NJ gambling websites want new players, and they’re willing to do just about anything they can to get them.

That means NJ online casinos are giving away free bonus cash for something as simple as signing up for an account.

The no-deposit bonus at NJ gambling websites

In fact, almost all of the state’s online casinos offer something called a no-deposit bonus that does just that.

Of course, there is one catch. These no-deposit bonuses have wagering requirements attached.

But that means you’ll need to gamble with the money before you can withdraw any winnings.

There’s still no obligation to make a deposit or continue playing on the site. There truly are no strings attached and most of the wagering requirements should be easy enough to meet.

How do you get your hands on the free bonus cash that NJ online casino sites are giving away?

Follow this step-by-step guide on how to claim the biggest no-deposit bonuses at NJ online casinos and you’ll soon be rolling in it.

Betfair NJ

The biggest no-deposit bonus in the New Jersey online casino business can be found at Betfair.

New players on Betfair are eligible for a healthy $30 in free cash before they ever deposit on the site.

First, all you need to do is register for an account. That means inputting some basic account information, including creating a username and password.

Next, you must provide some contact details. Finally, don’t forget to enter the online bonus code PLAY30 when prompted.

Yep; taking advantage of NJ’s largest no-deposit bonus offer is that easy.

Unfortunately, there is a wagering requirement, but it is far from excessive. Simply bet $30 one time and anything you win is yours to keep.

Virgin

Virgin NJ online casino recently upped the ante and is now offering new players an outstanding $25 in free bonus cash just for signing up for an account with the site.

This offer matches the second-largest, no-deposit bonus available in the NJ online casino market.

Once again, all you need to do first is register for an account.

Input your account information, which includes your username and password, and your email address.

Next, you have to give up some contact details and personal information, including the last four digits of your Social Security number.

Finally, remember to enter the Virgin promo code 25BUCKS in the space provided and click the checkbox to validate it.

Getting on the path to $25 in free bonus cash at Virgin is that simple. After that, all you need to do is meet a one-time wagering requirement within 30 days and everything you win is yours to keep.

Caesars Casino & Sports

Caesars Casino shares the distinction of having the second-largest, no-deposit bonus available in the NJ online casino market.

That means you can get ahold of $25 in free bonus cash just for registering for an account on their site.

First, create some login details.

Then, enter some personal information, including your date of birth.

Finally, enter your contact information and don’t forget to enter the Caesars promo code PLAYFREE25 at the bottom of the sign-up page when asked.

Caesars Casino & Sports will put $25 into your account immediately. You’ll be able to keep any winnings after you meet the wagering requirement of one time on slots, two times on video poker and five times for all other games.

Golden Nugget

Golden Nugget offers new players $20 in free bonus cash just for signing up for an account on their site.

It may not be as large a bonus as some other sites are offering, but like mom always said, you should never look a gift horse in the mouth.

Instead, create an account with Golden Nugget by entering your login details, personal details, and contact details.

Make sure you enter the Golden Nugget casino bonus code PLAY20 when prompted, and the money will be yours.

Of course, there is a wagering requirement of one time on slots and other games count only 20 percent toward it. However, all the winnings from the bets you make will be yours to keep.

Since New Jersey launched its online gambling market in 2013, there have been a lot of changes. The market has grown to almost two dozen NJ gambling websites including seven online poker sites and 16 online casinos.

Each NJ online gambling website has evolved over the last few years, too, offering new slot games, new innovations, and additional value for players. It can be a lot to take in, which is why here we answer the top 10 frequently asked questions about NJ online gambling.

1. Why is Golden Nugget the most successful online casino in NJ?

Golden Nugget is the top grossing online casino in New Jersey. In fact, it was the top revenue-generating online casino in the state every month throughout 2017. Plus, it kicked off 2018 setting a new monthly revenue record in January and becoming the first site to generate over $7 million in NJ online gambling revenue in a single month.

How has this site separated itself from the pack and continued to maintain its status as the top revenue-generating online casino in New Jersey?

Through choice. The site simply offers more of it than anyone else. In fact, Golden Nugget launched its 500th game in March 2018, giving it the largest and most diversified selection of online casino games in the New Jersey online gambling market. Golden Nugget already had more games than anyone else going into 2017, then it added 136 more new games throughout the year.

