New Jersey's effort to legalize sports betting dates back to 2008. Ten years later, the finish line has arrived after Gov. Phil Murphy signed a sports betting bill into law on Monday.
At 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 14, venerable Monmouth Park racetrack began taking bets, followed the Borgata in Atlantic City at 11 a.m. on Thursday.
New Jersey's two other racetracks -- Meadowlands Racetrack and Freehold Raceway -- along with Atlantic City's other casinos are expected to get into the bookmaking game in the coming weeks and months.
With plenty of rules and regulations in place, there is a lot to sort through.
Here is an FAQ on the basics of sports betting in New Jersey:
Where is Monmouth Park?
Monmouth Park, a 148-year-old horse racing track, is located at 175 Oceanport Ave., Oceanport, New Jersey. It roughly an hour's drive south of Newark and New York City and 90 minutes east of Philadelphia.
Where do I place my bets at Monmouth Park?
The racetrack has betting windows in the William Hill sports book, a converted sports bar that used to be the track's cafeteria, as well as outside in a newly renovated grandstand area. It is planning to build a $5 million standalone sportsbook on the premises in the future. Bettors must be at least 21 years old to place a wager.
Can I bet online?
Not right now. Mobile betting is legal under the new law, and apps, like those used by Nevada sportsbooks, will be available in the future, but not to start.
When will the other New Jersey venues begin offering sports betting?
Monmouth Park is the only venue that has announced an exact date.
The New Jersey Racing Commission is holding a meeting Wednesday afternoon and is expected to put emergency regulations in place and issue sports betting licenses. The Meadowlands is planning to begin at some point this summer, with a goal of being fully operational by football season. Freehold Raceway also has been making preparations.
Atlantic City's nine casinos will move quickly, but a set opening day has not been announced. The Borgata released a statement this week saying it was "moving ahead with all possible speed to begin accepting legal sports bets as soon as required regulatory approvals are in place."
What can I bet on?
A full menu of sports betting options -- straight bets, point spread, parlays, money lines and futures on all sports, almost everything similar to what's found in Nevada -- will be available.
Baseball, basketball, football, soccer, golf, boxing, hockey, MMA and auto racing will be offered to start.
However, wagering on collegiate events involving New Jersey-based schools, including Rutgers, Seton Hall and others, is prohibited -- as is wagering on any collegiate events that take place in the state.
What are the betting limits?
Betting limits vary by sport, game and even customer to customer.
Why is betting prohibited on games involving state colleges and New Jersey-based collegiate events?
In 2011, when New Jersey State Sen. Ray Lesniak passed a voter referendum to amend the state constitution to allow sports betting, he inserted the stipulations prohibiting wagering on games involving state schools and collegiate events that took place in the state. Removing the prohibition would require an amendment to the state constitution.