Depositing is a crucial step in playing for real money at New Jersey online casinos. Low-budget players are particularly interested in casinos that feature low-deposit requirements.
We’ve spent considerable time reviewing and finding the best New Jersey minimum deposit casinos. We especially pay attention to which sites allow the lowest deposits.
Play NJ also considers how these casinos rate in other areas, including banking options, game stakes, and available bonuses.
Top NJ minimum deposit casinos
Most Garden State gamblers aren’t high rollers who can make massive deposits. They’re instead seeking New Jersey’s minimum deposit casinos that accept small transactions.
We, at Play NJ, like recommending sites that offer anywhere from $5 to $10 deposits. Most players can afford deposits in this range.
Minimum deposits of $5 are especially appealing. Players can fund their account with a few dollars and play slots for as little as $0.20, or blackjack for just $0.10 per hand.
Though $5 may not go very far in the gaming world — even with bets this inexpensive. However, this small amount still offers players a taste of real-money online gambling.
Some NJ minimum deposit casinos even offer $20 worth of free play along with the minimum deposit. Free play gives players even more funds to explore real money games and provides the potential for extra winnings, too.
We emphasize that sites shouldn’t be judged solely on their lowest deposit requirement. They should also be critiqued on several other factors.
Here are some additional qualities we look at when vetting the top New Jersey minimum deposit casinos.
Reputation
The US online gambling industry is still subject to prejudice. Some people view all online casinos like the shady, offshore operators that service many other states.
New Jersey, however, has a legal and regulated online gaming market. Every site that’s operating in NJ has undergone a rigorous application process before being approved.
New Jersey’s Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) oversees all of these online casinos. They ensure operators follow their policies on fair gaming and transparent return-to-player (RTP) percentages.
That said, not every online casino in NJ is reputable. Some operators stand out from the pack thanks to great customer support and a strong commitment to social responsibility.
Variety of banking options
Accepting small deposits is only one part of being a top minimum deposit NJ casino. Sites should also give players plenty of ways to fund their accounts.
The good news is that each New Jersey casino offers several banking options: ACH, credit cards, debit cards, and e-wallets are industry standards.
We’re most impressed by casinos that go beyond these standards and offer more banking methods than their competitors.
Game selection
One area where many NJ minimum deposit casinos differ from each other is the game selection.
Some sites boast several hundred slots and a wide variety of table games, while others only offer around 100 slots or fewer and basic table game options.
Certain NJ casinos now feature live dealer games, such as baccarat, blackjack, and roulette. Any site with live dealer gaming and a large slots selection will likely rank highly in this category.
NJ casino apps
Mobile gaming has become the predominant way to enjoy online casino games these days, so minimum deposit casinos need a quality app for us to rate them well.
A quality NJ mobile casino app will offer simple navigation and solid features. It should also present nearly the same amount of games as the desktop version supports.
Player safety
The best thing about playing at regulated internet casinos in New Jersey — as opposed to unregulated offshore sites — is safety.
The DGE goes to great lengths to ensure safety and security by putting applicants through a rigorous approval process.
Every licensee must meet minimum requirements, including using SSL software, properly working random number generators, and HTTPs (for website encryption).
Luckily, we’re not required to do much work when evaluating NJ minimum deposit casinos in this department. The DGE does an excellent job of ensuring that only qualified companies can operate in the Garden State.
Customer support
One last category we pay close attention to is customer service.
A good support staff features knowledgeable representatives who will respond to questions and inquiries in a timely manner.
They also need to provide a variety of ways for players to reach the customer service team. Email, live chat, and phone support should all be available at a site. A frequently asked questions (FAQ) section is a bonus because it allows one to find answers to common issues quickly.
The one downside that we see with many NJ operators right now is limited customer support hours, but some casinos are likely considering 24/7 support to meet the international standard.
What are the minimum deposits at NJ online casinos?
New Jersey minimum deposit casinos allow players to fund accounts relatively inexpensively. Most online casinos let gamblers deposit as little as $10, including Betfair NJ, Golden Nugget, SugarHouse, Tropicana and Virgin.
DraftKings Casino is one exception because, at the time of this writing, it lets players fund their account with just $5. Anybody who views a low minimum deposit with the utmost importance should consider DraftKings.
The drawback is that DraftKings doesn’t offer the same quantity of banking options and games as the more prominent operators.
Those seeking more balance should look at Golden Nugget, Betfair, and Virgin. These sites all allow a fairly low minimum deposit along with much more to choose from in terms of games and banking.
Is there a downside to making a minimum deposit?
The main drawback to players placing a minimum casino deposit is that they can’t take full advantage of bonus opportunities.
Many gaming sites feature match deposit bonuses. These offers see players receive a bonus worth a matched percentage of their deposit amount.
Here’s an example:
Betfair offers a 100% match bonus up to $2,500. A player deposits $500. He or she now qualifies to earn a $500 bonus.
The example above shows a player making a fairly large deposit to take advantage of a generous bonus offer. Anyone who only deposits the minimum will be in for a much smaller reward.
This problem is only compounded by how players get just one shot at a welcome bonus per casino. They can’t make a small first deposit, then later decide they want to deposit more to capitalize on the offer entirely.
In some cases, one doesn’t qualify for a welcome bonus when depositing the minimum. Golden Nugget, for example, offers a 100% match bonus of up to $1,500. Their minimum deposit amount is $10, but it requires a $30 deposit to qualify for the welcome deal.
One more downside to minimum deposits is they can be inconvenient. A player who only deposits $5 or $10 will likely need to fund his or her account again in the near future.