If its available in New Jersey, Golden Nugget has it. It’s the original home for Live Dealer games online. There’s really something for everyone and the wide selection of game titles means nothing is missing. There’s no reason to go to another online casino site in New Jersey because if Golden Nugget doesn’t have it, it doesn’t exist.

The huge selection of games helped the site post an 81 percent increase in total wagers in 2017. Over $1 billion in winnings was paid out to New Jersey players and the site only solidified its market-leading status.

A competitive bonus structure has helped continue to attract new players to the site as well. New players who sign up with the Golden Nugget bonus code PLAY20 receive $20 free with no deposit necessary. They are also eligible to receive a 100 percent deposit match bonus up to $1,000 on their first deposit. This is one of the largest first deposit match bonus offers in the New Jersey online casino market today.

2. Why doesn’t Bally’s have an NJ online casino site?

There are currently seven operating casinos located in Atlantic City. Each runs at least one legal and regulated online casino except for one: Bally’s Atlantic City Hotel & Casino.

Bally’s opened in 1979 at the corner of Park Place and the Boardwalk. The property now includes two massive casinos with more than 220,000 square feet of gaming space and 5,000 slot machines. It’s owned by Caesars Entertainment alongside two other Atlantic City casino resorts: Caesars Atlantic City Hotel & Casino and Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City.

Caesars subsidiary Caesars Interactive Entertainment holds the NJ online gambling license for the property and owns and operates several online casino and poker sites. This includes a Caesars Casino and Harrah’s online casino site, but not a Bally’s Casino site.

Bally’s did get one of the original online casino licenses handed out by New Jersey gaming regulators. It was first used by Caesars Interactive Entertainment software partner 888 Holdings for its New Jersey online casino and poker sites.

However, Caesars Interactive Entertainment ultimately brought all its internet gambling licenses under a single umbrella. With Caesars, Harrah’s, WSOP NJ, and 888 NJ online casino branded sites already established, the company decided against launching a competing site under the Bally’s brand.

So, why doesn’t Bally’s have an online casino site in New Jersey? Because parent company Caesars doesn’t want to compete with itself online any more than it already does.

3. What makes Tropicana and Virgin online casinos different from one another?

The Tropicana and Virgin online casinos are basically carbon copies of one another. Both are run by online gambling operator and software developer Gamesys. Both run under Tropicana’s online gambling license in New Jersey.

Tropicana and Virgin use the same software, giving the sites the same functionality and an almost identical look and feel. The bonuses and promotions each site runs are basically the same as well.

The biggest differences are in branding and marketing. The name of the sites and color schemes are noticeably different. Plus, Tropicana and Virgin are each being packaged and sold to the public in a different manner.

While the games are mostly the same, the site’s do promise some exclusive content. The one game that comes to mind is Virgin’s Deal Or No Deal slot, which is exclusive to the site and has been used in exclusive marketing materials.

Both sites also run their own separate and distinct player loyalty programs.

4. What is geolocation and how does it work?

States with legalized and regulated online gambling require players be inside the state to play.

You don’t necessarily have to be a resident to sign up for an account, but state laws mandate players be inside state lines when they decide to sit down and play.

It’s the responsibility of online gambling operators to make sure this is the case. The method they use to do it is called geolocation. In fact, in most states, online gambling sites are required by law to use geolocation technology.

Geolocation is a global positioning system used to pinpoint a players’ approximate coordinates. It works through by IP address tracking and WiFi signal triangulation.

Most sites ask players to download and run a geolocation software plug-in on their computer.

The geolocation technology checks a player’s location when they first connect, and then occasionally as they continue to play.

5. Does PokerStars operate in NJ? And how does it compare to ROW PokerStars?

PokerStars is the largest online poker room in the world. It launched a New Jersey online poker site in March 2016. Only players inside New Jersey can access the site and it is not connected to the PokerStars global site. The player pools in New Jersey and the rest of the world are not shared.

PokerStars NJ is the market-leading operator in the relatively small NJ online poker market. The product is very similar to what’s offered globally, in terms of poker variants, games, structures, and formats. The big difference is the New Jersey site runs in a fenced-in market. PokerStars global runs several of the largest major tournament series in the world. Then, it runs smaller versions of a number of those series for New Jersey only on PokerStars NJ.

