i am a nj resident, if i file my taxes and include gambling and my losses are greater than winnings is it possible to receive a refund?

NO! And you declare your entire winnings - losses are only deductible if you itemize, and meet some other rules too. Losses are only deductible up to the amount of your winnings if you can deduct them at all.

since you can only claim gambling losses on Sch A and only up to the amount of your winnings, it is actually a 'wash' and would not affect your refund

You can deduct losses only up to the amount of winnings, so it can't create a refund.

Losses are only deductible up to the amount of winnings. The taxpayers do not subsidize your gambling.

no state or IRS allows a deduction for net gambling losses - you can only break even at worst

AND ... you can only post those losses on your schedule A, which then needs to exceed the standard deduction (6,200 single, 12,400 married) before you start to get any tax relief.

All winnings are taxable. Loses must be itemized and are limited to winnings.