Author: Bill Gelman

Bill Gelman is a veteran sports writer based just outside of Philadelphia and not too far from the Jersey Shore. Bill spends time in Atlantic City writing about casino openings and expansions, special events and world championship boxing at Boardwalk Hall. He is now adding NJ sports betting and online gambling to the mix.

It’s A Manning Thing: PointsBet NJ Boosting Eli Manning For Monday Night Football

Eli Manning is likely starting for the Giants on Monday’s NFL game. PointsBet NJ customers can wager on the QB’s total passing yards against the Eagles.

Would you bet on Eli Manning having a great game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football?

It’s looking like he will be stepping in for rookie Daniel Jones, who is battling a high ankle sprain.

The news has caught on at PointsBet Sportsbook with the potential to benefit the New Jersey sports betting crowd.

Customers, especially Giants fans, can take advantage of this week’s Fade Darren Rovell booster.

Manning to throw for more than 249.5 passing yards has been boosted to +120 (from -105). Max bet is $100.

But is it a good bet?

We’re talking about the 2-10 G-Men here, and their last victory  came on against the Washington Redskins during Week 4. 

That was way back on Sept. 29.

The game is taking place at Lincoln Financial Field. PointsBet has the Birds as a 10-point favorite.

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PointsBet NJ welcomes Manning back

Giants head coach Pat Shurmur has said it’s “very likely” that Manning will start Monday night.

This is his 16th season, the majority of which has been spent watching from the sidelines.  The team decided to go in a new direction following 28-14 loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 2.

It was about seeing what Jones, their first-round pick, could do.

Manning has led the Giants to two Super Bowl titles (one of them spoiled the New England Patriots perfect season). His 116 victories rank No. 1 all-time among franchise quarterbacks.

But if we are talking just passing yards, he averaged 268.7 per game last season.

He passed for more than 280 yards in both games against the Birds last season, but Philadelphia won both.

Eagles still have NFL playoff hopes

From a Philadelphia perspective, besides the NFC East rivalry factor, their playoff hopes are on the line.

At 5-7, winning their final four games is key. Losing 37-31 to the 3-9 Miami Dolphins on Sunday did not help their cause. But with the Dallas Cowboys sitting at 6-6, the division is still a two-team race.

The Eagles have been inconsistent all season, including on the defensive side of the ball. They took the field in Miami as a 10-point favorite. Then Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick ended upthrowing for 365 yards and three touchdowns.

So the Birds will likely take the field with extra motivation to turn things around. They head into this matchup as losers of three-straight games.

And crazy things have been known to happen when the two teams meet. One of those matchups is even among the top games worth remembering.

However, the outcome of this one will have no impact on the PointsBet boost. It’s a Manning thing.

Parlay Payout Party: Bettors At FanDuel Sportsbook NJ Cash In Big

Come to find out, NJ sports betting customers are very good at picking parlays. As a result, FanDuel handed out some big payouts over the last two weekends.

FanDuel Sportsbook has handed out some big payouts over the last two weekends. The winnings are the result of some very strong parlay picking.

One customer placed a $200 “historic parlay” and walked away with $229,276.50. So, how did it happen?

This one happened on Monday, Nov. 25, and included the moneyline on one NFL contest, and combining NBA and NHL games.

Here is a breakdown of the bet:

Turning $1 parlay into $10,000 at FanDuel NJ

But wait, there is more.

Another FanDuel Sportsbook customer made the most of a $1 NFL parlay on Sunday. And, by the most, we mean finishing with a perfect card. Here it is:

Yes, there were a few upsets.

For instance, the Philadelphia Eagles were a 10-point road favorite against the Miami Dolphins. But it was the home team that walked away 37-31 winners.

Even punter Matt Haack threw a touchdown pass to the kicker Jason Sanders. Talk about things going the Dolphins way.

Plus, the previously winless Cincinnati Bengals pulled off a convincing 22-6 victory over the New York Jets.

