Best New Jersey Sports Betting Apps 2026

New Jersey is where legal US sports betting started. The state won the 2018 Supreme Court case that ended the federal ban, and its first mobile sportsbooks went live that August. Today around 14 licensed apps compete here, which keeps prices sharp and promotions steady. With the 2026 World Cup playing matches at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, betting traffic in the state is high right now.

This guide covers the apps I rate, the rules specific to New Jersey, and the tax you need to plan for.

Is sports betting legal in New Jersey?

Yes. Online and retail betting are both legal. The key points:

Legal since 2018, after New Jersey won the Supreme Court case that struck down the federal ban. The first mobile apps went live in August 2018.
Regulated by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, which licenses every legal app in the state.
You must be 21 or older to bet.
You must be physically inside New Jersey when you place a bet. There is no residency requirement, so visitors can bet legally, but geolocation checks your position on every wager.
Each online sportsbook is tied to an Atlantic City casino or a state racetrack, which is how it holds its license.

The Top New Jersey sports betting apps

All four below are licensed in New Jersey and I have tested each one. The full reviews are linked.

DraftKings

Best for: market depth and same-game parlays
In NJ since: August 2018, the first mobile app in the state
Licensed via: Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City
Standout: the deepest market menu in New Jersey
Watch for: the busy interface can overwhelm new bettors

DraftKings launched the first mobile sportsbook in New Jersey in August 2018 and is still one of the most polished apps in the state. It has the deepest market menu here, strong same-game parlay tools, and live betting that stays stable on a busy weekend. If you want the widest choice of bets, it is the pick. Full breakdown in my DraftKings review.

FanDuel

Best for: beginners and fast payouts
Standout: the simplest interface in the state, fast PayPal withdrawals
Market share: the largest in New Jersey
Licensed via: Meadowlands Racetrack, East Rutherford
Watch for: fewer niche markets than DraftKings

FanDuel has the largest market share in New Jersey, and the reason is the interface: it is the easiest app here to pick up if you are new. PayPal withdrawals are among the fastest I have tested, and the same-game parlays are strong. My FanDuel review has the deposit and payout testing.

BetMGM

Best for: MGM Rewards and Atlantic City perks through Borgata
Licensed via: Borgata, Atlantic City
Standout: deep markets paired with a strong loyalty tie-in
Watch for: lines can be slow to move

BetMGM runs a deep market menu and the MGM Rewards program, which ties into Borgata and the other MGM properties in Atlantic City. If you get to AC, those rewards add up faster than at rival books. Its lines can be slow to move, which sometimes leaves good prices if you act quickly. More in my BetMGM review.

Caesars

Best for: Caesars Rewards and frequent boosts
Licensed via: Caesars Entertainment’s Atlantic City casinos and Monmouth Park
Standout: one of the strongest loyalty programs for regular bettors
Watch for: the app is less slick than FanDuel

Caesars pairs competitive odds with Caesars Rewards, redeemable at its properties nationwide including Atlantic City. It runs profit boosts and odds boosts often, and the loyalty program is one of the strongest for regular bettors. My Caesars review covers the rewards tiers.

Other legal New Jersey sportsbooks

Beyond those four, several more licensed apps run in New Jersey:

bet365: outstanding live betting and in-app streaming, a favorite for soccer during the World Cup.
Fanatics Sportsbook: pays out FanCash on wagers, redeemable for merchandise and bonus bets.
BetRivers: the widest set of deposit options in the state, with low bonus playthrough.
Hard Rock Bet: strong Atlantic City ties and a fast, clean app.
theScore Bet: PENN’s sportsbook brand in New Jersey, which replaced ESPN BET in late 2025.
Bally Bet: a smaller option still building out its markets.

What you can and cannot bet on in New Jersey

You can bet the full professional slate. The one local restriction trips up a lot of new bettors:

All major professional leagues are available: the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, soccer, and more.
You cannot bet on New Jersey college teams, which means no wagers on Rutgers, Seton Hall, or Princeton.
You cannot bet on any college game played inside New Jersey, whoever is playing.
College sports outside those two rules are fine, so most of the national college calendar is open to you.

New Jersey betting tax: what you owe

I am not a tax advisor, so check your own situation with a professional. The 2026 position:

Federal: all gambling winnings are taxable income. The sportsbook issues a Form W-2G and withholds 24% when a single bet pays $600 or more at odds of 300 to 1 or longer, or pays $5,000 or more.
New Jersey state: the state taxes gambling winnings as income, and withholds 3% of the payout on taxable prizes over $10,000, for residents and nonresidents alike.
Losses: New Jersey lets you offset winnings with losses from the same year on your state return, but you cannot report a net loss. The floor is zero.
2026 federal change: under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, federal loss deductions are capped at 90%, so a break-even year can still leave you with taxable income federally. New Jersey still allows full offsetting on the state return.
Every licensed NJ sportsbook gives you a year-end win/loss statement, so keep it for filing.

How to start betting in New Jersey

Getting set up takes a few minutes:

Confirm you are 21 or older and physically inside New Jersey.
Pick a licensed app from above and sign up. You will enter your name, date of birth, address, and the last four digits of your Social Security number for identity verification.
Let the app confirm your location, then make your first deposit. Common methods include online banking, debit card, PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay, and Play+.
Claim the current welcome offer if there is one, read its terms, and place your first bet.

Responsible gambling in New Jersey

Every licensed New Jersey app includes deposit limits, time-outs, and self-exclusion tools, and the state runs its own self-exclusion program through the Division of Gaming Enforcement. If you or someone you know is struggling, the national helpline is on 1-800-GAMBLER, 24 hours a day. For more on staying within limits, see my responsible gambling guide.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to live in New Jersey to bet there?

No. There is no residency requirement. You only need to be physically inside New Jersey when you place a bet, and 21 or older. Visitors can bet legally.

Can I bet on Rutgers or Seton Hall?

No. New Jersey bans betting on in-state college teams and on any college game played within the state. You can bet on out-of-state college teams playing out of state.

Which New Jersey betting app is best?

It depends what you want. FanDuel is the easiest for beginners and pays out fast, DraftKings has the deepest markets, and BetMGM and Caesars are strongest if you want rewards you can use at Atlantic City properties.

Are my winnings taxed in New Jersey?

Yes, at both the federal and state level. The sportsbook withholds 24% federally on larger wins, and New Jersey withholds 3% on payouts over $10,000. You must report all winnings, including smaller ones.

Can I use my account in another state?

You can travel with your account, but you can only bet while physically inside a state where that sportsbook is licensed. Your location when you bet is what matters, not where you signed up.

The bottom line on New Jersey betting apps

New Jersey is the most established betting market in the US, and the competition works in your favor through better apps and better promotions. For most people I would start with FanDuel or DraftKings, then add BetMGM or Caesars for the Atlantic City rewards. Stick to the licensed apps above rather than the offshore sites that show up in search, because only the licensed ones are regulated and can be held to account. My homepage guide ranks the best betting apps across the country.