After years of waiting, New Jersey residents are on the precipice of being able to place a variety of wagers on virtually any sporting event. The landmark Supreme Court decision in Murphy vs. NCAA that eradicated PASPA enables any state to implement and regulate sports betting – including the single-game wagering that was previously restricted to Nevada – moving forward.
Ironically, even though New Jersey spearheaded the near-decade-long fight for legalization, it technically has no immediate regulatory framework in place for sports betting. However, a current bill feverishly being worked on in the Garden State’s legislature aims to put a full structure in place.
Monmouth Park likely first sportsbook to open
Monmouth Park – with its William Hill-operated sportsbook – appears set to be the first racetrack in New Jersey to offer sports betting. They were in a similar position back when Governor Chris Christie repealed the state’s sports betting prohibitions to get around PASPA.
A successful injunction on the part of the sports leagues and their subsequent 2-1 victory in the U.S. District Court of Appeal scuttled that effort altogether.
Sports betting to be prevalent across multiple venues
Once sports betting does officially initiate in New Jersey – which may be early June by latest estimates – residents will eventually be able to place wagers at all state racetracks and casinos that apply for a sports wagering permit.
Mobile wagering is also set to be offered within the state for anyone physically located within New Jersey at the time the wager is placed.
However, the aforementioned legislation would have two major restrictions:
- Mobile wagering is restricted to entities that also have a brick-and-mortar location.
- Wagering is barred on any college sporting events played in New Jersey, as well as on games involving New Jersey-based colleges and universities wherever they may take place.
Full array of betting options
Otherwise, New Jersey residents are expected to have the full array of sports betting options typically available in Nevada sports books at their disposal. That includes the ability to wager on any New Jersey-based professional sports teams, as well as any professional sporting events taking place within the state.
The type of betting options expected to be available include the following:
- Money line wagers
- Run line wagers
- Wagers on point spreads
- Over/under totals
- Teasers
- Parlays
- Individual Player Props (i.e. number of touchdowns Odell Beckham will score, number of assists D’Angelo Russell dishes out, number of goals Taylor Hall might score)
- Team props (i.e. How many first downs Giants will compile, how many three-pointers Nets will drain)
- In-game wagers of all types
Potentially expansive number of sports betting locations
With the ability to apply for sports betting permits open to all of the state’s casinos and racetracks, New Jersey residents could eventually have an abundant supply of options for placing online sports betting wagers.
The following casinos are currently open or will soon be open in New Jersey:
- Bally’s/Wild West Casino
- Borgata
- Caesar’s Atlantic City Hotel and Casino
- Golden Nugget Atlantic City
- Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Atlantic City (expected to open June 2018)
- Hard Rock Casino at Meadowlands
- Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City
- Ocean Resort Casino (expected to open June 2018)
- Resorts Casino Hotel
- Tropicana Casino and Resort Atlantic City
The following racetracks are currently open in New Jersey:
- Freehold Raceway
- Meadowlands Racetrack
- Monmouth Park Racetrack
