Esports betting in New Jersey is now legal
Esports betting in New Jersey is finally here. Esports betting is now legal in NJ, and you can use a wide range of sportsbooks to bet on your favorite games.
You don’t have to be a resident to enjoy NJ esports betting, as long as you’re within state lines and over 21.
On this page, we’ll introduce you to esports sportsbooks in NJ and boost your knowledge on this rapidly growing market, covering the best sites, popular betting events, and the future.
Let’s kick off with the best esports betting sites in NJ:
| Sportsbook Logo | Odds rating | Bonus | Go to sportsbook Button | Show more | T&C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1
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83/100 Expert rating by Ian Z. 86% Playscore based on |
Second Chance Bet of up to $500
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Play now |
Good to know
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2
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82/100 Expert rating by Ian Z. 89% Playscore based on |
Bet $1 get $200 in Bonus Bets
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Play now |
Good to know
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21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler (call or text in Colorado). |
3
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76/100 Expert rating by Anna M. 92% Playscore based on |
Bet $5 Get $150 in Bonus Bets + a daily No Sweat SGP
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Play now |
Good to know
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Where to bet on esports in NJ — Top four sites breakdown
We pick only the leading New Jersey betting operators, so you can have a top-quality betting experience. Each of the New Jersey esports gambling sportsbooks on this page provides access to the best gaming betting markets with competitive odds. To help you narrow down your search here is more information about our top picks:
DraftKings NJ
DraftKings is known for its ultra-professional approach to online sports betting and fantasy sports. In New Jersey, the operator runs special Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) contests covering major esports competitions such as Call of Duty and League of Legends. There is also $20 in free play credit up for grabs for all new DFS customers, while the sportsbook offers up to $200 in free bets.
bet365 NJ
bet365 is one of the leading global betting brands and brings expertise and resources to the Garden State. Here you can find the most extensive selection of US esports betting options, including markets on Valorant, CS: GO, Call of Duty, and more. Betting lines cover props, moneylines, spreads, totals, and other options. bet365 also has an esports-friendly welcome package of up to $200 in free bets when you wager just $1.
BetRivers NJ
BetRivers delivers one of the simplest ways to bet esports in NJ thanks to its clean website and mobile app. Both the site and app are very easy to use, thanks to a thoughtful UI. In the esports section, BetRivers offers wagers on Call of Duty and CS: GO across futures, pre-event, and even live betting markets. The incredible free-bet match up to a $500 welcome bonus is also available for esports markets with odds of -200 or longer.
Unibet NJ
Thanks to the excellent desktop site and mobile app, it is straightforward to bet on esports at Unibet. The sportsbook provides pre-game and live betting odds for events like CS: GO, League of Legends, and Call of Duty, including moneylines on your favorite teams to win. You can also claim a generous $500 risk-free bet sign-up bonus, which can be used on esports markets.
What to bet on? Popular events for esports betting in NJ
New Jersey esports gambling is a relatively new betting market, but the range of bet types and competitions continues to expand quickly. Here are some of the most common tournaments you’ll find at sportsbooks:
League of Legends World Championship (Worlds)
Few gaming competitions stir excitement quite like the annual professional League of Legends (LoL) World Championship. This is the culmination of each professional LoL season, where LoL teams compete to become the champion and lift the Summoner’s Cup, with millions of dollars worth of prizes. “Worlds” is known for its ceremony and attracts tens of millions of viewers each week.
CS: GO Major Championships
The Major Championship pits the best Counter-Strike: Global Offensive players against each other in a competition with official hosting from the game’s developer, Valve. CS: GO is available at the New Jersey esports betting sites we recommend, and the Major Championships is the pinnacle annual event with a prize pool of $2 million.
Dota 2: The International (TI)
The International brings together the best Dota 2 players for the most lucrative esports tournament. Hosted by Dota 2 developer Valve, The International wraps up the annual Dota Pro Circuit (DPC) and features 20 teams from around the world. The biggest claim to fame for the tournament is that it has the largest single-tournament prize pool of any eSport competition, with pools up to $40 million.
Valorant: Champions
At the end of the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) each year, the best teams and players head to the Valorant Champions season showpiece. Organizer Riot Games puts a $1 million prize pool on the line. You can find Valorant betting markets at our top New Jersey esports gambling sites.
Fortnite World Cup
One of the most popular video games worldwide, Fortnite has a professional circuit of leagues and international tournaments. The biggest event ever was held by Fortnite developer Epic Games in 2019. Known as the World Cup, the event had a massive prize pool of $30 million. With NJ embracing esports betting, any future Fortnite World Cup will undoubtedly be available for bets.
Call of Duty League
The Call of Duty League (CDL) is a pro esports division for the game Call of Duty and is organized by Activision. It features city-based teams and has become one of the most popular esports competitions. It is available at plenty of New Jersey esports betting sites, with a wide range of betting lines available. That includes the ability to wager on play in real-time through live betting.
Six Invitational
For Rainbow Six Siege players, the Six Invitational is the pinnacle of the game. It is a tournament hosted by publisher Ubisoft each year in Montreal, Canada. Playing from Ubisoft’s home, professional Rainbow Six Siege players from around the world compete for a prize pool of $2.6 million.
