In New Jersey the question is not whether a casino has a license somewhere. It is whether the Division of Gaming Enforcement approved it to take bets here. That takes about five minutes to check, and it is worth doing before your first deposit, because the DGE can only help with disputes involving operators it regulates.
Where the official record lives
The DGE keeps its Internet Gaming Information page, which lists the approved internet gaming permit holders and states that any site not included on the list is not approved to offer internet gaming in New Jersey. The current list is also published as a PDF of Internet Gaming Permit Holders, last updated on 22 September 2026, showing each permit number (in the form NJIGP 26-001) and the legal name of the holder.
Permit holders are Atlantic City casinos or their affiliates. Most online brands operate under one of them, so you also need the brand-to-casino link. The DGE's monthly internet gaming revenue report (form DGE-105, with skin detail) lists each brand under the casino it reports through. The August 2026 report, for example, shows BetMGM under Borgata, FanDuel under Golden Nugget, and DraftKings under Resorts.
Step by step
- Find the operator's legal details. Open the site's terms and conditions and footer. DGE rules require the terms to name the parties to your contract, including the casino licensee. Write down the company name and the casino partner.
- Open the DGE permit holder list. Go to the DGE page or the permit holder PDF directly. Do not rely on a badge or a link on the casino's own site.
- Match the permit holder. Check that the casino partner named in the terms is on the list, and compare the legal entity name. Small differences in a company name are a reason to look closer, not to assume it is fine.
- Match the brand. Look up the brand name in the latest DGE monthly internet gaming revenue report and confirm it appears under the same casino the site names.
- Check the domain. The DGE list does not print web addresses, so reach the site from the casino partner's official website or app listing rather than from an ad or a search result. Check the address bar letter by letter.
- Look for the required signals. A licensed site asks to verify your location before you play, asks for identity details, shows the 1-800-GAMBLER message on the log-on screen, and states that players must be 21.
- Still unsure? Ask the DGE. Email igaming@njdge.gov with the site name and address.
What to compare
| Field | Where you find it on the site | Where you check it |
|---|---|---|
| Casino partner (permit holder) | Terms and conditions, footer | DGE permit holder list |
| Legal company name | Terms and conditions | DGE permit holder list |
| Permit number | Sometimes shown in the footer | DGE permit holder list (NJIGP format) |
| Brand name | Logo and site name | DGE monthly revenue report, skin detail |
| Domain | Address bar | Casino partner's official site or app listing |
If the site is not listed
Do not deposit. If you already have, stop playing, withdraw what you can, and keep records of every transaction and message. Report the site to the DGE at igaming@njdge.gov. Be realistic: an unlicensed operator is outside the DGE dispute process, so getting money back may depend on your bank or card issuer rather than the regulator.
State law now treats this seriously. P.L.2025, c.128 makes running an online gambling operation that takes bets from New Jersey residents a third-degree crime, and it bans sweepstakes casinos that pay prizes through a dual currency system.
Common tricks
- Look-alike domains. A copied logo on a slightly different address, often reached through an ad or social media link.
- Foreign licenses. A license from Curacao, Malta or anywhere else may be real, but it does not authorize gaming in New Jersey. Only DGE approval does.
- "US licensed" claims. There is no single US casino license. Approval is state by state, and for New Jersey the record is the DGE list.
- Sweepstakes and coin models. Sites that sell "coins" and pay out prizes are prohibited by state law, whatever they call themselves.
- No location check. A site that works the same everywhere is not following DGE geolocation rules.
- Fake seals. Badges and "verified" stamps on the casino's own site prove nothing. Check the DGE source yourself.