Lightning, Bruins, Canadiens and Oilers all to win in a round of NHL games.

Futures Bet – a broad term to mean betting on something long term. E.g. a preseason bet on the New England Patriots to win the Super Bowl.

Live betting – a bet that is placed when the game is ongoing. E.g. placing a bet on Alabama Crimson Tide with a few minutes to go in a College Football game. Odds will be updated in real time.

Cash Out – this is not a bet, but a function that allows you to claim your winnings at a reduced rate before the event has ended. Cash out is especially useful during live events.

Online Betting Apps

Not only has betting through your cellphone become common, it’s arguably become the most likely tool you will use to place a bet. For that reason, the mobile betting experience on cellphones and tablets should match the experience of a desktop site. Most sports gambling sites will provide a betting app for Android and Apple devices. These should be slick, easy to use and offer full betting capabilities. Below are the criteria on which we judge sports betting apps:

• Ease of Use – is the app easy to install and use?
• Full Capability – can you do everything you can do on the desktop site, including claiming registering and claiming bonuses?
• Range of Markets – does the app offer a wide range of sports and betting markets?
• Live Betting – has the app a live betting console and is it reliable?
• Cash Out Function – can the user quickly cash out bets on the app?
• Design and Functionality – does the app have a good design? Are there any issues with bugginess?

Signing Up to a New Jersey Sports Betting Site 

It’s very easy to sign up to a sports gambling site in New Jersey, but there are some legal requirements, including:

• You must be over 21 years old.
• You must be located in New Jersey.

Each NJ sports betting site will have slightly different registration procedures before they allow you to bet online. However, you will need to provide at least some of the following:

• Your name
• Your address

• A valid email address
• D.O.B.
• Phone number
• Your location*

*Most NJ online sports betting sites will use location services to confirm. 

In addition, some NJ sportsbooks will require at least part of your social security number. This could be at the registration stage, or when you make your first deposit.

While the above might seem like a lengthy process, it really only takes a couple of minutes. In addition, PlayRight’s recommended online sportsbooks in New Jersey will ensure your details – personal and financial – are never compromised.

Getting a Bonus

Often when you sign up, you will be directed to enter a promo code or check a box to obtain a welcome bonus. In some cases, the bonus will be dependent on making a deposit or first bet.  As a general guide, you shouldn’t expect to wait more than 24 hours to receive a free bet or other bonus once all the conditions have been met.

Making a Deposit 

Once you have signed up, it will be easy to add a payment method to the site. In fact, you are often prompted to do so while you are in the process of registering. You will also be given the option of controlling your deposits, by setting daily, weekly or monthly limits. The majority of payment methods will fund your balance instantly.

Recommended Sites 

There are many reasons for choosing a bookmaker to bet with, and everyone will have different priorities and tastes. However, some of our top-rated online betting sites include: 888sport NJ, DraftKings Sportsbook, playMGM and SugarHouse Sportsbook. We would encourage you to read our latest reviews to see why we count them among the best NJ online sports betting sites.

Why Choose PlayRight

For several years, PlayRight has been providing expert analysis of the betting and gaming industry around the globe. We pride ourselves on our ability to choose the best online betting sites and to provide impartial reviews on them. Over time, we have earned a reputation as a trusted expert on the gambling industry, allowing our readers to bet with the confidence that they have made an informed decision.

Gamble Responsibly

We at PlayRight love online sports betting for all the fun and entertainment. Keep in mind that fun is what it’s all about. Participating in online sports betting is not a way to earn money and make a living. So if you are starting to feel that you are a bit over your head, stop betting. Online betting sites also list contact details for support organizations (usually found at the bottom of the website or app) that are trained to help and support you.