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5 Reasons Why I Should Play with a NJ-Licensed Operator

Jack Holiday Jack Holiday
January 3, 2020
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Gaming Law

The United States gambling landscape is notoriously complex and confusing.  Despite being home to some of the biggest and most famous gambling destinations worldwide, gambling remains restricted or illegal across much of the country. Legal online betting in particular simply isn’t an option across much of the United States.

Every state has the authorization to create and implement its own unique rules and policies on traditional and online gambling. Home to Atlantic City, New Jersey is one of the more liberal states where gambling in general is concerned.  Legal gambling in NJ has been around for some time, but not everyone plays by the rules. There are plenty of legal gambling operators in NJ, alongside a relatively long list of unlicensed and illegal operators.

But what are the benefits of doing business exclusively with licensed gambling operators in NJ? From the player’s perspective, what’s the advantage of signing up with the best legal operator in NJ?

Gambling Laws in New Jersey

Things took a while to get going. But NJ now has some of the most relaxed gambling laws in the US. New Jersey Senate Bill No. 490, passed in January 2011, legalized most forms of online gambling for players aged 21 and over.

However, one important stipulation was that the provider in question must be physically located within the state of New Jersey. This required all providers operating in New Jersey to use the latest tracking software and GPS technology to ensure their customers were located within NJ. Successfully applying for a license was therefore ruled out of the equation for businesses operating outside the state.

A relatively relaxed market, yet somewhat confined in a geographic sense.

What Licensing Means for the Players

Unsuspecting players are often fooled into thinking every online casino they can access is legal in their jurisdiction. After all, if it was restricted, so too would be the access to it.

In reality, there are hundreds (even thousands) of online businesses that encourage and promote illegal offshore gambling. Many overseas and out-of-state casinos impose no real checks or restrictions regarding the locations of their customers. In addition, it’s also easy enough to use a VPN to access just about any online casino in the world.

Nevertheless, doing business exclusively with legal gambling operators in NJ can be advantageous in many ways. Particularly from the perspective of the player, there are reasons why legal online betting is the only form of online betting to get involved in.

Here’s why official online casino licensing in NJ matters:

Reason 1: It’s a Legal Requirement

First and foremost, it’s a fundamental legal requirement. Online casinos cannot operate in the state of New Jersey without first obtaining an appropriate license.  Hence, any casinos you sign up with that don’t have a license are breaking the law. And you’re helping them get away with their illegal activities. In addition, you need to consider what might happen if the legal operator in question rips you off. Or perhaps, steals your personal information and hijacks your bank accounts.

Reason 2: It’s a Reassuring Experience

Signing up with a licensed and regulated casino makes for a reassuring and enjoyable experience. It’s far better to play with total peace of mind, than to worry if and when things are going to go awry. An extremely extensive list of checks must be carried out and policies enforced for a casino to obtain a license to operate in New Jersey. For the players, licensing adds up to peace of mind and a reassuring gaming experience.

Reason 3: It’s an Enjoyable Experience

It’s also true to say that licensed, regulated and reputable online casinos provide a much better gaming experience on the whole. When a casino takes what it does seriously, it makes the effort for the benefit of its customers. Bigger libraries of games, higher quality games, more variety, better customer support and a more immersive gaming experience on the whole. Not all licensed casinos in NJ are of an equal standard, but licensing nonetheless guarantees a good gaming experience.

Reason 4: It’s Smoother and Safer

The same can also be said for the safety and consistency of the website itself.  Safety should always be the number-one priority for every responsible casino operator. In order to qualify for a casino license in NJ, you need to provide evidence of robust safety measures and protocols to protect players’ interests.  This means using the latest hardware and software to ensure all players are provided with a smooth, safe and enjoyable experience from start to finish.

Reason 5: It’s Easy to Find One

If all this wasn’t enough, it also couldn’t be easier to track down a licensed and regulated online casino you can trust. It’s simply a case of using expert reviews and player recommendations to point you in the right direction. You’ll see clear references to the license a casino holds on its homepage. If you want to go one step further, you can also check that the license is legit by carrying out a simple online search. Rather than simply assuming every casino operating in NJ is doing so legally, be sure to verify it before signing up.

In a Nutshell…

Geographic restrictions imposed by casinos and licensing authorities worldwide should never be overlooked. Ultimately, such rules and regulations are imposed entirely for the safety and benefit of the player. Hence, to ignore or deliberately circumvent them is to put your own safety and security online.

And that’s one wager you really cannot afford to take chances with…

Jack Holiday
Author Jack Holiday

Jack Holiday is our resident online gambling expert and is responsible for the high quality content you’ll find here at gambling-newjersey.com. John is a man of many talents and casts his expert eye on a variety of online gambling products in the state of New Jersey including online casino, sportsbook and poker. From his articles, you’ll find all of the latest online gambling news as well as new casino game releases, sports betting previews and even the best poker strategies. If you’re new to online gambling, or if you just need a helping hand, then John is your man.