New Jersey is one of the biggest gambling states in America. The Garden state is known for Atlantic City’s incredible casinos, and for playing host to some of the biggest and brightest names in sports betting and online gaming. However, there is one thing that is still missing from the scene for many people- New Jersey poker rooms.
Even to this day, gambling outside of Atlantic City in New Jersey is still not legal. While Atlantic City is certainly home to some of the best casinos in America, there are parties outside of the city that wish to bring more to the table as a whole. Poker rooms at locations outside Atlantic City could make a lot of difference to the economy and state as a whole.
In this blog post, we’ll be diving into this topic in more depth. We’ll be taking a look at what is currently legal in New Jersey for gamblers to enjoy, whether New Jersey poker rooms could be a reality and how 2020 has been for the poker scene as a whole.
Are you interested in playing poker online in New Jersey? Check out our in-depth reviews of the best poker sites in New Jersey: BetMGM, PartyPoker and Borgata.
What we cover
What is currently allowed in the New Jersey betting scene?
Currently in New Jersey, there are lots of wonderful ways to gamble- in Atlantic City, specifically. The casino options are second to none, with plenty of table games and slot machines for gamblers to enjoy. There are plenty of amazing sport betting options too, and the state is home to some incredible online gambling companies as well.
As we noted, however, all of these gambling opportunities are still located in Atlantic City exclusively. There are no other legal betting avenues in New Jersey, which has been a hot topic for many people within the betting industry as of late.
There have been a few attempts so far to get the legislation changed or even considered at all, as we covered here in this blog post. Recently, a new bill has been proposed by horse racing tracks in New Jersey- which you can see here. This bill requests that the move to license New Jersey poker rooms should be allowed outside of the Atlantic City limits.
This is a hot topic in the community right now, as the bill declares poker to be a game of ‘skill and bluff’ instead of a gambling game- which would separate it from the legislation that prevents gambling outside of Atlantic City. The bill was introduced on the second of July, and could potentially provide much-needed revenue for the entertainment industry during the pandemic.
The likelihood of this bill being enacted is slim, due to the existing refusals to allow poker rooms outside of Atlantic City, and due to the general timing of the bill as well. This is certainly a story that we will be following with great interest, as New Jersey poker rooms could have a huge impact on the state’s economy as a whole.
$500
Welcome Package
* New customers only. 20% match bonus up to $500.
$500
Welcome Package
$500
Welcome Package
Benefits of New Jersey poker rooms inside of sportsbetting facilities
One of the main benefits of legalizing New Jersey poker rooms outside of Atlantic City is that it could bring revenue and support to other entertainment businesses in the state. The pandemic has been hard for many businesses, not just those located in Atlantic City.
This bill could also help to crack down on illegal gambling practices, and malpractice as a whole. Legalization is the best way to offer protection and regulation for both customers and business owners, and it would make the poker industry much safer for everyone.
As a whole, the benefits of legalized poker rooms outside of Atlantic City would be immense, in theory. The protection of gamblers and the support of local businesses is absolutely essential, and the bill could also help to boost the economy in the state in general, too. It will be intriguing to see what happens next with this piece of legislation.
What has 2020 been like for the poker community as a whole?
2020 has been busy for the poker industry- and hectic for the gambling world as a whole, too.
Lockdown has pushed lots of gamblers online, to enjoy online matches and potential rewards from big players in the industry. Many players have been honing their skills while being stuck in the house this year. There have even been talks of local, online matches with friends being a reality soon, through 888 Poker- take a look here to find out more about it.
Despite the ongoing pandemic, there have still been some incredible events in the world of poker this year. The spring championship tournaments from PokerStars New Jersey resulted in some incredible wins for players in the community, and 888 Poker announced their $10K poker tournament too. Both of these stories created a lot of hype in the community, understandably.
It’s been inspiring to see how the poker community – and gambling world as a whole – have responded to the pandemic. This is a resilient, innovative sector, packed with creative minds.
Summary
All in all, it would be great to see New Jersey poker rooms being thrown into the mix. New Jersey is a frontrunner in the gambling scene, after all, so it’s surprising that gambling is still limited to the Atlantic City limits. It’s been interesting to see how other states are progressing with poker this year, as well.
It’ll be fascinating to see where this discussion goes in 2020. As with any aspect of the gambling industry, there is a lot of debate surrounding this topic- with people in support of New Jersey poker rooms, and others fiercely opposing them. Whatever happens with this story, we’re sure that it’ll be intriguing and that New Jersey will continue to storm the gambling industry this year.
Are you a New Jersey resident interested in playing online in our state and taking advantage of the best offers? Check out our curated list of NJ casinos, NJ sportsbooks and online bonuses.
$500
Welcome Package
* New customers only. 20% match bonus up to $500.
$500
Welcome Package
$500
Welcome Package