From a software perspective, PokerStars NJ is a solid version of the global product with similar functionality. It is equal in almost every way. PokerStars NJ is just a much smaller version of the world’s leading online poker site operating alone in the fenced-in New Jersey market. That means fewer players, fewer cash game options, fewer and smaller tournaments with significantly smaller prize pools.

The site operates under the Resorts Casino Hotel internet gambling license.

6. Which NJ online casino games have the best return-to-player?

Online casino games have a built-in house edge that makes them impossible to beat over the long haul. However, you can still get lucky playing them in the short term.

Plus, there are games with a reduced house edge that offer players the opportunity to win more often and enjoy a lower-variance casino gambling experience.

For online casino games, odds are expressed in something called a return to player rate (RTP). A game’s RTP is the opposite of its house edge. It’s the percentage of money wagered that will be paid back to players over time.

RTP is calculated as an average of at least 1,000 plays and indicates the long-term performance of a game.

If a game is said to have an RTP of 90 percent, for every $100 played, a player should expect to win back $90.

However, RTP is about long-term performance. Therefore, there’s no guarantee of the game immediately paying back $90 of the first $100 a player puts into it. A game’s RTP is only realized over the long run.

Most NJ online casinos publish the RTP for all their games. Here’s a list of the 10 online casino games with the best RTPs in New Jersey according to that data:

• Single-deck Blackjack (Tropicana/Virgin): 99.87%
• Deuces Wild Triple Play Draw Poker (Tropicana/Virgin): 99.73.%
• High Stakes Blackjack (Virgin): 99.64%
• Vegas Strip Blackjack (Tropicana/Virgin): 99.64%
• Multi-Bet Blackjack (SugarHouse): 99.64%
• Atlantic City Blackjack (Tropicana/Virgin): 99.64%
• High Stakes Blackjack (Tropicana): 99.64%
• Vegas Downtown Blackjack (Tropicana): 99.61%
• SP Vegas Blackjack (Borgata/Partypoker): 99.6%
• Vegas Blackjack (Golden Nugget/Caesars): 99.6%

Except for one, these are all blackjack games. However, some other online casino games in New Jersey offer favorable RTPs. That list includes:

• French Roulette High Limit (Harrah’s): 98.65%
• Craps (Pala/Tropicana/Betfair/Borgata/Virgin/Party): 98.64%
• Texas Hold’em Bonus Poker (Borgata/Party): 97.96%
• Pai Gow Poker (Tropicana/Virgin): 97.28%
• Three Card Poker (Tropicana/Caesars/SugarHouse): 96.63%
• Let it Ride (Golden Nugget/Tropicana/Caesars/SugarHouse): 96.49%
• Hi-Lo (Virgin/Tropicana/Betfair): 96%
• PokerBet (Betfair) 95%

7. When is Hard Rock opening in Atlantic City?

In April 2017, Hard Rock International partnered with New Jersey property developers The Morris Family and construction and energy developers The Jingoli Family to buy the recently shut down $1.2 billion Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City for $50 million. The group announced plans for a $375 million renovation and re-branding, turning it into the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City.

The company targeted Memorial Day 2018 as an opening date at first but has since announced an official opening date of June 28.

In the interim, the cost of the work at Hard Rock Atlantic City has ballooned to more than $500 million. It will include a casino with 2,400 slots and 130 table games. The plan also includes a complete renovation and redesign of every hotel room on the property. Plus, first-class food and beverage concepts and two separate arenas with more than 7,000 seats are being built.

8. And what about Ocean Resort Casino? When will it open?

The $2.4 billion Revel Hotel Casino shut its doors in September 2014 amid financial troubles.

After one purchase deal fell apart, Florida developer Glenn Straub bought Revel out of bankruptcy for $82 million in April 2015. He made plans to reopen it under the name TEN. Instead, he missed several reopening dates over the next two years while battling with state regulators over licensing issues.

Straub sold Revel to developers AC Ocean Walk in January 2018 for $200 million. AC Ocean Walk announced plans to re-brand as Ocean Resort Casino and re-open in the summer of 2018.

When it does open, Ocean Resort Casino will feature a 138,000-square-foot casino and 1,399-room hotel. There are plans to include 160,000 square feet of indoor meeting and convention space. Plus, another 90,000 square feet of flexible outdoor special event space.

