Resort Casino Hold ’em Poker allows you to play poker online anytime, anywhere in New Jersey. By using promo code NJMAXCASINO, you can access one of the best online poker sites with a welcome offer. WSOP is a major player across the globe and one who we consider being amongst the best online poker sites NJ. Owned by Caesars Interactive Entertainment inc, the site offers a welcome bonus of a 100%.
Learn how to play poker online and find the best online casinos for poker with our expert guide. From the basics of the game to intermediate strategy, you'll find all you need below. We also have recommendations for the best online casinos for poker, with a complete list of all the casinos that offer legal online poker.
We let you know about the latest casinos to offer online poker, the latest tips from experts, and how to use your bonuses to your best advantage.
You can read more about each of these casinos in the List of New Jersey's Online Poker Sitesbelow.
888 is one of the first casinos that ever came on the map, and by teaming up with Harrah's and WSOP (World Series of Poker), they are one of the best places to play poker in New Jersey.
888 has 2 kinds of live dealer poker! They also have a great selection of virtual poker games.
By clicking on the link below, you'll get $20 in bonus money plus up to $1,500 in a matching deposit bonus.
The biggest casino in Atlantic City brings you a string of great promotions and tournaments. These include:
Borgata a great selection of video poker games and good user experience for your online poker.
Get started with their offer of $20 in bonus dollars (10x wager requirement) $600 on matching deposits, with a super low wager requirement of only 20x.
BetMGM is gaining a lot of fans in New Jersey.
With over a dozen types of video poker games and a great user interface, BetMGM is becoming a favorite among poker players.
They start you off with a generous $25 no deposit bonus just for signing up, plus offer a $1,000 matching deposit bonus.
The best poker sites will rank high based on:
User Experience
If you can't access a website, if the app crashes, or if the graphics are so bad you can't see what you're doing, that makes for a bad game. Accessibility, speed, graphics, and generally non-problematic programming have to do with the user experience. As technology improves and there is more competition among online casinos, there is no reason to put up with a poor online casino.
Selection
Next, you'll want to find the specific game you're looking for. If Texas Holdem or Jack or Better is your game, selection may not be as important as user experience. After all, most online casinos that offer poker have these games.
But if you're looking for higher stakes or Aces and Faces poker, your options will be limited. Also, if you're the kind of player who likes to play a few kinds of poker, you'll want a casino with a good selection of poker games.
Bonus and Promotional Offers
Registration bonuses let you start out ahead of the house, plain and simple. If you can find $20 or more in no deposit bonus cash for poker, and couple that with a matching deposit bonus, you give yourself a great head start.
Bonus dollars can take the sting out of a loss and give you some cushion while you're learning a new game or new format. By taking advantage of a casino's registration bonus, you automatically increase your bankroll and decrease the house edge.
Legality
Last, it is important that your online poker site is legal, and that means it must be hosted within a state where online casinos are legal (such as New Jersey, Pennsylvania, or Delaware).
Illegal, off-shore sites are increasingly being denied recognition by credit card companies. And worse, they leave you without legal support if they abuse you.
Online poker is essentially the same game that you would play at a table with friends. The same rules apply to the game. You can play against other real players or a computer.
Online poker comes in 3 types:
You can choose, depending upon your preferences and experience. For this article, we'll focus on online poker and live dealer.
Online poker is a software-based game. The software has a Random Number Generator (RNG) to ensure that the draw of the cards is random, and therefore fair. You'll also notice that:
Live dealer poker is filmed and streamed from a studio in Atlantic City. You have real dealers, real cards, real chips. You can chat with and see the dealers, but they can't see you. So if you have questions or want tips, the dealer can respond.
Most live dealer poker tables offer three-card poker and Holdem.
These New Jersey online casinos offer the best live dealer poker:
Casino | 3-card | Holdem |
---|---|---|
888 | Yes | Yes |
Borgata | No | Yes |
BetMGM | No | Yes |
Caesars | No | Yes |
Golden Nugget | No | Yes |
Hard Rock | Yes | Yes |
PartyCasino | No | Yes |
SugarHouse | Yes | Yes |
1. Find an online poker room. In New Jersey, your options are:
2. Register for an account.
3. You might want to take advantage of a special welcome offer for first-time customers.
4. If you want to play for real money, then deposit. Several poker rooms will let you play for free at novice tables. We're always fans of putting at least a few cents into a game because it will make you take it more seriously.
