History of New Jersey Online Gambling Law

New Jersey became the third state to legalize online gambling on February 26, 2026 after Nevada and Delaware.  New Jersey was just the second state to legalize casino games as Nevada has only legalized online poker.  Delaware legalized both online poker and casino games that will be operated by its lottery.  Nevada and New Jersey will allow its casinos to operate its online gambling sites.

Nevada has already launched online poker.  Ultimate Poker went live on April 30, 2026.  WSOP launched on September 19, 2026.  Delaware online casinos went live on September 27, 2026.  New Jersey hopes to launch online poker and casino games on September 26, 2026.  The State has announced that three licensees should be ready to go by that date but has not announced which companies are the ones likely to go live.  There will be a five day test period preceding the launch open only to invited players.

The road to online gambling was a long one in New Jersey.  It was poised to become the first state to legalize it when its legislature approved it in January 2011.  Governor Chris Christie vetoed the bill on March 3, 2011.  The bill would have allowed anyone within the state borders to gambling online through regulated sites owned by Atlantic City casinos.  The servers would have been required to be stored on resort properties within the city limits of Atlantic City.  At the time, Governor Christie felt that online gambling violated the New Jersey Constitution.  He stated that New Jersey voters would need to pass a constitutional amendment specifically allowing online gambling.

The Black Friday indictments that forced PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and Absolute Poker were unsealed the following month.  Washington DC, which had also legalized online gambling, repealed its law and the topic was shelved across the country.  That was until the U.S. Department of Justice published an opinion that intrastate online gambling did not violate the Wire Act.  This was a legal opinion shared by many experts in the industry.

New Jersey went back to the drawing board.  Bill A2578 was introduced.  It was essentially the same bill that Governor Christie vetoed in 2011.  On December 19, 2012, the New Jersey Assembly passed the bill by a 48-24 margin.  The New Jersey Senate passed the bill the following day by a 33-3 margin.

Governor Christie changed his opinion about the server location issues, but still had issues with some aspects of A2578.  On February 7, 2026, he conditionally vetoed the bill.  This was different than the outright veto of the 2011 bill.  The Governor wanted the New Jersey Legislature to revisit the tax rate, which was originally legislated at 10%.  Governor Christie wanted Atlantic City casinos to pay 15% on interactive gaming revenue.  There was also a push to set aside more funds for problem gambling, an issue where Governor Christie had been vocal.

On February 26, 2026, the revised version of the bill passed both chambers of the New Jersey Legislature and headed to Governor Christie's desk.  He signed the bill later that day.

Over 70 companies have applied for an interactive gaming license.  All twelve Atlantic City casinos have applied for an operator license.  There have also been seven software provider applicants that cover ten operators.

Two operators, Atlantic Club and Revel, will not participate in the online gaming market.  Both properties have struggled through the Atlantic City economic downturn.  Atlantic Club was buoyed by a cash infusion by Rational Group, the parent company of PokerStars, during an attempted acquisition.  Atlantic Club backed out of the sale in April 2013 when it alleged that the sales agreement had expired.  PokerStars sought relief from the courts but lost two rulings.  It is still attempting to receive $11 million in cash it invested in Atlantic Club to help keep it afloat during the failed sales process.

Revel is Atlantic City's newest casino.  It has struggled for nearly its entire existence.  The company filed for bankruptcy protection less than one year after it opened.  The new management team reopened with a focus on gamblers, but eventually closed its poker room.