The Houston Texans handed the New England Patriots their second loss of the season likely surprised some. The home team won 28-22 and had 21-9 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.

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Monday Night Football parlay

Another NJ sports betting fan made out extremely well with Monday night’s game between the Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks. 

This individual placed $500 on the Same Game Parlay bet slip that included:

  • Over 48.5 (+121)
  • Seahawks moneyline (-112)
  • Dalvin Cook touchdown score (+580)

The two teams combined for 67 points and the Seahawks won the game 37-30.

Plus, Cook scored the game’s first touchdown on a two-yard run. The running back ended up leaving the game midway through the third quarter with a shoulder injury.

Total these results and the customer got paid $14,249.

Fox Bet Signs Partnership With Philadelphia 76ers

Philadelphia 76ers fans will start seeing and hearing a lot more about the Fox Bet app.

The sports betting brand from The Stars Group and Fox Sports is now partners with the NBA franchise.

Fox Bet + 76ers = exposure

The press release provides details as to what the deal includes. It’s centered around building awareness of its brand and app via the 76ers’ traditional, digital and social media assets.

However, there is more:

  • Custom home game promotions.
  • Exposure on courtside and LED signage.
  • Present near-live game replays on 76ers’ Twitter.
  • Serve as the presenting partner of the 76ers radio game broadcast on 97.5 FM The Fanatic and for the “hype video” played on the scoreboard leading into the fourth quarter of home games.

Robin Chhabra, CEO of Fox Bet, used the words “absolutely thrilling” in reference to the partnership.

“This agreement connects us with an extremely passionate local fanbase in a unique way,” said  Chhabra.

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Of course, Fox Bet Sportsbook is only new by name.

It’s the rebranded BetStars NJ app from The Stars Group’s launched in the Garden State in late August.

The product falls under the Resorts Digital license (along with DraftKings Sportsbook and Resorts Sportsbook).

Sixers have NJ & PA fans

foxbet 76ersThe Sixers are not the first Philly team to partner with an online casino or sports betting operator.

Earlier this year, the Philadelphia Eagles inked a multi-year partnership with Unibet Casino (NFL rules prohibit agreements related to sports betting).

Like Birds’ fans, the Sixers draw from both sides of the Walt Whitman Bridge. With Fox Bet operating in Pennsylvania, too, there is a bigger pool of potential players.

Adam Davis, the chief commercial officer for Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, elaborated on the deal:

“Fox Bet has masterfully honed its unique brand positioning in the US; an experienced, longstanding European sportsbook, a savvy media company, and now an affiliation with the 76ers that further endears its brand and product to the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and New Jersey market and sports community.

adam davisRecognizing the passionate 76ers fan base, Fox Bet and our team look forward to amplifying a multi-tiered activation approach by creating dynamic, digital content and continuing to drive engagement with our brand, team and league.”

Plus, in celebration of the agreement, Fox Bet customers in PA and NJ will have access to special offers and promotions.

One of the current deals is $20 toward their first wager (following download and registration).

The Sixers are only 21 games into an 82-game schedule, so there is plenty of time to tip-off with Fox Bet.

fox bet 76ers sixers

NJ Sports Betting Records Keep Falling To The Tune Of Half A Billion In October Bets

The October NJ sports betting numbers are out, and the $488 million in bets and $46.6 million in revenue equates to a record-shattering month.

New Jersey is once again reaping the rewards of a busy season of sports.

The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement released October numbers earlier today, and it’s the second straight record-breaking month.

The Garden State took in $488 million from bettors. That tops the previous all-time mark from September of $445.6 million.

Combined with the other eight months of 2019, the year-to-date handle is now at an eye-opening $3.5 billion.

To top it off, sports betting revenue came in at $46.4 million. That bests the previous mark of $37.8 million also from last month.

In other words, October is now the new gold standard going forward.

FanDuel still the runaway NJ sports betting winner

Looking at the breakdown by operator, FanDuel Sportsbook once again dominated the field by a wide margin.

