Best NJ Online Casinos For 2021: My Top 3 Picks For Next Year
One encouraging result to emerge in 2020 amid all the chaos is that even in the worst of times, the popularity of online gambling doesn’t fade.
On the contrary, month after month, NJ gambling websites have reported record revenue figures. But will the best NJ online casinos this year maintain their position as the best NJ online casinos for 2021? That remains to be seen.
Best NJ Online Casinos for 2021
When it comes to gross revenue, nobody has been able to come anywhere close to Golden Nugget Online Casino in 2020.
However, what one player may be looking for in terms of types of games, banking options, and customer service might not apply to another person.
Therefore, I compared the different casinos on other criteria that I consider of prime importance, including all of the following:
- Number and variety of high-quality games, with bonus points for casinos that have recently expanded their offerings
- The quality of the welcome offer
- The quality and variety of special promotions for existing customers and their ability to appeal to a broad spectrum of players
- Loyalty rewards and other incentives
- Range of banking options
- Customer service
Top 3 Online Casinos for 2021 & Why
Based on all of the above, here are my choices for the best NJ online casinos for 2021.
1. Golden Nugget
Any casino that month after month, year after year continues to be the undisputed revenue leader must be doing a lot of things right.
800+ games
For starters, Golden Nugget Online Casino not only leads all of its competitors in monthly and annual revenue but also in the number of games. Never content to rest on its laurels, it keeps adding exciting new games to its vast and ever-growing portfolio.
As of this writing, Golden Nugget is home to 820 games. Among them are 754 slots, 10 of which offer a progressive jackpot. Or, if you prefer, you can choose from many varieties of video poker and blackjack, as well as roulette, baccarat, casino hold’em, and other table games.
Golden Nugget was also the first NJ online casino to introduce live dealer games. In that category, too, there is something for everyone. For example, Unlimited Blackjack, the innovative game using a common draw, which can accommodate an unlimited number of players so there is never a wait for a seat, allows a minimum bet of just $1. High stakes players, on the other hand, can play $100 minimum blackjack.
Other live dealer games besides blackjack include roulette, baccarat, casino hold’em, and 3 Card Poker. One version of roulette called Casino Floor Roulette is live-streamed directly from the floor of Golden Nugget Atlantic City.
Golden Nugget is the only NJ online casino that provides a detailed description of every game, including the return to player (RTP). In addition, virtually every game except the live dealer games is available to play in demo mode, even if you’re not a registered player. So despite the enormous selection of games, you never have to go into any game blindly without knowing the rules and house edge.
The bigger the better in special promotions, too
At Golden Nugget Online Casino, the bigger the better, and that motto clearly applies to its special promotions.
Golden Nugget welcomes players of all sizes but especially big players, who are treated like royalty. This casino’s welcome bonus for new players is one of the largest you’ll find on any of the NJ gambling websites–a dollar for dollar match of your first deposit up to $1,000!
If you can’t afford $1,000, no problem. The minimum deposit to receive the bonus is only $30. While the wagering requirements to clear the bonus are steep (10x bonus + deposit for most slots, more for other games), you have up to 30 days to complete the wagering.
Golden Nugget is also home to the annual Million Dollar Race and monthly races where players compete against one another not only for top spots on the leaderboard but big monetary prizes.
However, smaller players are not forgotten. Easy to access short term promotions like 100 percent and 50 percent bonuses on small deposits are offered frequently. In other words, Golden Nugget offers something for everybody.
2. Borgata and BetMGM
My pick for second place is a tie between two very similar NJ gambling websites, Borgata Online Casino and BetMGM Online. Both are affiliated with the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City and offer many of the same games and promotions.
Lots of great games
All of the popular game choices are represented, including many varieties of slots, video poker, blackjack, and roulette. Or try your luck on any of 20 progressive jackpot slots.
You can also choose from an impressive collection of live dealer games, including all of the following:
- Blackjack
- American roulette
- Baccarat
- Casino hold’em
- Ultimate Texas Hold’em
- Three card poker
- Unlimited Blackjack
- Infinite Blackjack ( very similar to Unlimited Blackjack)
- Dream Catcher (a game catering to slot players featuring a giant wheel)
Or if you prefer, you can take your pick from many other games such as baccarat, craps, casino hold’em, Slingo, and scratch cards.
