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Offering real money iGaming for the better part of two decades, PokerStars is the heavyweight champion of online poker. The site’s path into the legal New Jersey online gambling market, however, wasn’t an easy one.
When the Garden State regulated iGaming in 2013, PokerStars was eager to bring its product back to the United States. In 2014 the site was sold to Amaya Gaming, and was subsequently given the green light to operate in the state by the Division of Gaming Enforcement after reaching a license agreement with Resorts Casino Atlantic City.
PokerStars officially launched its New Jersey site in March 2016.
PokerStars NJ Bonus Offer
Create a PokerStars NJ account using the links on this page to receive $30 free or a 100% up to $600 match bonus on your first real money deposit.
Make your first deposit and PokerStars will match your deposit by 100%, up to $600. PokerStars allows you to make up to three deposits in 60 days (up to a total of $600) which count towards your 100% deposit bonus offer.
That means that if you only deposit $200 initially, for example, you could go back and make two more deposits in order to take advantage of the full $600 bonus.
Redemption Points
Once you’ve made your deposit, you’ll need to earn redemption points by playing real money games on PokerStars NJ. In most games, you will receive 5 redemption points for every $1 you pay in tournament fees or rake.
All PokerStars NJ ring games and tournaments which have a rake or fee will award redemption points. Play Money and Freeroll tournaments don’t award such points since they do not charge cash fees.
For every 140 redemption points earned you’ll receive $10 in cash to your account. So for every $28 contributed on the site (140 divided by 5), you’ll receive $10 back from the bonus. This equates to roughly a 35% return, which is a very solid rebate.
You’ll have four months after each deposit to clear the bonus awarded for it, so keep that in mind and try not to let any value slip away.
$30 Free on PokerStars NJ
You can choose the second off and make a deposit (minimum $20) using the required code to receive your $30 free play. The money is chopped up into a few categories, each bringing great value.
First, depositors will be given immediate access to an exclusive freeroll ticket that can be used for the Depositor Freeroll, which takes place on the last Sunday of each month. Next, the $30 will be divvied out as follows:
$10 in free bonus money credited within 36 hours
Day 1: receive 3 x $1 tickets to play Spin & Gos
Day 2: receive 1 x $2 ticket to play Spin & Gos
Day 3: receive 1 x $5 ticket to play Spin & Gos
$10 in free bonus money credited 7 days after your deposit
Spin & Go tickets must be used within 21 days or else they will expire – be sure they don’t go to waste!
Software
PokerStars NJ software is as good as it gets in the industry. The software client features a sleek and modern design, intuitive UI, and a robust set of features and options.
Compared with its NJ competitors, PokerStars’ has a comfortable lead and is showing no signs of slowing down.
Home Games and Powerful Filters
Feature-rich yet uncluttered, the lobby is impressive both aesthetically and in terms of practicality. Take advantage of the lobby’s powerful filtering system to quickly find the game type and stake that suits your level, or get into the action even faster using shortcuts.
It’s also possible to set and save different filters so you can conveniently search for, or exclude specific games at different times.
You can also set up Home Games and play with friends using the software’s customizable features to create your own perfect format.
Mobile App
In our view, the most exciting aspect of the entire PokerStars NJ experience is the mobile NJ casino app. Overall, the app is polished, responsive and perfectly designed to fit on smaller screens. Features like Quick Seating and Play Now will have you seeing flops, turns, and rivers with one click.
The ability to deposit and withdraw on the go with the mobile cashier is a welcome plus as well.
You can play Spin & Go’s, cash games, tournaments and even Zoom tables, all from your favorite iOS or Android device.
Having an alternative device to play from is a great luxury, too. For those deep in a tournament it’s the nightmare scenario to lose internet or have the power go out. Being able to easily swap to a mobile device will get you back to the table in no-time.
Multi-Tabling Magic
Of course, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the single most impressive feature in all of New Jersey online poker: PokerStars NJ mobile multi-tabling.
Forget flying cars, the future is now and it’s on display in this elegant feature. The superb PokerStars NJ UI lets you know which cards you hold at each table with visual and audio notifications, and alerts you when it’s your turn to act. Seamlessly switch tables with the touch of a finger or let the software automatically switch you to Table 2 after acting on Table 1.
What’s more, customizable preset buttons simplify betting, minimizing the time needed to act in the heat of action.
Playing three tables is a bit more hectic, but any seasoned multi-tabling online poker player should be able to accomplish it without too much difficulty. The multi-tabling feature alone puts the app head, shoulders, and torso above the competition.
Game Selection
Tournaments
During the day PokerStars NJ caters to the low-stakes crowd with small buy-in tournaments, many of which have guaranteed prizepools. Turbos, Six Max, Rebuys, Bounty events, and Hyper Turbo’s dot the landscape with buy-ins ranging from just $0.10 to about $50.
