BetMGM Review

BetMGM is one of the newer regulated online casinos in New Jersey. It launched in 2017 under the Borgata casino license as playMGM, later adding a sportsbook and rebranding as BetMGM – joining some big hitters including partyCasino and Borgata Online.

MGM might be best known for its Las Vegas casino, MGM Grand, but since its acquisition of Borgata in 2016 and successful online casino launch in New Jersey, they obviously have its eyes set on creating a dominant presence in the US iGaming market. To date, BetMGM is available in four US states,

Nevada: Mobile betting (in-person registration required)
Pennsylvania: Mobile betting, online casino, and poker
Tennesse: Mobile betting
Michigan: Mobile sports betting, casino, and poker
Virginia: Mobile betting
New Jersey: Mobile sports betting, casino, and poker
Colorado: Mobile sports betting
Indiana: Mobile sports betting
Iowa: Mobile sports betting
West Virginia: Mobile sports betting and online casino

BetMGM Online Casino Welcome Bonus

BetMGM offers new sign-ups the chance to earn a deposit match and free money. For registering a new account you will get $25 FREEPLAY to use on any game you want. FREEPLAY is only available for seven days after registering a new account.

There is a Release Requirement on this bonus of 150 iRewards Points (iRPs). You will earn 1x iRPs for betting $5 on slots, $10 on progressives, $20 on video poker, and $25 on roulette or blackjack. When you do the math, it’s a lot of play to earn just $25.

BetMGM also has a standard welcome deposit match bonus. If you make a first deposit worth up to $1,000 the casino will match it 100%. The Release Requirement is 6x the bonus amount.

Who Can Play at BetMGM Online Casino?

Residents of New Jersey and visitors can log in to BetMGM and play for real money. Of course, you will have to be 21 or over to open an account.

BetMGM uses geolocation to detect where players are. You will be prompted to download a plugin on opening an account. The site uses top-end GeoComply software that will detect whether you are using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) or VNC to disguise your true location.

In compliance with New Jersey DGE rules, you will also have to complete a verification process before making a first deposit. The KYC (Know Your Customer) process requires you to provide a valid social security number, proof of ID, and proof of age and address.

BetMGM Browser-Based Casino Software

BetMGM works on a no-download client that you can access via your web browser. We recommend installing Google Chrome 30 or above for the best experience. You will also need to have a current Adobe Flash Player installed.

Games are divided helpfully into categories like slots, new games, and exclusive games, and you can add any games to your list of favorites. We always like to see as much information in the lobby as possible, though. Unfortunately, you cannot view details on individual slots and games before loading them in a browser, which is a major downside in our opinion.

BetMGM operates an online poker site and sportsbook alongside its casino. You can switch between all tabs using the same login details. For example, you can access BetMGM poker tables from the BetMGM casino client.

BetMGM Online Smartphone Application

BetMGM casino has two of the best real money casino apps for smartphone players. You can download the Apple/iOS app directly from the iTunes store, but you will need an iPhone or iPad running iOS 9 or higher.

An Android app is available for download directly from the BetMGM homepage. You can access the app and games using your standard online login if you have already created one. Android 6.0 or better is needed for the best experience. However, the range of Android tablets isn’t great. The BetMGM casino app won’t work on Kindle, Chromebook, or Microsoft tablets.

The mobile apps work well on both types of compatible devices, but it pays to have a larger tablet to view the lobby properly. On the mobile app, you can access game logs from the past six months at any time.

There are around 100 slots and table games in the mobile version of the BetMGM casino site. Most of the top slots titles are featured, and you can play American Roulette and blackjack on the move.

Games at BetMGM Casino Online

BetMGM has over 400 slots, 14 of which are progressives. It’s one of the best video slot selections in New Jersey. There are also 26 table games, including local NJ favorites like blackjack, roulette, and baccarat. If you like instant win action, BetMGM has a great Variety Games tab which features Slingo, Wheel of Fortune Winning Words, and scratchers.

Online Slots

BetMGM is one of the best online casinos for real money slots. It has over 400 innovate slot games, 14 of which are progressives. There are some big branded games like Anchorman and Super MONOPOLY Money, plus some of NetEnt’s better titles like Starburst and Vikings.

In general, the jackpot slots aren’t the biggest brands, but there are four linked progressive games from bwin.party — Luck O’ The Jackpot, Melon Madness, Loot’Enkhamun, and Biker Pigs — which can also be played at NJ casinos with the Borgata license.