5. Pick your level, find a table, and begin playing.
Online poker uses a Random Number Generator (RNG) in the software - instead of an actual deck - to assure that the cards are random.
You play against other real players. The online environment it made to give you all the information you would have in a face-to-face game. In short, you can see your cards and those in the pool. Obviously you can't see your opponents'.
No one can see you. This is good news if you don't have a good poker face. But it means that you won't be able to read others' faces either.
These basic tips offer guidelines that are useful for all poker players. These will help you to make the best decisions based on 1) the hand you're dealt, 2) your position, and 3) decisions made by other players.
All casino games involve an element of luck, but poker also involves a significant amount of strategy. That's why you always see the same players at the finals in the poker tournaments: they have a good strategy. Let's look at some of the best strategies to get you winning video poker!
One of the most important aspects of winning in poker is to be sure that you know the order of winnings hands for the game you're playing. You need to be sure that you know what you're working toward and the likelihood of others being able to beat your best hand.
At its most basic level, you are playing to make the strongest hand possible in poker. Below is a list of the order of the strongest hands. Your steps go as follows:
That's simple enough. Let's say you're dealt 4♣ and 6♥, and the shared pile shows 2♠, 4♦,5♠, 7♦, and 10♥. What is the highest hand you can make?
You'll see you already have a low pair (two 4s). Sounds useless, right? Actually it's #16 on the chart, meaning it beats at least 20 other hands. So even though you can make 4♣,4♦,5♠,6♥,7♦ (#21. 4 card Straight with no high cards below), you will want to work with that pair of 4s. That low pair (#16) beats that 4 card Straight (#21). And if you're you're dealt another 4, you'd be even better placed with 3 of a kind (#7).
In fact, even if there were more impressive looking cards in the pile, say 4♦,5♠, 7♦,10♥,Q♦, this would give you a 4 card Straight with 2 high cards (#17). Still, you'd still discard your 6. You're already stronger with the pair of 4s, and you might turn that into a triple.
It is important to know the hand values in any poker game.
One of the primary ways players lose games that they could have won is by not playing aggressively enough. Many players are good at playing defensively, and if you're out of position, that's the right way to play. But if you're in position, i.e., at the back end and close to the button, you need to be on the offense.
You might also want to keep in mind this word of advice: 'If it’s good enough to call, it’s good enough to raise.'
Many new poker players want to stay in the action. Unfortunately staying in can be expensive if you're not playing smart.
In reality, you should only be playing no more than 20% of your hands. That means you should not play at least 80% of your hands.
If your a beginner, and don't have a limitless supply of money, you should be playing tight. That means only play your best hands. If you start out with one of those big pocket pairs (10-10 - AA), then, by all means, try to play it through. But if you're dealt a weak hand, you're better off to fold and watch the action.
But just because you're out of the action, that doesn't mean you can switch off. Be sure that you're actively watching: assess what's happening on the table, put yourself in other players' shoes, try to determine the weaker and stronger players, and keep in mind how your hand might have played out had you continued.
Learning poker even after you've folded is a valuable exercise. It gets you more familiar with your table and poker in general.
Intermediate poker strategy builds upon the basics. You'll want to play in accordance with the order of hands and learn to bluff (selectively) if you're playing against other actual players.
It is crucial to know the advantages you have based on your position at the table. If you're playing in the late position, you stand to make more money here, so pay to win.
When you’re out of position, you don’t know what’s will happen after your play—you might get bluffed or raised. Many bad things could happen. In short, if when you’re out of position, stay on your toes and keep your guard up. Generally, this is the time to play tight and rely only on strong hands.
While there's some debate among expert players and statisticians, they all agree on the first 3 strongest hands to start with:
Most would put A-K suited next. After that, your highest pairs enter in again to make your strongest beginning hands:
Even if you're out of position, these are going to be strong hands. Being in a position with a strong hand just makes it stronger!