As the PokerStars NJ traffic increases at night, so do the number of high stakes options. The site’s nightly $10,000 guarantee with a $100 entry fee is currently one of the biggest daily events in the state. Look for it at 19:00. Notably, on Tuesday’s it is replaced by Super Tuesday, which features a $20K guarantee and a $250 buy-in.
Cash Games
If you prefer playing cash games, you’ll be happy to know that PokerStars NJ offers 24/7 action. With blinds starting at just $0.01/$0.02, you won’t have to break the bank to get in the game. Those looking to play for a bit more can find games up to $25/$50 NL, which requires a minimum stake of $2,000.
Spin & Go’s
Spin & Go’s are a Hyper Turbo, three-handed version of a normal Sit & Go. They have entry fees from $1 to $25 – the more you play for, the bigger the potential jackpot can be. At the start of each game a random draw determines the prize pool, giving the winner a chance to pocket anywhere from 2X to 1,000X their initial buy-in. The allure of winning a huge prize for a tiny entry fee, coupled with the lightning fast pace of action are the main draws of the format.
PokerStars NJ has even run promotions where it’s possible to win $100,000 off of a simple $10 Spin & Go. James Piccolo of Bergen County did just that in early 2017. The chances of drawing that monstrous prize pool are slim, but the dream of a six-figure score is enough motivation for most.
Zoom
Zoom tables, PokerStars’ fast fold variant, are also available in New Jersey. In this format, instead of going up against a fixed set of players on a single table, you play as part of a large pool.
When you fold a hand, you are whisked to a new table where you instantly receive a new one. You can even choose the “Fast Fold” option, which allows you to move onto the next hand before it’s even your turn to act. Zoom allows for players to play many more hands in a short period of time than they could in a traditional poker game, upping the action and the adrenaline level significantly.
PokerStars Casino
Those looking for a little break from poker can access the PokerStars online casino directly through the PokerStars NJ client. Currently the site hosts a solid library of games including plenty of slots, table games like blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and even video poker.
It’s not the best catalog in the state, but considering it’s built in to the poker client, it’s a nice feature. Notably, PokerStars customers can utilize the same wallet for all of their poker, casino, and sportsbook play.
FOX Bet
PokerStars launched its sports betting operation, BetStars, in New Jersey during 2018. The following year a monumental partnership with FOX Sports lead to a top-down rebrand from BetStars to FOX Bet. Pairing the worldwide brand recognition of FOX Sports with the decades of iGaming experience that The Stars Group brings to the table was a recipe for success.
FOX Bet is now accepting legal, regulated wagers in numerous states around the country – New Jersey included. PokerStars NJ customers can access the FOX Bet sportsbook directly through the poker client by selecting the FOX Bet icon at the top of the application.
Traffic
Despite entering the NJ market a good 2.5 years after its chief competitors, PokerStars NJ outpaces both WSOP NJ/888 Poker NJ and Borgata/Party/BetMGM on the cash game front. The site averages hundreds of cash game players around the clock, and the scheduled tournaments regularly meet their guarantees.
Rake
PokerStars NJ offers competitive rake pricing, and boasts the best value in the state for lower/mid-stakes players. In total, the site’s rake percentage and rake caps take less money per pot than its competitors for smaller stakes; at higher levels, they come in a close second to WSOP.
PokerStars NJ does adhere to the No Flop, No Drop policy. If a flop isn’t dealt, they don’t collect a rake – period. It doesn’t matter if you’re playing $25/$50 and $1,000 goes in before the flop, they won’t take a cent unless the first community cards are dealt.
Stars Rewards
The PokerStars NJ rewards program has undergone a facelift. VPPs and the Bronze to Supernova scale are gone; replaced by another tiered system known as Stars Rewards that centers around chests. The basic idea is that as you play, you receive Reward Points. As you earn RP, you unlock chests. Unlock 10 chests at your current tier during a rolling 28-day window and you’ll be promoted to the next level. The larger your chest, the more RP it will require to open, but the better the prize will be on the inside.
There are currently 6 levels, starting with Blue and ending with Black. Potential rewards range from StarsCoin, to tourney tickets, to other lucrative extras.
Stars Rewrds Tier
Chest Value
Blue (1)
$.25 – $5.00
Bronze (2)
$.60 – $12.00
Silver (3)
$1.50 – $30.00
Gold (4)
$5.00 – $100.00
Diamond (5)
$12.50 – $250.00
Black (6)
$35.00 – $700.00
As long as you earn a single chest during each 28-day period your status is secure. If you fail to hit the mark you’ll be moved down a rung. Similarly, if your status is level 2 or more and you got your progress bar at least half way, you’ll receive a chest from the tier below your current level as compensation.
Poker players will earn 100 Reward Points for every $1 contributed in rake at cash game tables, zoom included, or paid in tournament fees. Sports (1.7 RP per $1 bet) and casino wagers (game dependent) will also yield Rewards Points and contribute towards your progress bar. They’re all connected.
Promotions
PokerStars NJ works hard to bring new players to the poker tables with frequent and innovative promotions. These are complemented by traditional reload bonuses which are popular with everyone, especially grinders.
