New Jersey
REAL ID Emergency Appointments Available In NJ: Here's Who Qualifies
NEW JERSEY — With just days remaining before the May 7 deadline, New Jersey officials have announced a program that will allow travelers with emergencies to obtain a REAL ID driver’s license or identification card.
According to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, the new program is available to residents needing to board a domestic flight in the next 14 days for urgent travel or a life-or-death emergency and who do not have an acceptable form of identification to clear TSA checkpoints.
The emergency program is being offered in addition to the continued issuance of REAL IDs at licensing centers and mobile units. The program will be offered starting on Thursday.
Emergency appointments must be made through the Real ID Emergency Issuance Request Portal, which will be active on April 24.
To secure an appointment, travelers will be required to show proof of the emergency, including a death certificate, a statement from a mortuary or a letter from a hospital on the facility’s letterhead. They must also provide proof of travel to another state, including an airline ticket or travel itinerary with proof of payment.
Anyone with a valid U.S. passport cannot schedule an emergency appointment, officials said.
An $80 shipping fee will be assessed to expedite the delivery of a REAL ID within a few business days, officials said. There is no fee for the appointment.
Who needs a REAL ID?
Garden State residents who are 18 and older must show a REAL ID, a passport, or other federally approved identification to board domestic flights or enter certain federal buildings when enforcement begins on May 7.
The REAL ID is similar to a regular state identification card or driver’s license, but has a small star in the upper right-hand corner.
Federal agencies, including the TSA, will begin REAL ID enforcement on May 7. Agencies may choose to phase in enforcement, but TSA officials have been urging people to upgrade their licenses sooner rather than later “to facilitate a smooth transition.”
The REAL ID Act of 2005 does not affect those who only need their ID for driving purposes or identification, and does not apply to those under 18.
A passport or valid U.S. passport card can still be used to fly domestically and internationally.
What do I need to get a REAL ID?
First, you need to make an appointment through the MVC — and they have been going fast, with most locations showing limited or no availability for non-renewal appointments as of Tuesday morning.
However, those who need to renew their license or non-driver ID in the next three months have plenty of appointments to choose from.
The MVC said it has been adding about 3,000 new appointments in the online scheduler every day to accommodate the “historically high” demand for services and also scheduled several REAL ID Mobile Unit events on Saturdays.
To get a REAL ID in New Jersey, you must bring two proofs of residential address, one proof of Social Security Number and six points of ID (a U.S. Passport or birth certificate counts for four points; one-point forms of ID include a high school diploma, social security card, bank/credit union statement, debit card, property tax statement and more).
A REAL ID is $35, while a standard New Jersey license or ID is $24.
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Every year comes with its own personality, but New Jersey doesn’t wait around to see what the rest of the country decides is “in.” We move fast here. We adapt. We complain loudly — and then we make it part of our routine. Somewhere between a jughandle turn and a diner refill, 2026 developed a very Jersey personality. You may not have noticed it happening, but you’re already living it.
Here are 10 things that feel unmistakably so 2026, Garden State edition.
The way New Jersey talks now (and what it really means)
Calling every inconvenience “a situation.”
Traffic? Situation. School drop-off? Situation. The coffee machine acting up? Full-blown situation.
Quietly flexing about not pumping gas.
We don’t brag. We just casually mention it… often.
Errands, routines and the New Jersey sense of time
Planning an entire weekend around one errand.
Costco, Home Depot, or MVC — choose wisely and clear your schedule.
Checking Dan Zarrow’s forecast on the NJ101.5 app religiously.
Because if you’re going to trust the weather, it might as well be someone who knows New Jersey.
Having a “favorite small town” you don’t live in.
You’ve “been a few times.” You “get the vibe.”
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Roads, tolls and the daily traffic psychology of NJ
Treating tolls like a personal betrayal.
Every increase feels targeted, and we all do the same mental math at the booth anyway.
Explaining traffic circles and roundabouts like a survival skill.
Somehow we all know exactly what to do — except when we don’t.
Money stress, comfort food and Garden State coping mechanisms
Treating diners as emotional support buildings.
Coffee refills fix things. It’s science.
Complaining about taxes while never actually leaving.
Because deep down, we know better.
Comparing energy bills like it’s a competitive sport.
Nobody likes the numbers, but everyone wants to know if theirs is worse.
The truth is, 2026 in New Jersey isn’t about trends you see online. It’s about habits, shortcuts, shared frustrations, and small victories we all pretend are normal. And if you read this nodding along, congratulations — you’re not behind the times. You’re just right on schedule… in New Jersey.
Best New Jersey Diners For Breakfast and Lunch
Thank you to our New Jersey listeners for these recommendations.
Gallery Credit: Bill Spadea
New Jersey
Though down from previous month, New Jersey online casinos post November revenue record in 2025
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While online casinos in New Jersey fell short of another revenue record, November was still the state’s second-best month ever with over $253 million.
They’ve been around for over 12 years, yet online casinos in New Jersey continue to find ways to set revenue records. After posting the industry’s largest single-month total in October, NJ online casinos last month combined for $253 million to set a November record and ranks as the second-biggest single-month total in Garden State history.
NJ online casinos set single-year record with one month left
Since launching in 2013, NJ online casinos have continually set high-water marks – even now, a dozen years later.
With $253 million in November revenue, as reported by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, casino apps in the Garden State now sit at just over $2.64 billion for the year, leading to $455 million in state tax revenue. With one month left in 2025, the industry has already set a single-year record, which previously stood at around $2.4 billion.
To further put into perspective the growth of online gambling in New Jersey, the industry is over 22% ahead of the 11-month pace it set in 2024. Consider the first 14 months of online casinos in NJ, during which time operators combined for a mere $131.2 million in revenue.
While it’s unlikely that NJ online casinos will reach the $3 billion mark by the end of the year, iGaming has proven it can continue to grow after more than 10 years of existence.
FanDuel Casino, DraftKings Casino continue to set pace
While the monthly total is one for the books, the standard brands set themselves apart from the rest of the market.
For example, FanDuel Casino – which new users can sign up with and claim the FanDuel casino bonus – reported $60.2 million. That was well ahead of the second-place DraftKings Casino bonus, which helped drive $49.6 million in November.
Along with the BetMGM Casino app ($30.6 million), Borgata Casino ($20.6 million) and Caesars Palace Online Casino ($19.3 million), the top five revenue-earners in November accounted for more than 71% of the total online casino total in November.
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