New Jersey is home to Atlantic City, a gambling mecca. Residents may think that the law provides unlimited gambling options, but there are some caveats to the gambling laws in New Jersey that are worth exploring. For instance, sports betting is illegal in the state. It is worth knowing what you can and cannot do. New Jersey has some of the most lenient laws in the nation, but there are still many regulations on wagering games.
Sit back as this article will explore the federal/state laws that affect all sorts of gaming within the Garden State. Understanding the legal language will free gamblers up to pursue their passions both in land based casinos and poker rooms, and even through legal gambling sites for New Jersey residents without falling out of step with the law.
Super Bowl LII gambling is not against the law in NJ as the state is a huge proponent of sports betting. New Jersey may eventually have their own land-based and online sportsbooks, but for now you can use legal NJ sports betting sites that are based offshore. Sites like SportsBetting have Super Bowl LII betting odds and plenty of options for you to boost your bankroll. You can also bet on the Eagles vs. Patriots from your mobile device or live bet on game day. There are plenty of legal options for betting on the 2018 Super Bowl in NJ.
New Jersey gambling laws are quite lenient compared to most states. Home to Atlantic City, the NJ Lottery, and off-track betting, New Jersey offers many land-based options. There are also plenty of illegal gambling activities taking place in Jersey at any given time. From underground poker rooms to multi-million dollar criminal enterprises, New Jersey’s illegal gambling is infamous. The laws are lax but just, and getting caught participating in illegal gambling practices carries harsh penalties. We will look at certain sections of the law that pertain to the average gambler, and extrapolate the true meaning of each one.
Section VII Chapter 2 - This section is part of the New Jersey Constitution, and states that illegal gambling practices are not allowable. New gambling establishments must be authorized and voted upon before opening for business. This section helps keep the populace involved and dissuades residents from assisting in illegal gambling operations.
Section VII Chapter 2(D) - This section of legislation allows for legal, land-based gambling in Atlantic City. Although they still must meet stringent qualifications for licensing of the gambling establishment, this section of legislation allows New Jersey business owners to sanction traditional casino games and poker within the confines of the Atlantic City boardwalk. As of yet, the state cannot sanction sports betting, but their constant fight with US Congress to overturn the PASPA is ongoing.
2A: 40-1 - This section of the New Jersey gambling code regards illegal gambling venues. Taking part in any underground wagering game is a criminal offense, and this should dissuade players from pursuing illegal games. The many legal casinos in the state are exempt from this section, as well as the many online gambling sites that we review.
2C:2-6 - This section regards cheating, racketeering, and persuasion involving gambling. This further protects the average gambler from various criminal enterprises, as well as wards off evildoers from taking advantage of citizens. There are many similar sections in the law, as New Jersey like to keep its residents as safe as possible.
2C:37-1(g) - Independent bookmakers are the people that take illegal bets. They will usually traffic in anything from entertainment props to sports betting. It is wise to stay away from these criminal elements. Police raid these underground rackets all the time, and your money will not be safe. This section criminalizes the activity of bookmaking.
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Before talking about what the federal laws do, it’s important to note what they do not do. None of them target the actual act of playing in gambling events on land or through legal gambling sites that accept New Jersey players. While the illicit facilitators of gambling are heavily pursued, no laws go after the players.
Wire Act – The first major law put in place to regulate gambling was the Wire Act of 1961. During the early-to-mid 1900’s organized crime descended upon the gambling world in a big way. They took over the wagering business, and by the 50’s controlled most of the money involved in it. The Wire Act banned the use of wire communication devices, severely limiting criminal’s main method for transferring illegal funds. This Act was the main catalyst for taking back the gambling industry.
PASPA – The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) of 1992 targets sports betting. Congress considered sports wagering a “national problem”, and decided to ban it almost nationwide. The only states that allow sports betting are Delaware, Montana, Nevada, and Oregon. Players outside of these states will not find a legal sports betting establishment nearby. In what was an especially tragic turn for the state of New Jersey, the PASPA was written with a clause that allowed New Jersey to apply for an exemption from this law. Unfortunately, they missed the one-year deadline by a little over a month due to a holdup in state legislation. This has led to a battle that rages even today between the New Jersey state legislation and Congress for an appeal to the PASPA. Let this be a lesson to all: deadlines matter.
UIGEA – During the technology boom of the early 2000’s online gambling exploded. This meant that many illegal online gambling sites were popping up throughout the nation. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006 passed in an attempt to limit these underground rackets. The UIGEA is harsh and outlaws internet-gambling sites from functioning in most of America. Although New Jersey has a few online venues, the best sites are located overseas. These legal online gambling sites offer the best bonuses, high-stakes action, and customer service in the world.
The gambling age in New Jersey is 18, although many of the Atlantic City casinos require you to be 21. Most of the online gambling sites require you to be 18 as well, so there should never be a problem signing up. Underage gambling carries stiff penalties so don’t break a law so easily avoidable. If there is ever a case in which the online/state gambling ages differ, always go with the higher number.
There are many opportunities for New Jersey residents that want to partake in some gambling action. Atlantic City is home to some of the nation’s most prestigious casinos. There are numerous legal New Jersey gambling sites that will satiate your wagering appetite. Whether you choose land-based or online gaming, you will be joining in a great American pastime that, in accordance with New Jersey gambling laws, is a legal endeavor.
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