One-off promotions
PokerStars is known for hosting a variety of one-off promotions, such as the CashMatch Challenge and CardHunt. Both of these reward players with randomized prizes for completing relatively simplistic daily challenges. Prizes run the gamut from the small ($1) to the gigantic ($1,000 or more). In addition, the site hosts an annual month-long Christmas Celebration that is a composite of all its one-off promos. Promos that award All-In Shootout tickets are also fairly common on the site.
Tournament Leaderboards
Tournament players can win extra cash by earning Tournament Leaderboard (TLB) points for finishing in well in multi-table tournaments. Each month your best scores are tallied up and compared against all tournament players on the site. At the end of the month top players will split a juicy prizepool, with the ultimate winner taking home the lion’s share.
Major Tournaments and Events
NJCOOP and NJSCOOP
PokerStars offers its New Jersey players a scaled down version of its high-profile Championship of Online Poker (COOP) worldwide tournament series with the New Jersey Championship of Online Poker (NJCOOP) and New Jersey Spring Championship of Online Poker (NJSCOOP).
Featuring 43 events with $1.2 million in guaranteed prizes, the 2016 NJCOOP was a big success. The series was well attended, with 98% of the events meeting their guarantees, and oftentimes exceeding them by a large margin. The $500 buy-in $200,000 Main Event was just one entry short of meeting its own guarantee.
The event replicated its success in 2017, easily surpassing its $1.2 million guarantee, and expanding to 46 events.
In each successive year PokerStars NJ has continued the tradition of offering a NJSCOOP series in the Spring, and the NJCOOP in the fall – keep an eye out and get in on the action. While buy-ins will vary, satellites are always available, enabling hopeful players to qualify for elite tournaments for just cents on the dollar.
Banking
As an experienced iGaming operator, PokerStars NJ boasts an impressive cashier with plenty of options. Deposit and withdrawal methods include:
PayPal – An easy to use, widely accepted eWallet that’s available for deposits and withdrawals.
PayNearMe – Initiate your deposit online, take the barcode they give you to a CVS, Family Dollar, or 7-Eleven and they’ll scan it for you at the cashier and accept cash right at the register. Deposited funds are available online within minutes.
Credit/Debit Cards – Enter your card’s information and you’re good to go. Quick and to the point.
PokerStars Play+ Card – A prepaid card that you can fund in a variety of ways. Your Play+ card can be used for both deposits and withdrawals.
Online Baking Transfer – Hook your bank account directly to your account for simple transactions. As long as your bank has an ‘online bill pay’ feature, which most do, you can deposit this way.
Skrill – Like PayPal, it’s an instant eWallet option that’s efficient for depositing money to PokerStars NJ.
Cash @ Resorts Atlantic City – PokerStars is partnered with the Resorts Casino on the Atlantic City boardwalk. You can take cash directly to the casino cage and deposit it to your online account. You can also withdraw at the cage, too.
PokerStars NJ also shares a wallet with both the PokerStars Casino and FOX Bet sportsbook in the state. If you have previously deposited funds to one of these accounts, you can use the same money to play poker.
Keep in mind that some of the above methods will be deposit only, and you may be required to deposit with a given option before you can use it for cashouts.
Customer Support
Much like every other NJ online poker company, contacting support by email can be hit or miss. Strangely, there is no way to actually call PokerStars NJ directly. Instead, players can request a callback between the hours of 10 AM to 10 PM. If an urgent issue arises, you can try emailing, but don’t expect to have anything resolved immediately.
Live Chat is noticeably absent within the PokerStars NJ client. You can gain access to a Live Chat representative through the FOX Bet site, however.
Conclusion
Pros
One of the most respected and reputable online poker operators on the globe.
Brings popular international gaming features to NJ.
Multi-tabling on the mobile app is light years ahead of competitors.
Software is feature-rich and simple to navigate – the best in the business.
Top traffic in the state.
Constantly innovating and working tirelessly to bring in new players..
Well executed tournament series (NJCOOP and NJSCOOP) that have a little something for everyone.
Cons
No live chat through the PokerStars Client.
Contrary to the reputation it built in the worldwide poker industry, the PokerStars NJ customer support is lackluster overall.
PokerStars NJ Verdict
Bottom Line
With stellar software, a proven track record of success, aggressive marketing and innovative promotions, PokerStars is the site to beat for NJ online poker. If competitors want to compete in the Garden State market they must either step up their game or get left behind.
Robert is a veteran writer and analyst for the gambling industry, with a particular focus on the emergent US online gambling market. An avid poker and gambling enthusiast, Robert offers unique perspectives from both the vantage point of the player and industry professional, and is fit to cover a broad spectrum of topics.
Robert is a veteran writer and analyst for the gambling industry, with a particular focus on the emergent US online gambling market. An avid poker and gambling enthusiast, Robert offers unique perspectives from both the vantage point of the player and industry professional, and is fit to cover a broad spectrum of topics.