Ocean Resort Casino will also feature five swimming pools, including a salt-water pool, and a sun deck with cabanas. There will be dining options from restaurant groups including Garces Group and LDV Hospitality and a full slate of entertainment options including day and nightclubs and a sports bar.

All indications are it will be ready to open in the summer of 2018.

9. Which online poker site is better in NJ: WSOP NJ or PartyPoker NJ?

WSOP.com is a World Series of Poker-branded New Jersey online poker room. It is owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment using software provided by the company’s online gambling partner 888.

The WSOP is one of poker’s most recognizable and respected brands and the site offers access to that, including satellites into live WSOP and WSOP Circuit events and even a WSOP Circuit ring event of its own as of Mach 2018.

PokerStars NJ was the largest poker site in the market in terms of traffic until just a week ago. The leaderboard in NJ online poker changed once shared liquidity finally became a reality. Players in NJ, Nevada, and Delaware can now play cash games on the same WSOP/888 network, making it the reigning traffic champ.

PokerStars offers a full slate of cash games, regular tournaments and seasonal series with guaranteed prize pools it has been able to meet.

PartyPoker NJ is GVC Holdings’ New Jersey online poker site running under the famous PartyPoker banner. The site runs under the Borgata internet gambling license and shares player pools with a network of sites including Borgata Poker and playMGM Poker.

Only the promotions and bonuses are different.

The site offers a full slate of cash games, regular tournaments and seasonal series with guaranteed prize pools. However, the series have been marred by technical problems, overlays, and cancellations in the past. As a result, they have been scaled down.

PartyPoker NJ has found success running satellites into live tournaments at Borgata alongside Borgata Poker. However, the network tends to be the smallest in the state in terms of traffic and has difficulty competing with WSOP/888 and PokerStars.

If an answer as to which online poker site is better is truly required, at this point, the answer would have to be WSOP.com.

10. What is the best online blackjack in NJ?

Single-deck Blackjack at Tropicana and Virgin is the best blackjack game in the New Jersey online casino market. The game offers the highest return to player rate of any online casino game in the state. The RTP is an unbeatable 99.87 percent.

Single-deck Blackjack has always had a reputation as the game with the lowest house edge in most brick-and-mortar casinos. The same is true online in New Jersey. It’s basic blackjack. The big difference is it’s played with a single deck, instead of a six- or eight-deck shoe. This increases a player’s chance of winning, and provides for that huge RTP.

The game also feature the following rules:

• Blackjack pays 3:2
• Insurance pays 2:1
• Dealer stands on a soft 17
• Double down on a 9 to 11 only
• Split only matching pairs, not value
• Split only once
• No double down on splits
• Hit on split Aces
• No surrender

All New Jersey online casino games have a built-in house edge.

That means, over the long haul, the casinos are going to win your money if you play these games. What it doesn’t mean is that you can’t get lucky and win playing these games in the short term.

You most definitely can. You can also quit while you’re ahead helping you lock up those winnings for good. Plus, you have the right to play games where the house edge is reduced. Games with the best return to player rates will help you win more often and enjoy a lower-variance casino experience.

Understanding the house edge and where it lies in each bet available on each game can be the difference between winning consistently and losing regularly.

You can’t get lucky unless you put yourself in a position to do so. That means selecting games with high return to player rates and giving yourself the best opportunities to win.

What is a return to player rate?

For almost all NJ online casino games, odds are usually expressed in something called a return to player rate (RTP). Simply put, RTP is the percentage of money wagered on a game that will be paid back to players over time by that game.

The rate is calculated as an average of at least 1,000 plays. It indicates the long-term performance a player can expect from the game.

If a game has an RTP of 90 percent, for every $100 played in $1 bets, a player should expect to win back $90.

But it’s very important to remember, RTP is about long-term performance. That means it may take more than $100 in $1 bets for the $90 to get paid back.

In casino gambling, online or off, nothing is guaranteed, and you may never see a game’s true RTP realized before you run out of money to bet on it.

House edge

House edge is the flip side of RTP. It is the amount a casino expects to profit from a player’s bet.