While the total number of games isn’t as many as at Golden Nugget, new games, some of which are exclusive to Borgata and BetMGM, are added frequently. Currently, Borgata lists 70 new games, and BetMGM lists 69.
One suggestion to make these websites even better is to add a short description of each game, like Golden Nugget does, including the rules and RTP.
Generous welcome bonus and special promotions galore for existing players
The sign-up and first deposit bonuses are slightly different at the two casinos. Borgata offers $20 bonus dollars free when you sign up. You then have up to 14 days to wager the bonus just 1x to keep your winnings. Then, when you make your first deposit, you get a 100 percent deposit match bonus up to $600, with a wagering requirement of 15x the bonus. You have up to 14 days to clear that bonus as well, after which you get to keep not only your winnings but whatever is left of your deposit, too.
At BetMGM, the sign-up bonus is $25, and the top amount of the first deposit is $1,000. However, the casino only gives you three days to clear the sign-up bonus and only five days to clear the first deposit bonus.
One nice hard-to-find feature at both casinos is that all games count 100 percent towards clearing the first deposit bonus.
Then, with continued play, you not only reap the benefits of the multi-casino tiered M-Life loyalty rewards program but a steady stream of near-daily special offers and promotions. The following are a few examples:
- Multiplier Mondays with 2x iRPs
- Seal the Deal: wager $50 on slots on designated days to win $5 free play
- Guaranteed mystery bonus simply for logging in and opening your special card
- Leaderboard races
Borgata and BetMGM both go the extra mile to give any size player plenty of incentive to keep coming back for more.
3. Caesars Casino & Sports
Although Caesars Online Casino didn’t make the cut last year as one of the top three revenue producers, it rounds out my list of the best NJ online casinos for 2021 for other reasons.
Home to more than 600 quality games
For starters, this large casino that is currently home to more than 600 quality games shows no sign of slowing down. In fact, the casino has recently added 90 new slot games to its already vast portfolio.
Another new addition is a live dealer platform. Choose from all of the following:
- American Roulette
- Atlantic City Roulette
- Baccarat Dragon
- Baccarat
- Blackjack
- Casino Hold’em
- Classic Roulette
- Unlimited Blackjack
I would have liked to see more information on the website for prospective players, including descriptions of each game, hours of operation, and betting limits. However, this brand new addition to Caesars Online Casino should be considered a work in progress that you can expect to get better in 2021.
Generous welcome offer and great promotions for all levels of players
New players receive a $10 no deposit required bonus just for joining. It comes with a wagering requirement of just1x the bonus for slots, 2x the bonus for video poker, or 5x the bonus for other games. You have up to seven days to complete the wagering, after which you can keep any winnings.
Then, when you make your first deposit, you get a 100 percent match on any amount from $10 to $300. You have up to seven days to clear the bonus in one of the following ways:
- Slots: 5x bonus + deposit
- Video poker: 10x bonus + deposit
- Other games: 25x bonus + deposit
Once you clear the bonus, any winnings, along with whatever is left of the bonus itself, are yours to keep.
The top bonus of $300 is smaller than what some NJ online casinos offer, but still large enough to satisfy most players. Also, Caesars more than makes up for what could be a better welcome offer with some of the best offers for existing players on the market.
Caesars is one of the very few NJ online casinos to offer 100 percent deposit match bonuses not just to new players but periodically to existing players, too. Some of this casino’s other outstanding special offers for existing players include guaranteed mystery bonuses and the chance to win drawing entries for extra reward credits or seats to special big money tournaments.
Caesars Rewards
Best of all, Caesars Casino & Sports participates in the largest and best players’ rewards program in the country–Caesars Rewards.
The top 3 casinos in 2020
There are many criteria to consider when comparing different online casinos. Therefore, with the exception of revenue, where the figures speak for themselves, deciding which online casinos are the top 3 is largely subjective.
But even so, some NJ online casinos offer a wider selection of quality games and promotions and consistently attract more customers than others.
So let’s start with gross revenue. In September 2020, Golden Nugget was way out in front, followed by Borgata in second place and Resorts in third place. In fact, the same three casinos have held the top three spots every month this year. Golden Nugget has led by a wide margin every month.