New Jersey Sports Betting Mobile Apps: Top 7 Sportsbooks

The forefront of Legal US Sports Betting – New Jersey’s Role

One state stands out as one of the leaders who fought for state-rights against a federal ban on sports betting. New Jersey already had a strong casino industry, and there was strong interest in allowing these businesses to take bets on sporting games without violating federal laws. New Jersey lawmakers stayed the course and overcame numerous challenges.

In June 2108, less than one month after the US Supreme Court overturned the federal ban on sports bets, the first legal sports bet was made in the Garden State. As we inch closer to the two-year anniversary of that first bet, here's how we reached this point, plus some other details covering New Jersey sportsbooks.

New Jersey's Best Sports Betting Apps

There are more than a dozen licensed sportsbook apps operating in New Jersey. Some have been more financially successful than others individually, but the mobile sports betting revenue in the state exceeded even the loftiest expectations. Here are the current live sportsbook apps in New Jersey.

DraftKings Sportsbook

We'll start first with the first. In a partnership agreement with Kambi, DraftKings launched the first sportsbook app. One of the two leaders in daily fantasy sports games, DraftKings has catapulted to the top of the mobile betting industry. Since that first bet on August 6, 2018, DraftKings has generated billions in online betting revenue.

You can bet on just about every major sport with DraftKings, including collegiate sports like men’s basketball and football. One of DraftKings’ best features is its betslip and how simple wagering is made on both the browser site and mobile app.

When you join DraftKings Sports in New Jersey using Daily Fantasy Cafe’s unique links, you can get a deposit bonus worth up to $1,000. This bonus is a 20% match on your first deposit. Following this first deposit, you will also earn a $50 bet with the code.

BetMGM Sportsbook

The BetMGM was the second app to launch. They pulled the launch trigger 16 days after DraftKings. Their sportsbook app is integrated with its casino and poker operations. You can use BetMGM on mobile or desktop. The app is affiliated with MGM's casino operations.

BetMGM, owned by MGM Resorts International, has one of the best loyalty programs in all of American sports betting. This is because M life rewards are not just for online betting. M-life rewards can also be used on MGM Resorts in real life. Things such as room comps and VIP treatment are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to rewards you can use.

BetMGM New Jersey has a fantastic offer when you use the promo code “CAFE” at registration. You can get a bet worth up to $1,000 for . There is no catch, you simply will be awarded this insured bet upon creating your account.

FanDuel Sportsbook

DraftKings’ DFS rival FanDuel was a leg behind their competitor in stepping into the New Jersey sports betting scene. FanDuel was an early player in physical sportsbook operations but landed an app partnership shortly thereafter. FanDuel has a linked affiliation with the Meadowlands Racetrack and launched its mobile app on September 1, 2018.

FanDuel has tons of great features, but something that makes it stick out from the crowd is the number of parlay options offered. Not only does FanDuel have parlay insurance for just about every kind of parlay available under its promotions tab, but it also has tons of customizable options. FanDuel has same-game parlays, something rare among sportsbooks. This means that you can create your own parlay for a single sporting event with little to no restriction.

FanDuel rewards new users a $1,000 bet upon sign up when using the links that you can find below. This bet can be extremely lucrative if you are able to cash in and win the bet. However, if you lose, you will receive site credit equal to that of your stake up to $1,000

Fox Bet

It took less than three days for the first major broadcast player to become involved in sports betting. FoxBet has no direct betting partnership, but they are an affiliate of Rupert Murdoch's Fox Corp. FoxBet launched mobile operations on September 13, affiliated with the same Resorts Atlantic City as DraftKings.

Ever since launching its sportsbook in New Jersey, Fox Bet continues to improve its sportsbook. It has added more options when it comes to wagering, support, and promotions. You can now find hundreds of wagering options for each major sporting event. There is also a long list of boosted odds and different forms of ongoing promotions on the site. If you run into any issues, there is now a more responsive customer care team to help you out.

Fox Bet New Jersey’s promotional offer for new users comes in at a $500 bet. The bet is valid for one wager, and if you are to lose, you will be paid out with a single bet worth the stake that you lost. While not the largest promotional offer, it does allow users to try out the sportsbook without carrying any

PointsBet

PointsBet was the last app to launch in 2018. Like FanDuel, they have a land-based affiliation with the Meadowlands Racetrack. PointsBet doesn't have a direct sports betting partnership, using their own parent company's reputation.

