When talking about new NJ sportsbooks launching in time for the 2021 NFL betting season, Betway was among the rumored bands. Well, following last month’s Pennsylvania debut, it seemed only a matter of time before the product would become available to Garden State gamblers.
Sure enough, without a major company announcement, the Betway NJ sportsbook went through its soft launch and testing period last week as required by state regulators. As of Monday morning, customers could access the new offering via web browser. The iOS and Android app remains a work in progress.
Either way, Betway is the 19th NJ sports betting app (we’ll call the app part a minor technicality).
Barstool Sportsbook & Casino also started its soft launch process last week, but Betway’s limited schedule began on Monday versus Thursday. Either way, pending any regulatory or technical issues, both brands will be officially live this week.
Betway gains NJ entry via Golden Nugget
New Jersey is the fourth U.S. jurisdiction for Betway Sportsbook. Colorado, Indiana, and Pennsylvania are the others. Gaining NJ access required partnering with an Atlantic City license holder as Betway also offers NJ online casino games.
That partner is Golden Nugget Online Gaming (the online operation of the Marina District property). This means Golden Nugget Atlantic City is maxed out with allotted skins. There is the namesake brand along with BetAmerica (expected to eventually change to the TwinSpires rebranding this year). Out of the three brands, Betway is the most established from a sports wagering perspective. Whether or not it gains traction in the highly competitive and crowded NJ space is still to be determined.
Betway, like fellow successful European-based operators Bet365 and Unibet, gaining entry into the top U.S. mobile sports wagering market is key. In 2021 alone, Garden State bettors have wagered more than $5.5 billion, 91% of which have come from online/mobile bettors.
The flip side is Betway arrives weeks before the fourth full season of legalized NFL and college football wagering kicks off. Market leaders FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, and Caesars have all been around since season one.
What we know about Betway Sportsbook so far
At first glance, Betway Sportsbook looks like a work in progress. Odds are currently available for these markets:
- MLB
- MLS
- Golf
- Premier League soccer
- NFL
- MMA
- Tennis
Then there is a Betway boosts menu in which gamblers can receive enhanced odds on certain sporting events which will vary by day.
As far as depositing goes, the options are currently limited to Betway/Play +, PayNearMe, VIP preferred (ACH transfer), casino cage.
Initial Betway online casino offerings include craps, but no live dealer
Sports bettors who also enjoy playing slots or table games will notice the Betway online casino is one click away. The transfer button is located toward the top of the page. Like other NJ online gambling apps, it includes a shared wallet.
The casino games menu is broken down into several categories:
- New
- Slots
- Table
- Roulette
- Jackpot
- Video poker
- Popular
So far, live dealer does not seem to be included but that could change soon.
Some of the popular titles are:
- Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure
- Divine Fortune
- Lucky Vegas Nights (billed as an exclusive title)
- The Wild 3
Switching over to table games, Betway is the newest NJ online casino to offer craps. Blackjack, French roulette, baccarat, and pai gow poker are among the other offerings.
While Betway will not be the last NJ online casino app to join the market, for now, it holds the distinction of being one of the newest.