Featured games:

Raging Rhino (WMS)
Gonzo’s Quest (NetEnt)
Cleopatra (IGT)
Starburst (NetEnt)
MONOPOLY 250K (SG)

Online Video Poker

BetMGM casino has a dozen video poker variants, most coming from IGT and Spin Games. IGT’s Game King titles like Double Double Bonus Poker are the real draw, and games start at just $0.50.

Featured games:

Jacks or Better
Deuces Wild
Five Play Draw Poker Multi-Hand
Triple Play Draw Poker Multi-Hand

Online Blackjack

Of the 26 table games on BetMGM, around a quarter are blackjack games. You can select classic blackjack, multi-hand blackjack or live blackjack against a human croupier. We enjoyed Multi-Hand Blackjack Multi-Player which lets you play against other online customers at the same table.

Featured games:

Multi-Hand Blackjack Pro
Vegas Downtown Blackjack Multi-Player
Live Blackjack

Online Roulette

The options for roulette players at BetMGM online casino are limited. There is one European Roulette and one American Roulette variant in the lobby, but you can also try your luck against a human croupier with live roulette.

Featured games:

American Roulette Pro
European Roulette Pro
Live Roulette

Other Games

If you don’t like slots, video poker, or roulette, you might struggle to find a game at BetMGM. That said, the Variety Games are very good. There are 15 instant win games like Colour Cubes and a few branded scratchers like Ghostbusters Spectral Search and Irish Eyes 2 Scratch.

Slingo is a mix of slots and bingo. There are seven standard varieties, including the branded Deal or No Deal Slingo.

Most casinos under the Borgata license have some Virtual Sports, and BetMGM is no different. You can play Virtual Greyhounds, Virtual Horses or Virtual Soccer for real money. Place bets on computerized races, and watch as your horse comes in.

VIP Program and Cashback at BetMGM Online

BetMGM’s loyalty program is called iRewards. You can earn iReward Points (iRPs) whenever you play real money games like slots and table games. You can also earn points at MGM Resorts casinos worldwide.

iRPs are earned when you play slots, video poker, and table games. You’ll earn 1 point for betting $5 on slots (1 point for $10 on progressive slots), and 1 point for every $20 you bet on video poker. You’ll also earn a point for betting $25 on blackjack or roulette.

In addition, you can earn extra iRPs for playing selected “slot spotlight” games, and there are regular double points days spread through the month.

The BetMGM iRewards loyalty program has five tiers (Sapphire, Pearl, Gold, Platinum, and Noir) with escalating credit requirements. You will need 25,000 points to attain the Pearl tier, while the Noir level is invite-only.

Points can be redeemed for ‘M life Rewards’ comps at the MGM resorts of your choice or as bonus dollars with which to play poker or casino games. There is also an online store at BetMGM casino that sells iPads, laptops, and designer goods.

Currently, however, the M life Rewards program is not integrated with the BetMGM loyalty program. The casino is missing a big opportunity here, but has suggested it will merge the two programs in the future.

The Rewards Store is also where you trade in iRPS for cash and bonuses. At Sapphire level, you can trade 1,000 iRPS for $10 in cash, or trade 700 iRPs for $10 when you reach Platinum level. Those kinds of cashback rates aren’t the best, but they definitely favor high-RTP slots players.

Deposit Options at BetMGM Casino

BetMGM online customers can deposit via a healthy selection of banking options. You can load your account with Visa or Mastercard, but poor acceptance rates mean we cannot list BetMGM is one of the best credit card casinos. The prepaid Borgata Play+ card is a better option.

Alternatively, BetMGM now accepts VIP Preferred, a common payment option at the fastest payout casinos. VIP Preferred is a safe and fast way to move cash from your bank directly to your casino account. If you live near Atlantic City, you can deposit cash in person at the Borgata Casino Cage for free with a minimum limit of only $10.

The only deposit method that is missing is cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Tether. If you want to fund your account using these currencies instead of USD, check out the best crypto casinos here as alternative to BetMGM.

Deposit methods:

VIP Preferred (ACH/e-Check)
Bill Pay
Credit/Debit Cards (VISA & Mastercard)
Borgata Play+
PayNearMe
Borgata Casino Cage

Withdrawal Options at BetMGM Casino

Unfortunately, BetMGM offers a limited range of withdrawal options. As with most Mastercard and Visa card casinos in NJ, credit/debit cards are unavailable for payouts. In fact, there is only one online banking option for withdrawals: VIP Preferred.

If using VIP Preferred, you will need to enroll in the program first and must have made a deposit using your bank in order to cash out. Alternatively, you can request a check by mail from BetMGM but typical waiting times are over 7 days. You can always request a cash-out in person at the Borgata Cashier in Atlantic City if you live locally.

