New Jersey Online Casino Games

The guide that follows is designed as an introduction to online casino games in New Jersey. With dozens of different and unique games to enjoy, it can be tricky to find exactly what you want to play. So while there are too many variations to cover in just one article, we’re going to run down some of the more popular options for new jersey online casino players in the Garden State.

Our Top Picks To Play Online Casino Games in New Jersey

Slots

Traditional video slots

Online slot machines are consistently some of the most popular offerings of any online casino. Bettors in New Jersey can enjoy several different flavors of slots, but most feature five reels with three or four rows of symbols. These “traditional slots in New Jersey” are identical to the slot machines you find in a brick-and-mortar casino, just digitized on your phone.

The goal with video slots is to match several of the same symbols across the payline. Your payout depends on the predetermined value of the specific symbols you have matched, along with how many symbols are involved. To win, the symbols must be aligned with one another on the payline, starting from left to right.

Payouts on traditional video slots are based on what is called a fixed paytable that can be found somewhere on the machine or app. A paytable lists the game’s different symbols along with the corresponding payouts for each combination. This allows you to review what kind of payout you can expect for each symbol and compare the profitability with other machines. The term fixed is important because it refers to the idea that payouts on these games never change. Therefore, there is an upper limit on how much you can win on a traditional video slot due to the fixed payouts.

Progressive slots

In contrast to the fixed payouts from traditional slot machines, progressive slots have the potential for much higher jackpots. The idea behind progressives is that the device itself holds onto a small amount of each bet you make and adds it into a jackpot pool. This not only applies to your bets but also to others who have played on that slot. The total keeps rising until one lucky wagerer hits the jackpot and takes the whole pot.

In many New Jersey casinos online, both online and land-based, several different slots will have their progressive jackpots grouped together. This allows for them to gain value faster and be more attractive to would-be winners.

If you aren’t a jackpot chaser, don’t fret. Progressive slots also feature fixed payouts and only add the unique feature of a growing jackpot pool as a bonus. Most require players to trigger the progressive when betting at the highest stake, with some featuring a tiered jackpot system.

Table Games

Blackjack

Online blackjack is the most popular casino table game in the Garden State. The fast pace of play and emphasis on skill make blackjack an attractive option for table players across the country.

Another thing that attracts many to blackjack is how easy it is to understand. The objective is to beat the dealer’s hand without eclipsing 21 points. Players are each dealt two faceup cards at the start of each game, while the dealer receives one card face up and one card facedown. Players must then consider their hands, and the possibilities for the dealer’s hand, in order to decide how to proceed.

All number cards keep their face value while Jacks, Queens, and Kings count as 10 points apiece. Aces provide players some flexibility and can either be 1 or 11 depending on the situation. If you are dealt an ace along with any 10-value card, this is “Blackjack” and you automatically win. If the dealer doesn’t have a 21-point hand of their own, the payout is usually 3/2 for blackjack. If you win without a blackjack, you are paid 1/1 on your initial bet.

Blackjack comes in countless variations that have become popular over the years but most have based on the same set of rules. It’s worth exploring some of these variations to see if any pique your interest.

Craps

While Craps seems like a complicated and hard-to-learn game, in reality, it’s quite easy once you get the hang of it. The fast pace of play and the entertainment of playing with others is what draws many to a Craps table. The game is so exciting that it often attracts a crowd to spectate.

Putting the excitement of Craps aside, there is a more important reason that many gravitate towards the game. Craps has one of the lowest house edges in a casino. That means that there is a greater chance for players to hit a winning bet. Craps is also a game of chance. This is an attractive feature for many who don’t want to deal with skill-based games such as poker or blackjack. The only difference between real-life and virtual craps is that online gaming uses random number generators to guarantee the outcome is equal to a physical roll of the dice.

A round of Craps can be one or multiple rolls of a dice. The roller is known as the shooter and the shooter’s first roll is known as the comeout.

The first thing to do before playing craps is to familiarize yourself with the table layout and different types of bets available. Craps offers dozens of different betting options but we’re going to cover a few of the more popular ones here. Keep an eye out for these bets on the table next time you look at a Craps table.

Pass Line: A bet on the pass line is common due to its easy-to-understand nature. If a shooter rolls a 7 or 11 on the comeout, you win. If the comeout is 2, 3, or 12, you automatically lose. Any other number becomes the point. If the shooter hits the point before a 7, you win. If the shooter rolls a 7 before the point, you lose.