Bluffing is probably the most famous move in poker. When you bluff, you play as if you have a stronger hand than you do. In order to win, you do not need to have a stronger hand. You just need to be the last person still playing. So a weaker hand can win.
With value betting, you wager on the fact that your hand is stronger than another player's. Value betting is only effective when you are relatively sure of the value of your opponent's cards.
Indicators of your opponent's hand are:
The best reasons to play online poker are:
Let's look at these two factors in more detail.
Playing from home is not only convenient. It also helps you save money. No money for tips, food, or drinks. That means you can keep that money for yourself to spend as you like.
You can take your poker money saved from your budget on playing more hands or making larger bets. Those are two great ways to increase your winnings!
The key to getting better in poker (and winning) is practice. The masters have played thousands of hours. Since the invention of online poker, you can play whenever you want.
Use your notes and charts to practice making the right decision.
Online poker houses also provide great bonuses, especially for first-time players! These allow you to play for free with bonus dollars. You can take your winnings after satisfying wagering requirements, or just enjoy the free games.
You can also get access to the latest casino promotions. These might be special deals on poker tables, or offers for other games. Casinos also regularly give double rewards points. Be sure to check out the promotions.
There are dozens of poker variants, and you'll find plenty of these online. Let's look at the 3 most popular.
Texas Holdem is the most popular form of poker. You seek to make the best hand (or make everyone else believe you have the best hand!) using your 2 private dealt cards and the 5 cards in the community pool.
The excitement is in combining what is known - i.e., the community cards - with what is not - the players' private cards.
With Omaha, you try to make a winning 5-card hand. You're dealt 3 cards (instead of 4). You use 2 of these and 3 of the 5 community cards.
There are many versions of Omaha, including Omaha Hi, 5-Card Omaha, and Omaha Hi-Lo.
Just like the same says, 3 card poker involves only 3 cards. You're dealt three cards and play only against the dealer. That is, like in blackjack, you play against the dealer, not other players.
There are only two bets:
Due to its simple rules and fast action, 3 card poker is a favorite of many players.
Yes, you can play online poker 100% legally in New Jersey. All of the casinos we list are legal. This means you can use your credit card for payments and receive payments legally. You also have 100% legal protection as a consumer.
Every legal online casino operating from New Jersey must obey New Jersey state laws. Online games are regulated by the Division of Gaming Enforcement.
Online poker software has high security to be sure that no one can, for example, see your cards. Players who are caught colluding will be barred and blacklisted.
Yes, you can play online poker for free if you use a bonus from an online casino. Grab a bonus from one of the links on this page, which can let you play online for free with a casino bonus.
You can also try out a game by playing in a novice room. This great if you're a beginner. However, you cannot win money from free games.
Generally, you cannot play live dealer poker with casino bonus money (check your casino's T&C). Live dealer poker also does not have demo mode.
New Jersey has offered legal online poker since 2013. The state signed a compact in 2018 that shares a player pool with Delaware and Nevada.
We, at Play NJ, will cover several topics regarding New Jersey’s evolving online poker market, including how to play for real money.
New Jersey requires all online poker players to be within its state boundaries. The Garden State’s gaming laws don’t cover other states, which is why it’s essential to ensure real money players are within NJ.
Online poker websites use geolocation software to determine one’s whereabouts. This process doesn’t work 100% of the time, but it does appropriately locate players in most cases.
Players should thoroughly research poker sites when they’re in New Jersey and ready to start playing. Reviews, such as ours at PlayNJ, are helpful tools in finding quality operations.
Players should, of course, visit the sites themselves to see what’s available. This process will provide a feel for the software, game selection, stakes, promotions, and more.
After finding a good site, the next step is to register for an account. Operators ask for each player’s name, email, home address, date of birth, mobile number, and Social Security number.
New Jersey also requires the Social Security number for both verification and taxation purposes. Sites may also request a photo ID and/or utility bill for further identification.
The New Jersey internet poker market features seven sites:
We’ve thoroughly studied each operator and have determined the following three are the industry’s best.
WSOP.com is a reliable site in multiple areas including promotions, software and tournaments. It also boasts the market’s best liquidity, thanks to a deal where WSOP shares players with 888 (i.e., the WSOP/888 network).
