New Jersey is famous for many things; from baseball to Bruce Springsteen. It would be fair to say that the gambling industry has played a part in the history of the Garden State too though.
After all, it is home to the casinos of Atlantic City. Alongside Las Vegas and Reno, they make up the major trio of US casino destinations.
Given the longstanding links that Jersey has to gambling, it is not surprising that it was one of the first states to widely legalize playing poker online. That move was made over a decade ago and digital poker has been growing in economic influence ever since.
The state is open to both online and land-based poker platforms. This article will take a closer look at some of the best places to play the game within New Jersey, whether you’re on your travels or just a local looking for some tips.
Online Poker in NJ
Let us start by looking at the online options within the state. Playing poker games over the internet became legal in Jersey back in 2013 and it has really taken off.
That is reflected in the number of choices that people who live there have. Almost all of the really top providers are available to residents of Jersey now. They include highly rated online poker brands that guarantee a good range of games and tournaments as well as absolute security for customers.
There are also more specialist online poker providers in New Jersey though. These are ones that cater to niche customer bases.
One example of them is the CoinPoker site. This is a poker provider that deals in crypto, both for depositing money and withdrawing winnings. If you are a fan of cryptocurrencies, you might want to give it a go.
Then there is the Black Chip Poker site. This is noted for hosting small satellite tournaments that can earn players a spot in the World Series of Poker. It is well worth a look if you harbor those sorts of ambitions.
The Best Land-Based NJ Poker Venues
The success of the online poker industry since its legalization across the state has not killed off the traditional land-based venues. It is true that Atlantic City is not what it once was, but there are still lots of great places to get out and play some poker games.
The Borgata
The Borgata is by far the finest casino left in Atlantic City. It is a luxurious, opulent establishment that can hold its own against any of the great Las Vegas venues.
It is also home to a fantastic poker room. This is the biggest one in the city and it is open all day and night.
The poker variants that can be found within it include Texas Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha and 7 Card Stud. If you want to play in a cash game, the blinds are very affordable; ranging from $1 to $10.
There are tournaments available here too. Show up on a Wednesday, Thursday or Friday if you want to compete in them.
The Tropicana
The Tropicana is also located within Atlantic City. It is perhaps just behind its rival in terms of quality, but is still a fine place to play poker games.
There is a separate room in the casino dedicated to poker and you will have lots of choice. Among the variants that are on offer are Three Card Poker, Let it Ride Poker, Caribbean Stud and Pai Gow Poker.
That last one is a blend of the Chinese game Pai Gow Tiles and typical poker strategizing. There are other casino table games and slot machines available too, as well as fine dining and live entertainment shows.
Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino
This is another of the Atlantic City venues and it has a beautiful setting on the marina. Once you go inside, you will find an impressive array of poker games available to you.
Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Mississippi Stud and Three Card Poker are just a few of them. There are quite a few poker tables, so you should not have too much trouble getting in on a game.
A further big plus point of the poker games at this venue is the multi-level progressive jackpots. These have the potential to bring some real big money wins if you know how to play the games.
The Golden Nugget also offers you the opportunity to play poker outside on nice evenings. The Deck and H20 are areas where you can gamble while grabbing some fresh air.
Atlantic City may still dominate the NJ poker scene but it does not have a complete monopoly. The Sea Isle Poker Club and Poker Championship are evidence that it has arrived here too.