Come Bet: The come bed is set up as a variation of the pass line that replaces the second roll or the “next roll” as the comeout. The same outcomes apply to the come bet as the pass line.

Don’t Pass Line: The opposite of a bet on the pass line. This is a bet against the shooter’s chances of rolling the point before a 7. Rolls of 2 or 3 are automatic winners on the don’t pass line while 7 and 11 become automatic losers. If the shooter rolls a 7 before the point, you win. If they roll the point first, you lose.

Roulette

Few online table games can beat the thrill of playing roulette on your phone or computer. Roulette has remained a popular game due to its easy-to-understand rules and ability to hit big wins.

American-style roulette is the version many are most familiar with stateside. The game wheel is made up of numbers from 1 to 36 along with 0 and 00. European and French Roulette eliminate the 00.

The objective of roulette remains the same no matter which variant you choose, pick the slot that the ball falls into. This is not the only way to win and there are several other betting options to choose from that sacrifice value for a better chance at winning. Bets on specific numbers are called “inside bets” while other wagers are called “outside bets.”

Outside bets can be on whether the ball lands on a black or red slot. This greatly increases the odds of winning, but with a lower payout. The same goes for odd or even wagers, and bets placed on groups of numbers.

A round of roulette is very straightforward. Players at the table place their bets and the dealer spins the wheel and introduces the ball. Wherever the ball lands determines who at the table wins what.

Live Dealer

Live dealer games are the best way to bring the real-world casino experience into your home. Live dealer is designed to mimic the look and feel of playing at a physical table at a brick-and-mortar casino. The biggest draw to live dealer games is that you are playing against other real people with a real-life person handling the cards, dice, or balls. For those that love the excitement and social aspects of being at a casino table, live dealer games are for you.

The most popular live dealer game is poker but bettors in New Jersey can also enjoy Baccarat, Roulette, and Blackjack. As of this writing, there are currently 14 different casinos that offer live dealer games:

• Golden Nugget
• Stardust
• Bogota
• Party Casino
• BetMGM
• BetAmerica Casino
• Hard Rock Atlantic City
• 888 Casino
• SugarHouse
• Resorts
• Mohegan Sun
• DraftKings
• Unibet
• PokerStars Casino

Video Poker

For those that want a more low-key experience, video poker is a great option. Much like an actual casino, online casinos offer both live dealer and video poker games. Video poker is straightforward and no different from the game many enjoy at brick-and-mortar casinos. The basic version sees players dealt five cards. Players then choose which cards to keep and which to replace in order to make the best five-card poker hand. Payouts are flat in video poker and go up the more complex hands you are able to put together. The highest payout in video poker is a royal flush and the lowest is usually jacks or better which allows you to break even. Some video poker games do not payout for pairs. There are numerous different variations of video poker to explore such as duces or wild or jacks or better.
Poker

Classic Online Poker

“Classic” online poker is what many imagine when they imagine playing poker on their computer or mobile device. Platforms like PokerStars and PartyPoker popularized online poker 20 years ago. It dropped off in popularity but has since seen a resurgence in the Garden State.

The rules of online poker are the same as live poker with the main difference being that the dealer is automated and you cannot see the other players. Many platforms offer live chat but it is still less of a social experience than live poker. Online poker moves very fast and usually offers lower buy-in for players looking for some low-risk fun. Games are easily accessible and ongoing 24-hours a day.

As of this writing, there are currently six platforms that offer online poker games in New Jersey.

• WSOP.com
• PokerStars
• BetMGM Poker
• 888Poker
• PartyPoker
• Borgata Poker

There are two popular variations of online poker that you should be familiar with before diving in. The first, and most popular, is Texas Hold’em. The goal of hold’em is to make the best five-card hand but the process of getting there is unique. Players are dealt two face-down cards after which there is a round of betting. Then three community cards are dealt face-up, this is called the flop, followed by another round of betting. The next two cards are dealt face up one by one with rounds of betting in between. Once the final card is dealt, called the river, players have seven cards to make the best of a five-card hand. The game is usually played with two blinds, a big and a little.

Omaha poker has some similarities to hold’em with a few very important differences. First, players are dealt four face-down cards, not two. Five community cards are then dealt face-up. The caveat here is that Omaha players must use exactly two of your four-hole cards to form your best possible hand. So, while you have more cards to choose from, the flexibility of what you can choose is lessened.