PointsBet, an Australian bookmaker which is backed by NBC Sports in the United States, has to be one of the most unique and versatile sportsbooks in all of America. PointsBet not only has all the normal odds that you will find on most sportsbooks, but it also has PointsBetting. PointsBetting is a form of wagering that is high-, high-rewards where you win or lose more depending on how correct you are about the wager. One could make the comparison of fixed-odds being similar to buying stocks while PointsBetting is buying options.

PointsBet has a whopping $2,000 worth of bets for its new users. This bonus breaks down into $500 for fixed odds and $1,500 for PointsBetting. Both parts are worth one bet where you could win tons of cash. You can click on the link below to get access to this massive bonus.

Other Sportsbooks

SugarHouse Sportsbook – The very next day after the BetMGM announcement, SugarHouse sportsbook launched their app. Sugarhouse is affiliated with the same Monmouth Park Racetrack and also inked a sports betting partnership with Kambi.

Caesars – Caesar's has a world-renowned reputation on the Las Vegas Strip. Their longstanding presence on the Atlantic City Boardwalk is equally unmistakable. It came as little surprise that their gaming partnership with Scientific Games and link to their own casino operations made them one of the earliest to launch a sportsbook app on September 6, 2018.

888Sport – September 2018 had the most sportsbook app launches in New Jersey. 888Sports, through an affiliation with the same Caesars Casino in Atlantic City, launched their app. This was the third sportsbook app partnership with Kambi.

BetAmerica – BetAmerica was one of the first launches of 2019. They are affiliated with the Golden Nugget at Atlantic City with a sports betting partnership of SBTech.

New Jersey Online Sports Betting Overview

Nearly three decades ago, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) became law. It essentially made it a federal crime to bet on sports games at any level. There were a few exceptions, such as Nevada, but more than likely if you bet on sports you committed a crime.

After 17 years of grumbling about how this law no longer addressed its intended purpose, New Jersey State Senator Ray Lesniak filed a federal lawsuit. It deemed the PASPA unconstitutional, insisting that each state had the right to determine the legality of sports betting on their own.

Lesniak's lawsuit was thrown out of court two years later, but it started a wave of discussions. New Jersey lawmakers did not let the issue die there. Over the next three years, Lesniak would introduce the Sports Wagering Act, plus secure the support of five major professional sports leagues.

The target was to overturn the PASPA as unconstitutional. There were federal junctions issued and appeals filed. The next six years were filled with an array of legal filings and more lawsuits. The NFL, MLB, and NHL among others, waged their own legal battle against the PASPA.

Lawyers finally got the New Jersey case back in front of the US Supreme Court in June 2017. Just less than one year later, nearly a decade of legal battles ended when the court overturned the PASPA and ruled it unconstitutional.

As the leader in the battle against illegal sports betting, New Jersey has also been a test model for how the new doms would work in other states. Almost as soon as the ink dried on the Supreme Court's ruling, New Jersey was off to the races to build a sports betting industry.

Racetracks already in operation were the obvious first place for sportsbooks to begin. Less than a month after the monumental court ruling, Governor Phil Murphy placed the ceremonial first legal bet in the state at the Monmouth Racetrack in Oceanport.

The governor's first bets were losers, but sports betting has been a huge winner for the Garden State since. By the end of 2018, it was estimated that New Jersey sportsbooks took in over $3 billion in wagers on sporting events.

The challenges were many, most of them coming from federal courts looking to stop any state from making it legal to bet on sports. New Jersey wasn't the only state with an interest in this fight.

However, they were clearly at the forefront and a key player in something that changed the gambling landscape across the nation. Since June 2018, more than a dozen more states have followed New Jersey's model and written new legislation to make sports betting legal.

There have been a lot of things that happen since that first bet slip at Monmouth. Let's talk about who the players have been, and how much winning this battle has meant to New Jersey financially.

Where are New Jersey's Physical Sportsbooks Locations?

New Jersey's online sportsbook revenue has been tremendous, but it all began with physical locations. It's also convenient to place a bet from a handheld device, but there is nothing to match the excitement of betting on games at a sportsbook lounge, watching the action unfold on massive big screen TVs. Here are the current sportsbook locations in New Jersey.

The Moneyline Bar & Book – This was one of two physical locations to open on June 14, 2018. Located at the Borgata casino, The Moneyline Bar & Book is a sports betting partner of IGT. There are comfortable customer lounge areas and full dinner and bar options for customers.

FanDuel Sportsbook – One month after the first pair of physical sports betting locations opened, FanDuel opened their doors to sports betters at the Meadowlands Racetrack. Partnering BetFair and IGT, FanDuel's physical location helped to build their reputation ahead of launching their successful mobile app.

