NJ Sweepstakes Casino: Are Sweepstakes Casinos Legal in New Jersey?

Is it legal to play at online casinos in New Jersey?

Online casinos are legal in New Jersey and they have been legal ever since Governor Chris Christie signed the New Jersey Internet Gambling Bill (A2578) into law in February 2013. When this legislation was passed, it was only the Atlantic City casinos that were authorized to offer. According to our records, New Jersey was the third state to legalize online casinos in the United States, after Delaware and Nevada.

• New Jersey Casino Control Act (N.J.S.A. 15:12-1 to -233): Before the New Jersey Internet Gambling Bill (A2578) came into being, online casinos in the state were not permitted. However, land-based casinos had already been authorized by the New Jersey Casino Control Act (N.J.S.A. 15:12-1 to -233), which was passed in 1977 and signed into law by Governor Brendan Byrne.
• Atlantic City Focus: Although land-based casino gaming and iGaming are legal in the state of New Jersey, the law stipulates that they be restricted to the Atlantic City region. All casino hardware and equipment needed to offer iGaming services, like online servers, have to be located in secure casino facilities in Atlantic City.

As you can see, the online gaming service providers have to be located in physical locations within Atlantic City. Currently, the city of New Jersey has a list of all the authorized internet gaming providers that you can play online with and we have the list below for you.

What are the implications for operators offering online casino gaming in New Jersey?

If there’s an operator that is offering iGaming services in the state of New Jersey, they will need to comply with certain fundamental rules. Below, we have outlined the main implications for online casinos in New Jersey:

1. Permits: All online casinos in New Jersey need to secure the necessary permits before they can offer any internet gaming services. The iGaming permits will be valid for a year and will need to be renewed.
2. Age restrictions: These online casinos need to ensure they are not accepting bets from underage individuals. The minimum age for pari-mutuel betting, bingo, lottery, fantasy sports, and fixed odds is 18, whereas for sports wagering and iGaming, it is 21.
3. Geographic Limitation: As mentioned above, any operator offering online casinos in New Jersey will need to be physically located in Atlantic City.
4. Taxes: According to the Casino Control Act, iGaming gross revenues are taxed at 15% with an investment alternative tax of 2.5%.

Is it legal to play at sweepstakes casinos in New Jersey?

Now that you know that real money online casinos in New Jersey with no-deposit bonuses are very much a reality, you must be curious about what other types of internet games are legal in the state.

While online casinos are legal, there are only a limited few in the state that you can access. On the other hand, sweepstakes casinos, which operate legally and freely in the state, are growing in number each day. These casinos can be based anywhere in the state or even be out-of-state, as long as they follow New Jersey’s sweepstakes rules.

Since sweepstakes casinos differ in their business model and nature from typical online casinos, they operate in a legal gray zone and aren’t regulated and licensed the same way as typical online casinos. Here are the main sweepstakes casino laws in New Jersey that online sweepstakes casinos need to adhere to.

The popularity of sweepstakes casino games in New Jersey has been on the rise since they offer a free and more fun alternative to online gambling.

You can play your favorite casino games like poker, slots, blackjack, and more for free from the comfort of your home without having to place any wagers. Additionally, these casinos do not have to be tied to Atlantic City.

Do sweepstakes casinos operating in the state of New Jersey need to be licensed?

Operators do not need a license to offer sweepstakes games to New Jersey residents. There isn’t a specific regulatory body that authorizes and issues licenses to sweepstakes casinos. All sweepstakes casinos that adhere to New Jersey’s consumer protection laws and federal sweepstakes laws are legal and legitimate in New Jersey.

This is both a good and bad thing. Good thing because there is more competition and more innovative sweepstakes casinos popping up since the market is open and the regulations are not stifling growth. On the other hand, since there is not enough oversight as compared to typical casinos, a lot of scam sites and illegal sweepstakes sites can take advantage of uninformed players by denying winnings, forcing them to pay, and stealing their private data.

How do you identify which sweepstakes casinos are legit?