If a game at any NJ online casino has an RTP of 90 percent, the casino expects to profit 10 percent of all money bet. Therefore, the house edge in the game is 10 percent. The house expects to profit $10 for every $100 played in $1 bets.

Obviously, the smaller the house edge, the better the game is for players. But again, it’s a long-term thing and the outcome of each individual bet in a game cannot be predicted using house edge.

So which online casino games have the lowest house edge and which games have the highest RTP? Which are the ones you should turn to when you want to win more consistently and limit your variance? The answers lie below.

Single-deck blackjack

Single-deck blackjack at Virgin and Tropicana offer the highest RTP of any online casino game in New Jersey. In fact, the RTP is an unbeatable 99.87 percent.

Single-deck blackjack has always had a reputation as the game with the lowest house edge in most casinos and the same is true online. It’s simple blackjack, with the big difference being it’s played with a single deck, instead of a six or eight-deck shoe. This increases your chance of winning and provides for that huge RTP online.

Deuces Wild Triple Play Draw Poker

Video poker players will find joy at the Deuces Wild Triple Play Draw Poker (Game King) game on Tropicana and Virgin.

That’s because it has the second best RTP of any online casino game in New Jersey. In fact, the RTP on Deuces Wild Triple Play Draw Poker (Game King) sits at a player-friendly 99.73 percent.

It’s video poker with Deuces acting as a wild card and you get to run a single draw three times. The Deuces Wild Five Play Draw Poker (Game King) at Tropicana and Virgin offers the same RTP. You’re just running it five times instead of three.

More blackjack

There’s a long list of blackjack games with different rules that follow the top RTP games in New Jersey. For the most part, the top 10 looks like this:

• 99.64%: High Stakes Blackjack (Virgin)
• 99.64%: Vegas Strip Blackjack (Tropicana/Virgin)
• 99.64%: Multi-Bet Blackjack (SugarHouse)
• 99.64%: Atlantic City Blackjack (Tropicana/Virgin)
• 99.64%: High Stakes Blackjack (Tropicana)
• 99.61%: Vegas Downtown Blackjack (Tropicana)
• 99.6%: SP Vegas Blackjack (Borgata/PartyPoker)
• 99.6%: Vegas Blackjack (Golden Nugget/Caesars)
• 99.59%: Blackjack Pro – Atlantic City (Caesars)
• 99.59%: Blackjack (IGT) (Golden Nugget/Betfair/Borgata/PartyPoker)

Jacks or Better

The Jacks or Better (Game King) video poker game has a return to player rate of 99.54 percent, which is the next best after that lengthy list of blackjack titles.

This game is available at a number of NJ gambling websites, including:

• Caesars
• SugarHouse
• Betfair
• Borgata
• Pala
• Golden Nugget

Baccarat

After a lengthy list of more blackjack and video poker varieties, you come to the table game with the biggest RTP in New Jersey. It’s the 98.94 percent RTP on the banker bets playing baccarat on Virgin and Tropicana.

A number of other baccarat games come close, but the Virgin and Tropicana one has the edge.

French Roulette High Limit

The French Roulette High Limit game on Harrah’s has a return to player rate of 98.65 percent, making it the next best thing to baccarat online in New Jersey.

It is an outstanding figure for online roulette, considering most online roulette is American Roulette with a zero, double-zero, and all the house edge that comes with that.

Other table games

There are a number of other table games found online in New Jersey with relatively favorable RTPs. Here’s a list of some of the best:

• 98.64%: Craps (Pala/Tropicana/Betfair/Borgata/Virgin/Party)
• 97.96%: Texas Hold’em Bonus Poker (Borgata/Party)
• 97.28%: Pai Gow Poker (Tropicana/Virgin)
• 96.63%: Three Card Poker (Tropicana/Caesars/SugarHouse)
• 96.49%: Let it Ride (Golden Nugget/Tropicana/Caesars/SugarHouse)
• 96%: Hi-Lo (Virgin/Tropicana/Betfair)
• 95%: PokerBet (Betfair)

What is geolocation and why are online gambling sites using it?

All states that have legalized and regulated online gambling have language in the laws that require players to play from inside the state.

You don’t have to be a resident to sign up for an account. However, state laws mandate you be inside state lines when you do decide to play.

