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.
Jan 29, 2021 No, Michigan’s online poker is a fenced-in market for now, which means only players inside state lines can play. A new law signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer at the end of 2020 gives the Michigan Gaming Control Board the option to enter into a multi-state compact. Real Money Deposits & Withdrawals Download our software for free on your desktop or mobile device, then select any of the easy-to-use deposit options listed below. In addition to below.
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 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 $2,000. 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 ($2,000), 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.
After years of attempts, Michigan online poker launched on Jan. 29, 2021, when PokerStars went live.
Michigan’s governor recently signed the interstate online poker bill into law, but the law doesn’t automatically set up a pact between other states. That is now up to the MGCB. It is unclear whether such a deal will be made in 2021.
One option is for Michigan to join the Multi-State Internet Gaming Association. The MSIGA allows New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware to share player pools.
Still, multi-state poker could be on its way to Michigan. It’s likely a must-have for the online poker market in the Great Lakes State to survive long-term. Michigan is slightly larger than New Jersey, where online poker is barely surviving despite pooling players with Nevada and Delaware.
Adding states, including Pennsylvania and Michigan, to the MSIGA over the next few years would certainly be a boost to the US online poker market.
Because sports betting and online casinos will likely generate more revenue than online poker, the latter verticals took priority. Even so, online poker was only a week behind the rest.
Only existing casino operators, which include three commercial casinos in Detroit and 12 tribal casino operators throughout the state, are able to procure online gambling licenses.
Each will be allowed one online casino brand and one online poker brand per license, up to two total brands apiece.
This means additional poker sites could be in the cards. WSOP and 888 Poker are two of the bigger names that have not found a path into Michigan but are available in other states with legal online poker.
Global online poker giant The Stars Group secured a partnership with the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians Gaming Authority in early January 2020.
The deal gives The Stars Group first-skin market access for all gambling verticals in Michigan, including online poker.
The Stars Group owns and operates PokerStars, which operates in NJ and PA. The Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians operates three Michigan tribal casinos, with the largest being the Odawa Casino, near Petoskey.
The Stars Group has secured a provisional license from the Michigan Gaming Control Board. However, it appears it’s a matter of time before PokerStars Michigan launches.
For a long time, it was understood that MGM Resorts International and partypoker’s parent company GVC Holdings would join the online poker market in Michigan. The two companies established a 50/50 joint venture sports betting and online gaming platform for the US in July 2018.
However, BetMGM Poker will be the brand available in Michigan in 2021.
The launch of partypoker Michigan through MGM Grand is no longer a go, but there are other ways for partypoker to enter the Michigan online poker market.
Michigan’s online poker will launch as a fenced-in market.
Players who are 21 years or older and within state lines will be eligible to play online poker cash games and tournaments.
Online poker operators will use geolocation technology to ensure all live players are inside the state.
Players will need to sign up for an online account with an operator of their choice and go through identity and age verification before they can play.
One day, state lawmakers may enter into a multi-state compact to allow operators to share player pools with sites in other poker states.
A clause initially included in the state’s online gambling bills that would have directly facilitated an interstate compact was removed before the legislation was passed.
Lawmakers have indicated its removal was intended to address multi-state progressive slot jackpots. Therefore, multi-state poker is still a possibility down the road.
Michigan online poker sites will offer free play to attract new customers.
Tax breaks allowing Michigan online poker operators a percentage of gross receipts for free play over the first five years of operation all but guarantees this.
Plus, giving free bonus cash as an incentive to sign up has proven to be a successful poker marketing strategy elsewhere.
PokerStars PA has shot out of the gate, posting four to six times the revenue it averages in NJ.
Players who open a PokerStars account in Pennsylvania using the PokerStars PA bonus code PLAY30 and deposit at least $20 will earn $30 in free play.
This offer includes $20 in free play and $10 in Spin and Go tickets.
New PA players also receive a ticket to the depositor freeroll event on the last Sunday of every month. It features cash prizes and a zero-entry fee.
PokerStars’ players in Pennsylvania can also use the promo code STARS600 when they sign up and make their first deposit (or three qualifying deposits within 60 days), and can also earn a 100% bonus of up to $600.
Players need to earn redemption points to unlock the bonus, but get 5 points for every $1 paid in tournament fees or rake in most games. Once earning 100 redemption points, PokerStars PA will release $10 in bonus cash into their account.
PA players can only receive the free-money bonus or the deposit bonus, not both. PokerStars Poker in Michigan should roll out with something similar.
Any tournaments that launch will attempt to stay competitive with a bonus structure to try to attract new players.
There’s little doubt Michigan online poker operators will want to make getting your money on and off the sites as easy as possible.
That means offering a variety of deposit and withdrawal options, including third-party payment processors like PayPal, debit or credit cards, and cash.
Here’s an example of the variety of deposit methods at PokerStars PA:
There’s a massive live poker scene in Michigan with as many as 10 live poker rooms operating across the state.
Walk into any one of the Michigan poker rooms on this list, and you’ll find securing a seat at affordable stakes is as easy as asking for one.
Bay Mills Resort & Casino, in Brimley, features a four-table poker room that is open 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
There are regular cash games and low-buy-in tournaments. Players must be at least 18 years or older.
The newly renovated 26-table poker room at FireKeepers Casino Hotel, in Battle Creek, is the premier poker room in the state.
The room spreads Texas Hold’em, Omaha and stud cash games at a variety of low to mid-stakes. Plus, there are low to mid-stakes buy-in tournaments every day, including a regular stop on the popular Mid-States Poker Tour.
Promotions include a progressive bad beat jackpot.
Greektown Casino Hotel, in Detroit, features a 12-table poker room offering Texas Hold ’em and Omaha games. There are regular tournaments and high-hands promotions.
Gun Lake Casino in Wayland, features a 14-table poker room spreading Texas Hold’em and Omaha games.
There are low-stakes tournaments happening five days a week, and promotions include a bad beat jackpot.
Kewadin Casino, Hotel and Convention Center, in Sault Ste. Marie, features a four-table poker room open Wednesdays through Sundays.
There are low-stakes tournaments on Wednesdays and cash games every day.
The poker room at MGM Grand Detroit features 17 tables with Texas Hold’em and Omaha action.
There are bounty tournaments three days a week and promotions include splash pots, bad beat jackpots and hot-seat drawings.
The MotorCity Casino Hotel, in Detroit, features a 17-table poker club spreading Texas Hold’em and Omaha games.
There’s a regular tournament calendar, and promotions include a bad beat jackpot, high-hands and a gas card giveaway.
The Ojibwa Casinos, in Baraga, spreads poker on a single table running on Fridays and Saturdays from 6 p.m.
The Ojibwa Casino, in Marquette, has poker on three tables on Fridays and Saturdays from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m.
Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort, in Mount Pleasant, features a 14-table poker room open 24/7.
There’s a six-day per week tournament schedule and promotions include a bad beat jackpot, early bird rake, lucky ticket draws and high-hands.
The room spreads Texas Hold’em, Pineapple, Crazy Pineapple, Omaha, seven-card stud and Razz. Multi-game formats include round by rounds, dealer’s choice, HORSE, SHOE and HOP. Players may request any game type with any limit.