Many NJ players appreciate being able to compete for World Series of Poker (WSOP) gold bracelets through this site. WSOP.com features multiple gold-bracelet events every summer.
Its desktop and mobile software are well designed, but the poker app is fairly basic and could use more features.
PokerStars NJ offers players the choice between two bonus deals when they first join the site. Each deal has its own merit, so you simply have to decide which one suits your personality better
Your first option is to receive $30 in free play on your first deposit. In order to redeem this deal, deposit $20 or more into your new account and enter the code FREE30 into the designated blank.
PokerStars will award you with $20 in bonus money and $10 in Spin & Go vouchers. The first $10 will hit your account within 36 hours of the deposit. Then, a week later, you’ll receive the other $10.
Meanwhile, the Spin & Go tickets will arrive according to the following breakdown:
If you prefer a more robust opportunity, you can instead qualify for a 100% deposit match up to $600. Simply use promotional code STARS600 when you make your first deposit in order to trigger the bonus.
Then, you will need to start playing. For every 140 redemption points you earn, PokerStars will release $10 of the bonus into your account. You earn 5 redemption points for every $1 in rake or fees that you pay.
If you can’t or don’t want to claim the full amount of the bonus, don’t worry. For 60 days after the first deposit, you can make two additional deposits that are eligible for the same match. Make sure to use the STARS600 code to activate them, however.
In either case, you will also receive a ticket to the Depositor Freeroll, which runs at 6:00 p.m. ET on the last Sunday of each month. You will also get 1 million in Play Money chips.
PartyPoker NJ offers a terrific one-two combination of bonuses for new players. Both are accessible as a welcome bonus and can be a great bump to your bankroll from the start.
PartyPoker is both a poker site and online casino, so it wants you to experience all that it has to offer. So, just for signing up, you can receive $25 in bonus money to use on various parts of the site.
After completing registration, you will receive bonus money in the following amounts:
There’s really not much to it. You can get started today, but that’s not the only offer on the table at Party.
You can also get an extra $1,000 on your first deposit into Party. After registering, simply make a deposit to activate the bonus.
PartyPoker will pay out your bonus money to you in 10 equal payments. These releases will come as you earn points through your play.
Every 4 points that you earn through poker and every 8 points in casino games will be worth $1 of bonus money. You earn 2 points for every $1 in fees and rake that you pay. So, as you build your bankroll, Party will be doling out increments of your initial deposit to you. Don’t miss out.
There are two great sign-up bonuses available on BorgataPoker that you can use to your advantage. Notably, there is a no-deposit promo to get you started and a deposit bonus to pad your bankroll.
The first bonus is a $20 no-deposit offer that should allow you to get a good look at the site. For signing up, BorgataPoker will pay out $10 in cash and a $10 poker bonus.
In order to claim this bonus, you simply need to register for an account. While entering your information, make sure to enter promo code PLAYNJ to activate the deal.
You will have to begin the process of earning loyalty points (known as iRPs) in order to release this bonus for withdrawal. You need 1 iRP to get the $10 in cash, and 40 iRPs for the poker bonus.
You earn iRPs through your play in cash games and tournaments. Every $1 of rake or fees that you pay will net you 2 iRPs.
The other bonus that you can get at BorgataPoker is a fairly sizable deposit match. Borgata will go dollar-for-dollar on your first deposit up to $600.
All you have to do is make an account and a deposit to get started. As was the case with the no-deposit bonus above, use promo code PLAYNJ to activate this offer.
As you play, Borgata will dispense the bonus to you in 10% increments. You will need to earn 4 iRPs for every dollar of bonus that you need to release, so plan accordingly. Earning 2,400 iRPs for the full amount of bonus (or $1,200 in rake) might not be realistic for everyone.
Still, this bonus can serve as a nice little bump every so often as you play on Borgata.
BetMGM is the signature online product for a joint venture between MGM Resorts International and GVC Holdings. So, it makes sense that companies of that stature could afford fairly generous bonus offers for new players.
The first bonus that new players on BetMGM can earn is a simple no-deposit bonus. As a perk for signing up for an account, new players will receive $25 to use, absolutely free. You do not need to enter a promo code as long as you use our link.