Meadowlands Racetrack, it’s land-based partner, reported betting revenue of $24.8 million (PointsBet NJ accounts for a small portion of that number).

And of that total, $20.7 million was from mobile.

In terms of the next closest NJ sports betting competitor, Resorts Digital finished a very distant second with $10.5 million.

DraftKings Sportsbook is responsible for the bulk of it, but Fox Bet and Resorts Sportsbook fall under the same umbrella.

In terms of how the rest of the field did, here is a breakdown:

Property (Online)Online RevenueRetail RevenueOctober Total
TOTAL$38,704,731$7,688,806$46,393,537
Bally's (Caesars, 888)$536,600$233,745$770,345
Borgata (BetMGM, Borgata Sports)$1,387,821$458,351$1,846,172
Golden Nugget (BetAmerica, GN Online)$359,216$176,890$536,106
Hard Rock (Hard Rock online, Bet365 NJ, Unibet)$1,841,732$123,616$1,965,348
Harrah's-----$92,449$92,449
Meadowlands (FanDuel, PointsBet)$20,679,747$4,114,965$24,794,712
Monmouth (William Hill, SugarHouse, TheScore Bet)$1,666,410$1,175,581$2,841,991
Ocean Resort (William Hill)$1,635,104$697,659$2,332,763
Resorts (DraftKings, Fox Bet, Resorts Online)$10,558,087$265,320$10,823,407
Tropicana (William Hill)$40,014$350,340$390,244

Hard Rock AC gained online betting momentum

Hard Rock Atlantic City is enjoying a night-and-day improvement this fall. This time last year, the license holder was sitting on the NJ sports betting sidelines.

Earlier this football season, Unibet NJ and Bet365 NJ launched their respective apps under the Hard Rock license. The two new additions combined with Hard Rock’s self-branded platform is beginning to look like a winning trifecta.

The property reported $1.9 million in sports betting revenue, with the majority ($1.8 million) coming via mobile apps.

Part of that may have to do with a huge bet that Unibet accepted from one Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale. According to Legal Sports Report, the total amounted to $1.25 million. Mack’s bets on his hometown Houston Astros to win the World Series did not win of course.

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Nevertheless, that performance is good enough for third-best among AC properties. Ocean Casino Resort and its partnership with William Hill NJ claimed the No. 2 position with $2.3 million.

So there are winners across the board.

And it seems crossing the $4 billion mark in total bets this year is not out of the question.

Yahoo Sportsbook To Launch In New Jersey Today With Assist From BetMGM

Corporate giants Yahoo and MGM are testing the sports betting waters together via an integrated sportsbook app with BetMGM odds available in New Jersey.

It seems everybody wants a piece of the NJ sports betting pie. Even Yahoo. Yes, that Yahoo.

The Yahoo sportsbook app powered by BetMGM is expected to roll out in New Jersey today. To access, users need to download the Yahoo Sports app on iOS and Android devices or via the web at sports.yahoo.com.

But unlike the other 17 sports betting apps out there in NJ, this one is not exactly taking the betting action.

Instead, it’s integrated with the BetMGM sportsbook app.

More about Yahoo Sportsbook and how it works

Fans nationwide will be able to view betting odds for popular sports such as football, basketball, baseball and hockey via Yahoo Sports. However, those located in NJ are now able to place wagers via BetMGM.

So the land-based partnership rule does not apply. BetMGM operates via the Borgata license, and Yahoo won’t need one.

Here is a brief description from the press release:

“Yahoo Sportsbook powered by BetMGM elevates the experience for sports fans, getting them closer to the games they’re passionate about and closing the loop from content to transactions.”

In a nutshell, NJ sports betting fans can download or view the Yahoo Sports app and easily flip between the BetMGM odds and the media giant’s sports news and fantasy games.

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BetMGM gets creative with Yahoo deal

The Yahoo sportsbook announcement is not exactly one of those surprise announcements.