Withdrawal methods:

VIP Preferred (ACH/e-Check)
Check by Mail
Borgata Casino Cage

BetMGM Customer Support

If you have played at any of the other casinos under the Borgata license or read about them in our online casino reviews, you will know all about their excellent customer support. BetMGM has friendly and supportive customer service staff too.

There is an on-site email form to request help, as well as a handy drop-down menu to get you to your query fast. Phone and live chat support are available 24/7.

Telephone: 1-609-2489531

Live Chat: 24 hours

Email form: On-site

BetMGM Casino History Overview

When MGM Resorts International took over the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa for $900m in 2016, all eyes were on them, wondering if and when MGM would move online in the Garden State.

It didn’t take long before MGM launched its online casino in 2017 under the existing Borgata gaming license. It quickly gained a reputation as one of the safest online casinos and remains among the most trusted online casinos in the US. MGM now finds itself going online in New Jersey before it has even launched a Nevada gaming site.

BetMGM has also branched to several other states and continues to grow in the iGaming space. It also shares player pools with other Borgata sites like PartyOoker, and operates an online sportsbook in New Jersey’s newly legalized sports betting market.

BetMGM Online Poker Review

BetMGM Poker is a poker site that is owned by MGM Resorts and available to New Jersey residents and visitors. It runs on the partypoker NJ network and is licensed by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE).

BetMGM launched in 2017 and partnered with Borgata Poker and partypoker. These three sites share their player pools in an effort to bolster traffic.

Thus far, they have been largely unsuccessful at accomplishing this goal. With a population of 8.9 million, New Jersey is not large enough to accommodate several online poker rooms.

The BetMGM network has suffered as a result, and its traffic ranks behind market leaders WSOP/888 and PokerStars.

While BetMGM isn’t the most popular site in New Jersey, it does have a nice signup bonus and an interesting rewards program.

Getting Started at BetMGM

This poker site requires you to download its app or desktop software to begin playing. The desktop client is among the quickest to download and install in the state.

You can get the mobile app on either an Android or Apple iOS device. The Android app is available directly from the website, and the iOS version is found in the App Store.

It is not necessary to register for an account to view the desktop lobby. Instead, you can merely download the client and browse it before deciding to sign up.

On the other hand, the mobile app does require you to complete registration before accessing the lobby. The signup process should only take you a couple of minutes to finish.

Minimum Age to Play

You must be at least 21 years old to play at this site, which is the minimum gambling age in New Jersey and in most other states with legal online casinos. You’ll be asked to confirm your age before your account is approved.

Geo-Location

Like all US online casinos serving the NJ market, BetMGM requires that all players be within state boundaries before playing casino games for real money. Geo-location uses the Wi-Fi signal on your computer or mobile device to determine your location.

BetMGM Poker Signup Bonus

This site offers a welcome package that includes both a no-deposit and a signup bonus. Below, you can see the details on how each part of the welcome package works.

BetMGM No-Deposit Bonus

You’ll be credited with a $25 no-deposit bonus after completing account registration. This offer includes:

$10 for cash games
$15 for tournaments

The $15 in tournament tickets will immediately be added to your account. The $10 for cash games is credited after you earn 1 iRewards Point (iRP).

Deposit Bonus

Your first deposit will be matched 100% up to a maximum of $1,000. You release the bonus in 10% increments.

You need to collect iRPs to earn these increments; 20 iRPs are required for each $1 of the bonus.

Here’s an example of how everything works:

- You deposit $150.
- You’re now eligible for a $150 bonus.
- 150 x 0.1 = 15

Your bonus will be released in $15 increments.

- 150 x 20 = 3,000

You need 3,000 points overall to earn the entire bonus.

BetMGM only allows seven days to meet the wagering requirements. All unearned portions of the bonus will expire after seven days.

One week is an incredibly short timeframe for earning a poker signup bonus. By comparison, Borgata Poker allows 45 days for satisfying wagering requirements.

Other Ppromotions

BetMGM offers an average number of promotions when compared to other New Jersey poker sites. It features sit-and-go (SNG) leaderboards and land-based tournament prize packages.

VIP Rewards

This site offers the iRewards program, which promises online merchandise and comps at MGM-owned casinos (e.g. Borgata). The program features five different tiers, which are shown below along with the requirements:

Sapphire: 0 iRPs per year
Pearl: 25,000 iRPs per year
Gold: 75,000 iRPs per year
Platinum: 200,000 iRPs per year
NOIR: Invitation only

How Do You Earn iRPs?

You can accumulate iRPs in either casino or poker games. You’ll receive 5.5 iRPs for every $1 spent in tournament or cash-game rake.