It’s the responsibility of the online gambling sites to make sure players are where they say they are. Geolocation is the method the sites use to ensure its players are in the same state as they are. In most states, the online gambling sites are required by law to use it.

How does geolocation work?

Geolocation technology is a positioning system that is used to pinpoint a players’ coordinates. It does this mostly by tracking his or her IP address and triangulating his or her WiFi signal.

On most online gambling sites, users can browse around, play game demos, and perform all sorts of account management functions, including deposits and withdrawals, from anywhere in the US. However, the ability to play games for real money is restricted to those who have allowed geolocation technology to prove they are inside the state.

What companies provide geolocation services?

A geolocation technology and software company called GeoComply is licensed by the Nevada Gaming Control Board, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (NJDGE) and the Commonwealth of Delaware to provide geolocation and anti-fraud solutions to the online gambling market in those states.

Most online gambling sites in these states have used GeoComply since launch. The company also provides similar services to a number of US lotteries that have gone online.

Other geolocation technology and software companies authorized to provide similar services in states with legal online gambling include:

• Central Account Management System (CAMS)
• xyVerify
• Locaid

Are there any issues with geolocation technology?

When the online gambling market first opened up in New Jersey, the geolocation technology and software providers returned a number of false negatives. Players legitimately inside the state were frozen out of online gambling.

Apparently, a high percentage of the false negatives were coming from areas close to state lines. Working with the geolocation service providers, the NJDGE had established a buffer zone by the border. WiFi triangulation used in geolocating is not perfectly accurate. Therefore even if a player were clearly on the New Jersey side of the state line, if they were too close to it, and inside that buffer zone, they were not allowed to play.

The DGE has made every effort to shrink the size of that buffer. Plus, the geolocation technology and software providers have fixed a number of issues on their end. In fact, these days false negatives are a rarity.

What can players do to help ensure the geolocation technology works properly for them?

In most cases, players are asked to download and run a software plug-in on their computer.

The geolocation technology checks your location when you first connect, and then occasionally as you continue to play.

There are a number of additional things players can do to help the geolocation technology do its thing. In this way, players ensure they enjoy unfettered access to legal and regulated online gambling sites in NJ:

• Always run the plug-in.
• Make sure your WiFi is on. You don’t have to be connected to a wireless network, but your WiFi must be on for the geolocation technology to find you. Users of desktop computers not equipped with a WiFi adapter will need to obtain a USB WiFi adapter.
• Turn off all Virtual Private Network, Virtual Network Client or Remote Desktop software. These often cause geolocation checks to fail.
• Make sure your WiFi signal is strong enough to allow geolocation technology to confirm your location. A good way to check is to make sure at least two other networks are available.
• Contact your internet service provider to ensure it only assigns you IP addresses that are inside the state.
• Avoid using third party internet connections, including public or corporate connections, and WiFi hotspots. These networks may assign IP addresses outside the state.

Does geolocation technology work for mobile devices?

Users looking to play on a mobile device should have an even easier time getting the geolocation technology to pinpoint their whereabouts.

That’s because Android and iOS smartphones and tablets have built-in GPS capabilities. As a result, no additional app or geolocation plug-in is required. Mobile users need only ensure GPS Location Services are turned on.

Will geolocation technology be used in the Pennsylvania online gambling market when it opens?

Geolocation is being used in Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware, the only three states where online gambling is legal and regulated. Therefore, it is assumed Pennsylvania will also use geolocation technology when it rolls out the first online gambling sites in that state in the second half of 2018.

This is especially true considering the state plans to block online gambling play from inside casinos, another function geolocation can make possible.

Temporary online gambling regulations approved by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board also suggest the need for online gambling sites in the state to use geolocation technology. Particularly the one requiring online gambling licensees to implement features blocking access to all Pennsylvania online casinos and online poker sites from outside the state.

There are seven online poker sites currently operating in New Jersey.

Three are on the same network, sharing player pools. Two others do the same on their own network. Plus, there are two stand-alone online poker sites doing their own thing inside the state.

Most of these online poker sites offer free bonus cash to new players just for signing up for an account. It’s a great way to get something for nothing and start building an NJ online poker bankroll.