As we mentioned, there might be sites out there that are trying to steal your information and scam you. It is important to be cautious when playing at sweepstakes casinos to not break any laws. Below we have compiled a helpful guide for you to identify legit New Jersey sweepstakes casinos and protect yourself from scam sites:

• Check reviews and run a background check: To be certain that you're playing on legitimate sites, make sure to run a quick background check on the site. You can check for player reviews on Trustpilot or Reddit and get a sense of how other players have fared on the site.
• Never pay to enter a site: Remember, a legitimate and legal sweepstakes casino CANNOT mandate a deposit to enter the site. So never sign up to a site where you are being asked to pay to access their games from the get-go.

We have a list of the top sweepstakes casinos in New Jersey on our website so make sure to take a look there. You will find a handy list of sweepstakes casinos with amazing no deposit bonuses.

What potential future updates on online casinos in New Jersey can the people expect?

New Jersey sweepstakes casinos have been steadily gaining popularity but the state is more well known for Atlantic City, which many see as the Vegas of the East Coast. Given that the state has already legalized different forms of gambling, including land-based casinos, sports betting, and online casino gaming, there isn’t a lot of legalization that the people are waiting for.

No-deposit bonus wagering requirements in New Jersey

If you are curious to try out New Jersey sweepstakes casinos, you will find several sites offering significant welcome bonuses. However, do not be fooled into thinking that if you sign up and win SC coins as part of a bonus, you can immediately redeem them for cash prizes or gift cards.

Most bonuses, especially the no-deposit bonuses, will need to be played through before you can redeem your virtual coins for tangible prizes. For example, the McLuck Casino welcome bonus of 27.5 free SC must be played through at least once before it is eligible for any redemption. You will need 75 eligible SC for a gift card redemption and 100 SC for cash prizes.

Below, you'll find a table detailing all the best no-deposit bonuses for New Jersey sweepstakes casinos, along with the playthrough requirements for redemption.

What are users saying about playing sweepstakes casinos online in New Jersey?

Online casinos in New Jersey are killing it when it comes to game variety, bonuses, and wins. This is not what we are saying, but what people on the internet are saying about online casinos in the state. We found one thread on Reddit that is just days old at the time of writing, talking about the top-notch experience on NJ online casinos.

What we noticed in the thread seems to confirm our predictions for the future. More and more residents of the state are taking an interest in online gambling, which hasn’t been top of mind given the presence of actual land-based casinos in the state. This is a big win for the industry, which will continue to boom in the future.

We found another thread, which we thought was important to highlight since it is about underage gambling in the state. An underage Redditor shared their experience of getting caught while trying to gamble at a NJ casino and will potentially have to pay a fine and have the offense on his record. While this happened at a land-based casino, this can easily happen to folks trying to play online with fake IDs.

Online casinos are strict about age restrictions and have the technology needed to weed out underage players using a fake ID to create an account. We highly recommend not trying to pull a fast one on these online casino sites, since you can get into major trouble with the law for gambling while underage in New Jersey.

You can play at certain sweepstakes casinos if you are 18 years old or older, and if you want to legally play casino games, sweepstakes casinos might be a better and safer alternative for you.

Final thoughts on sweepstakes casinos in New Jersey

New Jersey is a progressive state where online casinos, land-based casinos, sports betting, and many other forms of gambling are already legal. Sweepstakes casinos are the most accessible and widely available iGaming options for NJ residents, and you do not need to make a purchase or deposit to play these games.

You will easily come across no-deposit bonuses, VIP schemes, and other perks at these sweepstakes casinos, which offer a top-quality casino experience without the risk. To conclude, you can enjoy online casinos and sweepstakes casinos in New Jersey with complete peace of mind.

New Jersey Legal Sweepstakes Casino FAQ

Disclaimer: Kindly note that we are not legal or tax experts. While we always strive to present the most accurate information, this is not binding legal advice. Always reach out to a licensed lawyer or tax advisor when in doubt.