We still encourage anybody who’s on the fence about real money online gambling to stick with small deposits. These types of players are merely trying to figure out whether they want to bet real money online.
Those who plan on frequently playing online casino games should seriously consider a larger deposit. Having more funds available negates the need to continue placing a bunch of small deposits over time.
Bonus offers at minimum deposit casinos
The New Jersey online casino market features some of the world’s best bonuses. Many of these deals not only offer a lot of cash, but they also provide very friendly terms and conditions (T&Cs).
Players who make minimum deposits are eligible for the same deals as high rollers. Therefore, one can deposit $10 at most casinos and still qualify for a bonus.
The keyword here is “qualify,” because gamblers must earn their funds by meeting the T&Cs. We highly encourage players to look over the terms before chasing any bonus deal.
Wagering requirements (aka the playthrough) are one of the main terms to consider. Playthrough refers to how much one must bet before withdrawing the bonus.
Here’s an example:
Betfair offers a 100% match bonus.
A player deposits $10, thus qualifying for a matching bonus. Playthrough is 20x on slots, so the player must wager 20 x 10 = $200.
The gambler plays a slot with 96% RTP.
200 x 0.96 = $192
$192 + $10 (bonus) = $202 total
This particular deal will see the average player make a $2 profit when he or she earns the bonus. Offers this favorable are incredibly rare across the gaming industry.
Most casinos design T&Cs to ensure they still collect a theoretical profit by the time players earn their bonus.
Other standard T&Cs at minimum deposit casinos include:
- Claim time frame: The amount of time a player can use to claim a bonus after qualifying.
- Playthrough time frame: The amount of time a player can use to satisfy wagering requirements.
- Reduced playthrough: Some games (e.g., blackjack) don’t count 100% toward meeting wagering requirements.
- Maximum bets: Players can only make bets worth a certain amount (e.g., $50) when meeting a playthrough requirement.
- Banking option restrictions: Neteller and Skrill deposits don’t qualify for bonuses.
No deposit bonus offers in New Jersey
Many online casinos in New Jersey don’t require players to deposit anything to qualify for a bonus. Instead, they offer no deposit bonuses to players who merely register for an account.
The only qualification is that a player completes account registration. Afterward, he or she receives bonus funds to use to play real money casino games.
The registration process is relatively easy across the NJ market. Casinos will ask for a player’s name, home address, email, username, password and bonus code (if applicable).
Gaming sites also request one’s Social Security number, which may bother some gamblers. However, the DGE requires casinos to ask for this information for verification and tax identification purposes.
Many players will find it’s worth signing up at NJ online casinos to receive free casino bonuses. Low-roller players, who are considering a minimum deposit, will especially appreciate these deals.
After all, one gets to keep winnings from a no-deposit offer after meeting the T&Cs. These winnings can pad their bankroll if they later decide to deposit.
How to deposit, withdraw at minimum deposit casinos
Major financial institutions are more willing to work with casinos in the regulated New Jersey market as opposed to offshore casinos.
Prominent names like Visa, Neteller, and PayPal are all available at NJ gaming sites, but the exact options gamblers can use differ from casino to casino.
Players should thoroughly look over banking methods at a prospective casino to ensure they like at least one deposit and withdrawal option.
Here’s more on what to expect with NJ gaming payment processing:
Depositing
ACH (e-checks) is the benchmark for depositing at New Jersey online casinos. It offers instant transactions (once approved) and doesn’t require fees.
ACH is extremely easy to use. Players merely need to own a valid checking account and provide their routing and account number to use it.
The downside to e-checks is that they can be rejected, but they still boast around an 80% approval rate.
Credit cards, e.g., Visa and Mastercard, are also popular deposit options. They allow for instant account funding once approved.
Unfortunately, approval isn’t a guarantee with credit cards. They’re rejected at the highest rate when compared to other payment options.
Bank of America, Chase, and TD Bank are notorious for rejecting Visa online gambling transactions. Meanwhile, Capital One and Santander commonly refuse Mastercard deposits.
Players who want to fund their account with an e-wallet will commonly use PayPal. It’s a highly respected brand that’s approved at a high rate when depositing.
Funds are available immediately once a PayPal transaction is approved. Keep in mind, though, that one can only use PayPal for cashouts when it is the original deposit method.
Players can also fund their NJ online casino accounts through the reliable e-wallets Neteller and Skrill. Much like PayPal, they’re both approved at a high rate and offer instant funding.
The main drawback, however, is the fees. Neteller Visa takes a 2.5% fee, while Skrill Visa/Mastercard collects 2.9% from each transaction.
Other options for funding accounts at New Jersey minimum deposit casinos include prepaid cards, cash at the casino cage, online banking transfers and wire transfers.
Cashing out
Players can also use ACH for withdrawals. Funds appear relatively quickly (three to five days) with this method.
Some casinos require players to verify their bank account before cashing out via ACH. This process can involve sending a recent bank statement or voided check. Many players will find this extra step to be inconvenient, but sites want to ensure the right person receives the money.
Again, PayPal is only eligible for withdrawals when it’s also the deposit method. Neteller and Skrill can be used to cash out regardless of whether they were initially used to fund an account.
Cash at the casino cage is an interesting method that lets players deposit or withdraw funds in person. This option allows for instant cashouts.
The main problem is that players have to visit a land-based Atlantic City casino. They may also need to provide a photo ID and further identification before the casino will approve their transaction.
Other withdrawal options in the NJ market include a prepaid card, personal check, and bank wire.