However, not all these NJ online poker no deposit bonuses are created equal. Here’s a breakdown of what each site offers and how you can get your hands on all that free bonus cash:

playMGM Poker

playMGM Poker is the newest entry into the New Jersey online poker market. It just launched in the summer of 2017. The site operates under the Borgata’s internet gaming license. Plus, it shares player pools on a network with PartyPoker NJ and Borgata’s own poker site.

It also offers the largest no deposit bonus in the market giving players $25 free on sign up. New sign ups must be able to create a verifiable real-money account in order to be eligible. However, once they do they’ll get $10 of the bonus released as online cash and the other $15 credited as a poker bonus for use in tournaments.

Players need to earn one iReward Point on the site to unlock the $10 online cash. They can do that simply by playing cash or tournaments on the site.

PartyPoker NJ

PartyPoker NJ also operates under the Borgata’s internet gaming license. Plus, it’s on that shared player pool network with playMGM Poker and Borgata’s own poker site.

It also offers new players a $25 no deposit bonus. However, it’s worth a little less to the average poker player than the playMGM offer because some of it can only be used for the site’s casino games.

In fact, PartyPoker NJ gives players $15 for poker and $10 for casino play to start out. The good thing is, once you’ve cleared any wagering requirements for the NJ online casino bonus, you can take that money to the poker tables as well.

Borgata Poker

The third online poker site operating under the Borgata license is Borgata’s own branded online poker site. Plus, it’s on the shared network with playMGM and PartyPoker NJ.

New players on Borgata Poker are eligible for a $20 no deposit sign-up bonus.

However, $10 is released as cash and the other $10 credited as a poker bonus. Players only need to earn 1 iRP in order to withdraw the cash. However, the poker bonus is not earned until they get 40. Forty iRPs is the equivalent of $20 in rake and tournament fees.

888 Poker

International online poker giant 888 has an online poker site in New Jersey.

In fact, it operates under the Caesars Interactive Entertainment online gambling license on a shared player pool network with that company’s World Series of Poker.

New 888 players can get $20 in free bonus cash just for creating an account. However, this comes as $10 in free play for selected casino games on the 888 Casino NJ gambling website, $4 worth of cash that can be used on 888 Casino or 888 Poker, and six $1 tournament tickets for use on 888 Poker.

Pala Poker

PalaPoker.com also launched in the summer of 2017, just weeks before playMGM.

Pala has operated an NJ online casino site for some time on the state. However, anyone who hasn’t signed up for an account there can take advantage of a Welcome Bonus offered by the poker site that contains free bonus cash for use on all Pala NJ online gambling platforms.

It’s a $50 sign-up bonus with no deposit required. Just register for a new account with Pala and you’ll get:

• $15 in poker bonuses, including $10 in poker tournament dollars for multi-table or sit & go tournaments and $5 in cash for poker cash games on the site.
• $20 in casino bonuses, including $15 in Casino Bonus dollars and a free spin the PalaCasino.com $1,000,000 Slot Machine where each player is guaranteed a minimum of $5 Casino Bonus dollars and a chance to win up to $1 million.
• $15 in bingo bucks, which can be used to purchase up to 150 tickets on Pala Bingo games.

WSOP NJ

The World Series of Poker-branded NJ online poker room operates under WSOP owner Caesars Entertainment’s online gambling license.

The site uses software provided by partner 888 Poker. Plus, it shares player pools on a network with 888.

New players on the site can get $10 free bonus cash if they sign up for a new account using the promo code 10FREE. However, there is a one-time wagering requirement before any cash can be taken off the site.

PokerStars

The world’s top online poker site launched in NJ in the spring of 2016 and immediately became the market leader.

However, PokerStars doesn’t offer a standard no deposit bonus to new players. Instead, it offers two welcome packages.

One offers a 100 percent deposit match bonus up to $600. The other gives $30 in free play to anyone making a $20 deposit or more.

New Jersey online casinos are giving away free bonus cash to players just for signing up for an account. However, most offer players even more value.

NJ gambling websites don’t just want you to sign up for an account and burn through a no deposit bonus. They want you to make a deposit on the site. In fact, most New Jersey online casinos are giving away massive first-time deposit bonuses to any player willing to put a little money on the site and gamble with it.

The wagering requirements on these deposit bonus offers are the only real catch. However, most are easy enough to clear. Plus, since many pay off in increments, you should be able to clear at least part of the deposit bonus with very little effort.