Wild Wild West Sportsbook – Bally's got in on the sports betting scene by opening up the Wild Wild West Sportsbook on July 30. It is one of the more unique facilities for sportsbooks. The sportsbook lounge is a favorite for socializing, and they partner with Scientific Games.

The Book – Harrah's followed FanDuel's Meadowlands opening two weeks later. The Book partners with Scientific Games. Part of Bally's at Atlantic City, The Book has real-life stadium style seating to enjoy the games you bet on.

DraftKings Sportsbook at Resorts – FanDuel's rival in the daily fantasy sports industry waited one month and day to open their own sportsbook in New Jersey. DraftKings Sportsbook at Resorts partners with Kambi and SBTech. Within weeks, DraftKings operation proved a huge driving force behind their statewide most successful sports betting app.

The Sportsbook – On the same day, August 15, that DraftKings opened their sportsbook, the Golden Nugget announced the grand opening of The Sportsbook inside their world-famous casino. The Sportsbook also uses SBTech as their sports betting partner. The only drawback to betting at the Golden Nugget is that you cannot bet on NBA games due to owner conflict.

Hard Rock Sportsbook – The Hard Rock is the only current sportsbook operation to partner with the Gaming Innovation Group. They opened in late January 2019. The Hard Rock facility was originally the Trump Taj Mahal and is located on the Boardwalk in Atlantic City.

New Jersey Betting Revenue

New Jersey's total sports betting take has surpassed $3 billion since the first bet in 2018. The amount of state revenue sports betting would generate has been greater than even the loftiest projection could have imagined.

Many knew sports betting in a state with a large casino and racetrack industry would be successful. The foundation for sports betting in New Jersey was solid. But, what seemed to be potentially lucrative for state revenue counters has turned into a windfall.

Sports betting generated over $300,000 in tax revenue in July 2018 alone. This was only the first full month of operations. These numbers have climbed steadily with but a few drops during lean times in the professional sports schedule.

Now these numbers have grown to amounts that boggle the mind. Sports betting revenue in New Jersey since the first launch in 2018 is inching closer to a half a billion dollars. State tax coffers have been filled with more than $50 million in tax dollars.

In 2020 New Jersey surpassed the $6 billion mark in sports betting handle. The amount of betting, despite a global pandemic, has skyrocketed. New Jersey is the leader in sports betting in the United States, and no one is really close. While New Jersey may seem some decrease in betting once New York legalizes mobile sports wager, it will continue to be a lucrative revenue stream for the state.

How Has New Jersey Benefited from Sports Betting?

The earliest benefits to the state from legal sports betting were solely monetary. In the first few months, the state would begin to see the intrinsic benefits attached to being the first state outside of Nevada to welcome sports bettors.

The tourism and travel industry reported a huge increase in business during the last half of 2018. In July alone, New Jersey took in more than $40 million in sports wagers split between two racetracks and three casino sportsbooks.

Beginning in October 2018, New Jersey's sports betting numbers rocketed up more than 87 percent during a one-year period. In October 2019, New Jersey sportsbooks reported more than $500 million in sports betting wagers.

The attraction of sports betting also helped raise the casino traffic in the state. Racetracks were barely breaking even during the last year leading up to the first sports wager. Since, both racetrack and casino traffic in the state have risen dramatically.

Anything in New Jersey that benefits from the state's budget has benefited in some way. Tax dollars have been used to improve schools, roads and other aspects of New Jersey's infrastructure. It has proved a win-win for sports fans and New Jersey residents alike.

Who Can Bet on Sports in New Jersey?

There are a couple factors that determine who can bet on sports in New Jersey. One is age, and the second involves location. If you're 21-years-old or older, you meet criteria number one. The second deserves a little more explanation.

Some mistakenly assume that you need to be a New Jersey resident to bet on sports. That's not accurate. While anyone who lives in New Jersey can bet on sports in New Jersey, your residency has no bearing on whether or not you can bet on sports.

The rule is that you must be in the state. That means you could be from Europe visiting the United States and if you're in New Jersey you can place bets sporting contests. There isn't a residency requirement to bet in New Jersey, just a geographical location requirement.

This inside the state border requirement, and the slow process in which neighboring New York State legalized sports betting, is why millions of revenue dollars navigated their way across state lines.

Once New Jersey legalized sports betting, it was actually rather surprising that New York's lawmakers took as long they did to open sportsbook options to their residents. Prior to launching the first online sportsbook app it's estimated New York handed New Jersey upwards of $100 million in sports betting revenue.