New Jersey DGE New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement
This is the gambling enforcement agency of the US state of New Jersey. It opened the first full-scale online casino market in the US in November 2013, and in 2025 online casino revenue ($2.91 billion) surpassed land-based casinos for the first time.
| English | New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement |
|---|---|
| Classification | Licenses & Regulation |
| Agency | New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) |
| Founded | 1977 (Casino Control Act) |
| Part of | New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety |
| Online casino legalization | February 2013 |
| Online casino launch | November 26, 2013 |
| Structure | Must partner with an Atlantic City casino to operate online |
| 2025 total gambling revenue | $6.98 billion (up 10.8%) |
| 2025 online casino | $2.91 billion (up 22%) |
| 2025 gambling tax revenue | $1.01 billion (online casino $581.9 million) |
Overview
The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) is the gambling regulator within the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety. It was created in 1977 along with the legalization of Atlantic City casinos, and handles casino license investigations, game equipment testing, and criminal investigations. Final licensing decisions are shared with a separate body, the New Jersey Casino Control Commission.
New Jersey legalized online casinos in February 2013 and launched service on November 26 of the same year. It has since become the benchmark for the US online casino market, and in 2025 online casino revenue surpassed land-based casino revenue for the first time.
History
Operating structure
To operate an online casino in New Jersey, an operator must partner with a land-based casino license holder in Atlantic City. Online operators come in as a “skin” of that casino, and servers must also be located in Atlantic City. Players can only access the sites while in New Jersey, so geolocation (geofencing) is required, and players must be 21 or older.
2025 market size
| Segment (2025) | Revenue | Year over year |
|---|---|---|
| Online casino (slots and table games) | $2.88 billion | +22% |
| Online poker | $30.3 million | |
| Land-based casinos | $2.89 billion (slots $2.13 billion, table games $762.5 million) | +2.7% |
| Sports betting | $1.18 billion (online $1.15 billion) | +7.5% |
| Total | $6.98 billion | +10.8% |
2025 was the first year that total online casino revenue ($2.91 billion) exceeded land-based casino revenue ($2.89 billion). Atlantic City’s casino companies now earn more money online.
Tax revenue
In 2025, New Jersey collected $1.01 billion in gambling taxes. Of this, online casinos were the largest at $581.9 million, followed by sports betting at $209.1 million and land-based casinos at $216.8 million.
Game approval
The DGE approves slot games after testing them at its own technical testing facility or reviewing results from approved testing labs. For this reason, slot providers entering the US market often treat New Jersey approval as their first hurdle. American companies like IGT as well as European providers obtain a New Jersey supplier license to enter the US.
Position in the US online casino market
Currently, only a handful of US states allow online casinos, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, Connecticut, Delaware, and Rhode Island. Nevada, home of Las Vegas, does not allow online casinos either. New Jersey is the oldest and largest market, and serves as a benchmark when other states build their frameworks.
Location
All New Jersey online casinos operate in partnership with land-based casinos in Atlantic City.