You earn 1 iRP for every $5 wagered on slots, $20 wagered on video poker, and $25 bet on table games (e.g. blackjack).

What Can iRPs be Used for?

The iRewards plan is connected to MGM Resorts’ M life program. Your points can either be used at MGM land-based casinos across the world or in the BetMGM Loyalty Store.

The latter is ideal if you want to get rewards without having to visit a land-based resort. The store offers clothing, electronics, poker items, and more.

The iRewards program is unique among poker sites, to say the least. You’ll either love it or hate it, depending upon your preferences.

Most poker loyalty programs offer cashback and tournament tickets. This one, on the other hand, features casino comps and merchandise.

Poker Games at BetMGM

As mentioned earlier, the partypoker NJ network has had trouble generating traffic in a crowded market. BetMGM has struggled right along with the network.

Most of their player base is found in low-stakes Texas hold’em games. You won’t like the game selection here if you’re a mid-stakes player and/or somebody who enjoys variations beyond hold’em.

Cash Games

BetMGM features multiple variants in their cash section, including hold’em, Omaha, and Stud. The latter two games might as well not be available, because they don’t draw any traffic.

The bulk of the ring-game action happens on NL hold’em tables ranging from $0.01/$0.02 to $1/$2 stakes. However, you can find some games running on $2.50/$5 and $5/$10 tables.

FastForward

FastForward is a cash-game format that seeks to reduce time spent waiting in between hands. Players are moved to a new table shortly after folding a hand.

You start out with FastForward by joining a player pool. This pool is spread out across multiple tables, and you’re moved to an empty seat at another table after folding.

FastForward is an interesting concept if you hate the waiting time associated with poker. Unfortunately, it’s inaccessible most of the time due to a lack of traffic.

Tournament Action

The highlight of BetMGM’s game selection is their multi-table tournaments. They feature several weekly events with four and five-figure prize pools.

The Sunday $35k guarantee is definitely the marquee event. The buy-in is $215, but satellites are available throughout the week.

You can also look forward to plenty of tournament formats, including bounty, deepstack, six-max, and turbo.

BetMGM has a decent selection of SNGs, ranging from $1 to $200 buy-ins. However, most of the action stops after $20 SNGs.

BetMGM Poker Deposit Methods

One area where BetMGM excels is in deposit options. Here are all of the ways that you can fund your poker account:

Bank transfer – Move money directly from your bank account to BetMGM Poker.
Borgata cage – Visit the Borgata in Atlantic City and deposit in person.
E-check (ACH) – This is another option for moving money from your bank account to a poker site.
PayNearMe – Visit a local 7-Eleven with cash to fund your account.
Visa & Mastercard – The world’s two biggest credit cards are accepted at BetMGM Poker.

Ideally, you would be able to use Visa or Mastercard to deposit. These credit cards offer instant funding for your BetMGM account. Strangely enough, though, Visa and Mastercard deposits are sometimes rejected — despite online poker being legal in New Jersey under current gambling laws.

E-checks and bank transfers are both easy options to use. However, they’re not practical for small deposits when considering the high fees.

The Borgata cage and PayNearMe are worthwhile if you don’t mind going into an establishment. You may want to stick with a quicker online method, though.

Withdrawal Options

BetMGM doesn’t have nearly the same selection of withdrawal methods. Here are the limited options for cashing out from this site:

Borgata cage – You can also withdraw money from your internet poker account via the Borgata.
E-check – ACH is an easy way to move funds back into your bank account.

The Borgata isn’t a practical way to withdraw money unless you live near or are planning on visiting Atlantic City.

Again, e-checks are easy to use and reliable. The problem, though, is that you may end up waiting a week on your money.

Customer Support

You can contact BetMGM Poker support through either email or phone. Most NJ poker sites only offer email support, which makes BetMGM’s phone option notable.

This site also features an FAQs section, which addresses the most-common poker questions and issues. You should consider consulting the FAQs first, to avoid waiting for customer service.

Final Verdict

You may like BetMGM if you’re a low-stakes player who’s looking for a big bonus.

Micro-stakes hold’em draws a fair amount of players during peak hours. This poker room also has some nice tournaments throughout the week.

The large welcome bonus package is no doubt the biggest draw to BetMGM. However, you need to remember that you’re given just seven days to clear the bonus.

The loyalty plan will only suit specific tastes. We much prefer the traditional model of giving out tournament tickets and cashback, rather than land-based comps.

In summary, BetMGM doesn’t have much going for it in terms of game selection and overall player traffic. They do their best to make up for these downsides, though, with a solid bonus deal.