New Jersey has cemented itself as one of the leading sports betting states in the US over the past several years. This is unsurprising considering the Garden State played a starring role in convincing the US Supreme Court to overturn the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in 2018.
NJ sports bettors have one of the richest sportsbook landscapes to choose from, with over a dozen platforms providing a wide variety of betting markets. However, without solid knowledge of the various betting markets, sports and betting bonuses, you won’t be able to take full advantage of the options. In addition, you’ll need to know how to create an account and some of the top tips for sports betting success.
Fortunately, you’re in the right place to learn everything you need to know about sports betting in New Jersey. Keep reading for a definitive guide.
Sports betting in New Jersey: A quick history
Before we get into the concrete details regarding New Jersey betting markets and sportsbooks, it’s worth looking at a quick history of how legal sports betting developed in the Garden State. Sports betting fans across the US have a lot to thank New Jersey lawmakers for, as they were instrumental in getting the Supreme Court to strike down PASPA in May 2018.
This cleared the way for individual states to write their own legal gambling laws, and New Jersey swiftly did just that. By June, Governor Phil Murphy had signed legal sports betting legislation into law, allowing New Jersey’s casinos and racetracks to start taking sports wagers. However, the real highlight came in August, as online and mobile sportsbooks launched in the Garden State to great fanfare.
The New Jersey sports betting industry has continued to grow over the past six years, hitting a $1bn monthly handle in September 2021 and several times since. It’s one of the best-performing legal sports betting states and it appears that it will be a major player in the US betting landscape for many years to come.
What sports can I bet on in New Jersey?
New Jersey bettors have dozens of sports to choose from at the best sportsbooks, with football, basketball, baseball, hockey and soccer generally being the most popular. The Super Bowl is the top choice, as demonstrated by the clamor surrounding the Eagles last Super Bowl win.
These are far from the only options though. Bettors can also place wagers on tennis, rugby, lacrosse, motorsports and various other sports. Sportsbooks even cover rarer sports such as floorball and Aussie rules.
In fact, it’s often easier to describe the very few things that New Jersey bettors aren’t allowed to bet on. Some of the events that are banned include betting on high school sports, any college events actually taking place in New Jersey and most forms of political wagers.
New Jersey betting markets
New Jersey sportsbooks have plenty of potential betting markets, especially on the most popular sports and leagues such as the NFL and NBA. Learning about these is fundamental before betting, as you won’t be able to enjoy the maximum possibilities without understanding how each bet type works.
The main betting markets available include:
- Moneyline: A simple bet on which team or player will win a game or match outright. It’s the most straightforward wager available at betting sites and is a great way to start.
- Spread: A form of handicap betting, spread wagers enable bettors to give an underdog an advantage. For example, a football team could have a four-point handicap, meaning you could bet on the underdog to lose by less than four points, or the favorite to win by more than four.
- Totals: These wagers are great for games you cannot call the winner for or ones where the favorites are heavily tipped to win. Instead of predicting the outcome of the game, you guess how many points will be scored altogether. This type of bet can also apply to other statistics, such as corners in soccer.
- Parlays: Parlay bets provide the opportunity to predict the outcomes of several games in one bet. These allow bettors to forecast the results for a particular NFL game week, for example, with the odds of each game multiplying the potential payout. However, you must guess each game correctly, otherwise the wager will lose.
- Futures: Bettors can predict long-term scenarios like the winner of the Super Bowl at the beginning of the NFL season with futures wagers.
- Props: Prop bets are great for seasoned bettors with in-depth knowledge of the top players and teams. These wagers allow you to place a wager on an event happening during the game, such as the number of touchdown throws by a quarterback.
Types of New Jersey sports betting bonuses
Sports betting bonuses are common at New Jersey sportsbooks, giving bettors a nice boost to their bankroll. For example, sports betting bonuses at platforms like DraftKings can include free bets, risk-free bets and more. Here are some of the most popular bonuses:
- Welcome bonus: All New Jersey sportsbooks have some kind of welcome bonus, usually offering free bets or a deposit match in exchange for depositing and placing a qualifying wager.
- Odds boost: Odds and price boosts are the most popular ongoing promos. NJ sportsbooks can offer boosted potential payouts on particular games or betting markets, potentially giving you more bang for your buck.
- Parlay insurance: Want to place parlays but scared of getting one leg wrong? Parlay insurance bonuses can help alleviate the risk by safeguarding your stake if one part of your parlay wager fails.
How to find the best New Jersey sportsbook
Choosing the right New Jersey sportsbook is incredibly important. Otherwise, you may not be able to place the type of wagers you want to. Here are a few of the main tips for choosing a sports betting site:
- Read sportsbook reviews and check out the websites to get a feel for each operator.
- Compare welcome bonuses and ongoing promos to find the platform best suited to your preferences.
- Check user reviews on the App Store and Google Play marketplaces to get first-hand knowledge of how each platform performs.
Key strategies for successful sports betting
While there is no way to guarantee a winning sports wager, bettors can take advantage of the following strategies to help enhance their chances:
Never bet without research
Doing research is a fundamental part of successful sports betting. Never place a wager blindly, as blind bets are far more likely to lose. Do regular research and choose one or two teams and leagues to focus on. You’ll have much better success after you learn to identify trends and use data to support your decision making.
Use betting promos
Betting bonuses are there to be used, so don’t let these opportunities slip past you. Take advantage of welcome bonuses and keep your eyes peeled on the promo page to find ongoing offers.
Budget strictly and effectively
Budgeting is incredibly important. Otherwise, you could quickly run out of gambling funds. Set a strict budget and only wager within your means, we cannot stress enough how important this is.
By Chris Bates