The bonus will dispense as $10 of bonus cash and $15 of tournament money. You will have to do a bit of play to release the money for withdrawal from your account.
BetMGM uses a point system known as iRewards as a method to track your play volume online. Every $1 in rake or tournament fees that you pay is worth 5.5 iRewards points.
In order to release the $10 in cash, you must accrue a single iReward point. Obviously, the tournament dollars go to buy-ins for tournaments.
BetMGM also has an extremely generous deposit match for first time depositors. When you make your first deposit, be sure to use promotional code PLAYNJFREE in order to claim the offer.
The deal is that BetMGM will match the entirety of your first deposit up to $1,000. BetMGM will release the bonus to you in 10 equal portions.
While that maximum is higher than at most online poker rooms, there are a couple of catches associated with claiming the bonus. The first thing is that you will have to earn 20x your bonus amount in iRewards points in order to release it.
So, were you to realize the full amount possible for the bonus ($1,000), you’d have to earn 4,000 iRewards points for every 10% bump ($200 x 20). Earning that many points may not be something you’re interested in pursuing.
You also have a rather short timeframe to accomplish the goal. Any unclaimed bonus reverts to BetMGM 7 days after you activate the bonus.
So, be realistic about the volume of play you can undertake in a week when you claim
The 888 Poker site stands out with its frequentpromotions. It gives players a chance to enter plenty of freerolls and earn high rakeback.
This site also features good traffic due to the partnership with WSOP.com. Its relatively high liquidity allows 888 to offer quality tournaments.
One downside is 888 Poker’s software could use an update. The software’s look and features lag well behind what PokerStars offers.
Yes, New Jersey features a legal and regulated online poker market. New Jersey’s Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) regulates the Garden State’s sites.
The DGE thoroughly vets every operator before issuing them an Internet Gaming Permit. Part of the process includes ensuring each site offers fair play. The DGE tests each operator’s poker software to confirm the random number generator offers results based on a 52-card deck.
Some players may confuse NJ real money poker rooms with offshore poker rooms. The latter are unlicensed sites that don’t undergo rigorous software testing.
New Jersey features a big, land-based poker hub in Atlantic City, but many players are enjoying the benefits NJ real money online poker offers.
Here are some key advantages to playing poker with real cash.
Poker is one of the slowest games in land-based casinos. Dealers must physically shuffle and deal cards, which is a time-consuming process.
In contrast, software shuffles and deals online poker hands within microseconds. The sites also provide players with a timer on decisions, which prevents taking minutes.
These aspects speed up the action, with the average ring game featuring around 50 hands per hour. This amount is approximately double the number of hourly hands gamblers play in land-based poker rooms.
New Jersey poker sites don’t need to cover salaries for dealers and other floor staff. They, therefore, don’t take as much rake from games.
Players can check rake charts at poker sites to see how much is collected from cash-game pots. They’ll find the rake is much lower than what’s featured at land-based venues.
Online poker doesn’t require players to travel anywhere. It instead offers a fast way to start playing the game immediately.
Rounders merely need a mobile device or computer and a working internet connection to begin. As long as one is 21 years of age or older and located within New Jersey’s boundaries, he or she can start playing right away.
Internet poker rooms don’t close in the twilight hours or for holidays like many land-based locations. They’re instead open 24 hours a day.
This constant availability ensures NJ players can enjoy poker whenever the urge strikes them. They also don’t need to worry about being forced to stop playing when the casino closes.
Poker sites in New Jersey offer the ability to multi-table, which involves playing multiple poker tables simultaneously.
Multi-tabling is great for successful players who want to increase their edge. It’s also nice for those who crave more action than a single table can provide.
The lowest no-limit stakes offered in Atlantic City are $1/$2. NJ sites go even lower by featuring $0.01/$0.02 no-limit tables.
These micro-stake games are popular among recreational players who want real money action without assuming much risk.
Poker sites allow visitors to play for free as long as they’re registered members. Players receive play-money chips that they can use to compete in these games.
Free internet poker doesn’t offer the same competition and intensity as the real money version, but it can be a relaxing way to enjoy the game and try out a poker room’s software.