Here’s a look at some of the biggest NJ gambling website deposit bonuses and how you can take full advantage of them:

Betfair

Betfair offers the largest variety of exclusive slots and casino games players won’t find on any other NJ gambling website. It also offers new players a 100 percent first-time deposit bonus of up to $2,500. This is now the largest first-time deposit bonus available in the New Jersey online casino market by a fairly wide margin.

New players can claim the bonus by signing up for an account with Betfair using the online promo code PLAY30. Then it’s just a matter of making a deposit of anywhere from $10 to $2,500.

There is a 20-times wagering requirement on slots. Roulette counts only 50 percent toward the requirement. All other table games count just 10 percent. Players have 90 days to complete the wagering requirements, but once they are met, the deposit, bonus, and any associated winnings are available for withdrawal.

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Golden Nugget

Golden Nugget is the most successful online casino in New Jersey. Part of the reason is it allows players access to the largest game library in the industry. In fact, there are more than 400 different casino games on Golden Nugget.

Another reason could be the healthy deposit bonus offered to new players. Those who sign up for an account with Golden Nugget using the online promo code PLAY20 are eligible for a sizable 100 percent deposit match bonus of up to $1,000. Only Betfair’s deposit bonus is bigger.

However, the wagering requirement is a little easier to clear. It is five times the deposit, plus the bonus on slots. Roulette, video poker, blackjack, and other table games count only 20 percent toward meeting the requirement.

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playMGM

playMGM is the newest player in the New Jersey gambling website market. It launched in August 2017.

In addition to a $25 no-deposit welcome bonus offered to new players, the playMGM online casino will match a new player’s first deposit 100 percent up to $1,000.

The playMGM casino deposit bonus comes with six-times wagering requirement. However, it’s the same for all games on the site. Players have just seven days to meet the requirement before the bonus will expire.

888

The 888 NJ gambling website operates under the Caesars Interactive Entertainment online gambling license.

New players at 888 are actually eligible for two deposit bonuses. The first is a 50 percent match bonus up to $500 on a first deposit. The second is a 50 percent match bonus up to $1,000 on a second deposit.

Players must use the online promo code WELCOME888 at sign up to take advantage of the offers.

The wagering requirement is 30 times on video slots, slots, arcade, and dice. Roulette, Triple Card Poker, and table games count only 20 percent toward the requirement. Blackjack and video poker count only 10 percent.

Pala

California-based tribal casino Pala Resort & Casino has its own family of NJ gambling websites. These sites operate under Borgata’s internet gambling license.

New players can take advantage of a $50 welcome package on the sites that includes a free spin on the PalaCasino.com $1 Million Slot Machine. Plus, Pala offers first-time depositors a 100 percent deposit bonus of up to $500.

This bonus comes with a wagering requirement of 10 times the deposit, plus the bonus on slots. All other casino games count only 20 percent toward meeting it — except for craps, which does not count at all. The bonus will expire 30 days after the deposit is made.

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Caesars

Caesars is the flagship NJ gambling website operating under the Caesars Interactive Entertainment online gambling license.

It offers triple the industry-standard with a first-time deposit bonus of 100 percent up to $300.

The wagering requirements are five times on slots, 10 times on video poker, and 25 times for all other games. Players have just seven days to meet the requirement or forfeit the deposit bonus.

Harrah’s

Harrah’s NJ gambling website also operates under the Caesars Interactive Entertainment online gambling license.

It also offers the same first-time deposit bonus of 100 percent up to $300 players will find on Caesars.

However, the wagering requirements are a little tougher to meet. It sits at 20 times the bonus for slots. Roulette and table games have a 100-times wagering requirement. Blackjack and video poker sit at 200-times.

The bonus is released in $10 increments. Plus, players have 30 days to meet the wagering requirements.

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Tropicana and Virgin

The Tropicana and its sister site Virgin do not offer a typical deposit bonus. However, new players can take advantage of a cashback bonus program that allows them to gamble for their first seven days on the sites.

The offer is pretty much the same as a deposit bonus. Players are eligible for a 100 percent first-deposit cash back offer of up to $100. Should a player lose any part of the first deposit they make on either site in the first seven days, up to $100, Tropicana and Virgin will pay it back.

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