How to choose esports betting sites in NJ
Our industry experts provide a comprehensive review of every site we recommend, looking at all aspects of the best NJ esports betting operators. Here, we introduce you to some of the criteria our guys look at, to give you an idea of what to look out for when you’re doing your own research.
Video games/events available
The esports betting market is thriving, and dozens of leagues and divisions are now available, covering the world’s most popular games. While we accept the New Jersey esports betting industry is growing, we still look for sportsbooks to provide as much access to these competitions and games as possible. At this stage, you should expect to see some of the bigger games like LoL, DOTA2, and CoD available, but it’s far less likely you’ll be able to bet on RLCS.
Bet types
Having access to games and competitions is one thing, but it is also important to have a wide range of betting options for those markets. With every New Jersey esports betting site we recommend, you should see bets such as props, moneylines, and totals, as well as options to bet in-play and also make futures wagers for major events. Additional betting features include same-game parlays, odds boosts, cash back, multi-line parlays, and live streaming.
Bonuses
Many operators supporting esports betting in NJ provide specific bonuses for gaming events. Sites like Bet365 provide regular promotions to players and a generous welcome bonus. A good New Jersey sports betting bonus is normally a deposit match of around $200, or a risk-free bet(s) of $500-$1,000.
Odds
All bettors want to get the best bang for their buck. We calculate an approximate ‘player return’ by averaging out each sportsbooks odds during our reviews, to calculate the ‘house edge’ of the sportsbook in question. The higher the return percentage, the better. You can check out individual reviews, but the highest overall scorer in this category is Unibet, at least for the NJ esports betting sites. It has an average return of 96.7% overall.
Apps & platforms
You want a smooth betting experience no matter what sport you are betting on. Each site we recommend will run on mobile and desktop sites. You should be able to access and bet without performance issues, even on devices with lower power. Test out how long it takes for windows to open, for pages to load, and for betting actions to happen — you don’t want live odds to change faster than it takes your bet to process.
Overall betting site rating
As well as focusing on esports-specific features, bettors deserve a fantastic all-around betting experience — if there’s one thing a sportsbook should have, it’s money. With that in mind, there are a few other green flags to look out for at New Jersey esports bettings sites; 8-12 payment methods with names you recognize like VISA and PayPal, and there should be 7-day-a-week customer support, preferably with 24/7 live chat.
Online esports gambling in New Jersey — Timeline of events
Esports betting is legal in New Jersey after receiving approval from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (NJDGE).Here’s the story of how lawmakers brought esports betting to New Jersey:
- 2018: New Jersey sports betting is legalized following the abolition of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 PASPA). However, esports are not available for betting.
- January 2020: Assemblyman Ralph Caputo brings forward legislation to legalize esports betting in New Jersey. This would give the NJDGE the power to regulate esports betting markets.
- March 2020: The state government forwards a new bill (Bill A637) that will categorize esports as skill-based gaming while also amending current permits to allow eSport betting.
- August 2020: Bill A637 is passed with a unanimous vote.
- July 2021: Bill A637 comes into law, legalizing esports betting in New Jersey
- January 2022: New Jersey gets a new sportsbook licensed by the NJDGE exclusively committed to esports betting. However, Vie.gg closed its global operations a few months after opening.
What the future holds
New Jersey is one of the most permissive states in terms of online gambling. Now that there is support for esports gambling alongside regular sports betting, legislators are wasting no time in improving the current infrastructure.
In June 2022, New Jersey state Assemblyman Ralph Caputo returned with another bill that he presented to the NJ House of Representatives. An identical version of the same bill was again introduced in September 2022. Both versions seek for esports to be recognized as an “authorized gambling game”.
Furthermore, it would expand the framework for “internet gambling” to also include “the placing of wagers with a casino licensee on Esports.”
Under the terms, the NJDGE could hand more licenses to casinos and sportsbooks to provide esports betting. Additionally, the bill would allow sports wagering licensees to offer two more licenses for individual operators focusing exclusively on esports betting.
FAQ
Is esports betting legal in NJ?
Yes, esports betting in New Jersey is completely legal at licensed sportsbooks that supply esports markets. NJ esports betting has been available since 2020, and legislators are working on new frameworks to expand esports markets further over the coming years.
Can I claim sportsbook bonuses for betting on esports?
Yes, although it is worth checking with the sportsbook you choose. Many sports betting sites do allow esports bets to count towards bonuses. However, this might not always be the case, so you should always read the terms and conditions of any betting bonus you want to claim.
What types of bets can I place on esports markets in NJ?
New Jersey esports betting sites offer a solid selection of bets across the markets they have. Players can access moneylines, totals, points spreads, and props, while some popular games and events will have live betting markets available. There are also future wagers open for major competitions.
What esports markets can I wager on in New Jersey?
Call of Duty, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS: GO), and Valorant are frequently available at New Jersey esports betting sites. Other major markets include Fortnite, Dota 2, and League of Legends. The betting lines you can find will depend on which leagues and/or tournaments are ongoing.