Esports betting is now available at legal New Jersey sports betting sites, following changes to the laws surrounding betting on professional video gaming in 2019. While the esports betting industry is still in its infancy in New Jersey, many of the top NJ betting sites are in the process of adding esports markets. In total there are upwards of 15 licensed sports betting sites in New Jersey,

eSport betting in New Jersey

Overview of esports betting in New Jersey

While sports betting is now up and running in New Jersey, esports has been left out in the cold, with legislation stopping regulated sportsbooks from offering gambling on video games.

While it is still possible to wager on esports via a number of illegal offshore sportsbooks, eSportsBet.com chooses to only promote regulated options to citizens of New Jersey.

The legislation that outlines “prohibited sports events” in New Jersey outlaws electronic sports and video games and all high school sport.

The original draft of the sports betting legislation in New Jersey failed to mention esports among its exclusions, but the final version that was signed off on included esports.

Legal NJ Sportsbook sites

New Jersey has a rule in place that means online sportsbooks must be partnered with a brick and mortar casino, which means many of the world’s biggest brands have forced their way into the market through these partnerships, including Caesars (888) and Resorts Casino Hotel Atlantic City (Betstars NJ).

While they presently don’t offer betting on esports events, either domestic or local, the following sites are all regulated in New Jersey. 


  • CAESARS INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT NEW JERSEY
    www.caesarscasino.com
    us.888sport.com
  • BORGATA HOTEL CASINO & SPA
    nj.betmgm.com
  • GOLDEN NUGGET HOTEL CASINO & MARINA
    nj.betamerica.com
  • HARD ROCK HOTEL CASINO
    www.hardrockcasino.com/sportsbook
    www.bet365.com
  • MEADOWLANDS RACING & ENTERTAINMENT
    www.sportsbook.fanduel.com
    www.pointsbet.com
  • MONMOUTH PARK
    nj.us.williamhill.com
    www.playsugarhouse.com
  • OCEAN RESORT CASINO
    nj.us.williamhill.com
  • RESORTS CASINO HOTEL ATLANTIC CITY
    www.foxbet.com
    www.draftkings.com
  • TROPICANA ATLANTIC CITY
    nj.us.williamhill.com

Why is esports betting banned in New Jersey?

Because the Department of Law and Public Safety’s Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) has not given any explanation for esports exclusion in the legislation we can only speculate as to why it was banned.

One theory is that esports tends to attract a younger crowd, with the majority of players and fans under 21. And openly promoting sports betting to these types could be a bad look for the newly-regulated industry.

It is also looked upon as something of an unknown entity and easily manipulated by savvy punters, much like Fantasy Sports was frowned upon for many years.

We can only hope that sanity prevails and esports is regulated in the near future in New Jersey, and the flow of money to offshore sportsbooks offering esports betting is stopped.

Esports betting guides

Esports betting guides

Want to learn more about the best games for esports? Read our detailed guide to the ever-emerging esports games catalogue

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