New Jersey used to feature a limited selection of variations. PokerStars changed this situation, though, when they entered the market.
PokerStars offers the most extensive variety of games:
Other sites offer a basic mix of Texas Hold ’em, seven-card stud and Omaha. The stud games don’t typically get much action across the board.
Real money cash games begin at $0.01/$0.02 and go up to $100/$200. Most players stick to the lower stakes, ranging from $0.01/$0.02 to $1/$2.
WSOP NJ gives players a chance to compete in online WSOP tournaments, with each event offering a coveted gold bracelet.
A no deposit bonus awards real-money funds just for completing account registration. Players don’t need to make a deposit to claim these offers.
No deposit bonuses are quite rare in online poker, but multiple New Jersey sites offer these deals. WSOP.com and 888 Poker provide no-deposit deals worth $10 and $20, respectively. The site will credit the bonus money to a your account as soon as you have successfully registered.
You can’t cash out your bonus until you’ve met through the play through requirements. To do this, you will need to earn loyalty points. Poker sites offer loyalty points based on the amount of rake a cash game takes in or the tournament fees you pay.
Each New Jersey poker site offers a welcome bonus to entice new customers, but not all of these deals are created equal.
Here are the best offers of the bunch.
The 888 Poker bonus features a 100% match bonus of up to $1,500, plus $20 free.
The $20 no deposit bonus is split up as follows:
The cash and tournament tickets expire seven days after a player places his or her deposit. Players can withdraw winnings from the no-deposit bonus immediately; however, they must release the original bonus funds by earning three status points for every dollar.
Players earn one status point for every $0.50 paid in cash-game rake or tournament fees. They therefore only need to spend $1.50 in rake to get each bonus dollar.
The 888 match bonus truly stands out, because it’s the largest one in the market. Players receive the funds in $10 increments whenever they collect 100 bonus points. They earn one bonus point for every $0.50 paid in tournament fees or cash-game rake.
Players are essentially paying $5 in rake/fees to unlock every $1 (100 / 10 x 0.5). This rate is equivalent to a 20% rakeback deal, which isn’t great in comparison to other NJ sites.
However, the key reason to choose 888’s deal is the sheer size of the offer. High-volume players should consider depositing enough to take advantage of the maximum $1,500 bonus.
The WSOP.com poker bonus is a 100% match bonus of up to $1,000, plus $10 free and tickets to seven different $100 freerolls.
The $10 no deposit bonus is available for both cash games and tournaments. Players must meet one-time wagering requirements on this offer before cashing out.
Match bonus funds are cleared by earning Action Player points, which are loyalty points at WSOP.com.
Here’s how players can release the bonus:
Players have 60 days from their first deposit to release as much of the bonus money as possible. Anything left after two months will expire.
PokerStars gives players a choice between one of two bonus options:
One must deposit $20 to claim the $30 in free play. Low-stakes players should consider this deal, given that it amounts to 150% rakeback.
The 100% match bonus of up to $600 doesn’t look so impressive when pitted against the 888 and WSOP offers, but players only need to pay $2 in rake for every $1 in bonus funds. This rate works out to an outstanding 50% rakeback deal.
New PokerStars NJ customers also receive 1 million play-money chips and a ticket to the “$5,000 Depositors Freeroll.”
New Jersey poker sites collectively offer a large amount of deposit and cashout methods. ACH, credit cards, debit cards, e-wallets and cash at the casino cage are all available.
Credit cards are an easy way to fund an online poker account. The catch, though, is that credit cards reject deposits at a higher rate than any other banking option.
Playing internet poker for money is perfectly legal for those at least 21 years and older, but Visa and Mastercard are still apprehensive about approving gambling-related transactions.
ACH is the gold standard for depositing at NJ sites. This option, which transfers funds from a player’s checking account, is easy to use and doesn’t require fees.
E-wallets, like Neteller and Skrill, are popular because they can be used for both deposits and withdrawals. The downside, however, is that e-wallets carry high processing fees.
Cash at the casino cage also lets players deposit and withdraw money. You must physically visit the Atlantic City casino associated with the poker site to do so.