News of Yahoo teaming up with MGM for sports betting came about in late October. The story did not include a launch date for the app, but referenced that it “will take place next month.”

So here we are in the second week of November. And NJ is the first state to get this partnership going.

The attraction for MGM is the pure numbers that Yahoo generates on a regular basis. We are talking millions of active visitors to Yahoo Sports alone.

Granted, they are not all in the Garden State, but it’s still a very impressive number.

Yahoo + BetMGM = sports betting

Is this a one-of-a-kind setup? Not really.

A similar example is the connection between TheScore and TheScore Bet. The latter joined the market in September under the Monmouth Park license.

Like Yahoo Sports, the Score is a sports news app with 4-5 million monthly active users.

So if a bettor reads news regarding LeBron James or Joel Embiid on theScore, and suddenly is intrigued to wager, it’s one click away. This is where theScore Bet comes into play. And the same goes for Yahoo Sports fans who want to place a bet.

Of course, New Jersey will just be the first of many states where this Yahoo/BetMGM collaboration will exist. Future rollouts of this integrated sports and sportsbook app are in the works.

In the meantime, Yahoo users can look forward to seeing betting and content experiences such as live events and productions. Alongside those BetMGM odds at Yahoo Sports.

Unibet Sees New Jersey, Pennsylvania As The Foundation To Bigger US Sports Betting Plans

Unibet made its US debut earlier this summer via an NJ online casino, but that’s the foundation for building a global grand on this side of the Atlantic.

When it comes to the American sports betting market, Unibet NJ is just getting its feet wet.

Sunday only marked the two-month anniversary of the NJ sports betting launch via partner Hard Rock Atlantic City.

Plus, the popular product from the Kindred Group debuted in neighboring Pennsylvania this week as planned.

Unlike NJ, where Unibet Casino launched months before the sportsbook, PA customers saw a full rollout this week with a massive library of 140 games (the New Jersey app has 290).

The European-based company is following a formula that seems to be working for many operators: launch in New Jersey and take things from there.

Arnas Janickas, head of marketing, USA at Kindred Group, sat down with NJ Gambling Sites last week to discuss how things are going.

When the topic of New Jersey came up, Janickas said it was the “obvious entry” into the US market.

Having “great regulations” and a “customer base that understands the product” also helps.

Unibet + NJ sports betting field

Unibet has joined a crowded field of 17 mobile sports betting operators. Trying to catch market leaders FanDuel Sportsbook, DraftKings Sportsbook or William Hill NJ is not in the plans.

Those apps have been up and running since the start of the 2018 football season. Plus, they have established brands on this side of the Atlantic Ocean.

Unibet does not fear the competition.

The bookmaker has been playing this game for 20-plus years in Europe and Australia. While the regulations and betting markets may be different, the business remains the same.

“It’s a very competitive market, but we have been around for a while. We can fight those battles,” said Janickas.

He did note that FanDuel has been impressive with how quickly the company has been able to roll out in different states.

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But customers are curious

So, gaining a significant market share is going to take some time.

When the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement releases October numbers on Thursday, it will be the first full month that includes Unibet as a casino and sportsbook operator. (The NJDGE does not provide a breakdown by operator.)

Janickas and his team are not expecting any dramatic increases to happen overnight. He did say hard work, customer service, offering exclusive casino games and prop bets are some things that will help build the brand.

Of course, many Garden State customers may be looking to take the Eagles +3.5 points against the New England Patriots on Sunday. And just maybe those same players wager on the Seattle Seahawks game the following week.

“We see that the users are curious,” said Janickas. “It’s ensuring that (the) first experience is positive and the user is interested in turning that into (a) more consistent business.

“Part of what we bring from Europe is understanding that it’s not one transaction that you are concerned about. It’s not that first deposit that you are looking for. You are looking to build a relationship, and we have to manage that relationship.” 

Partnerships with the Eagles + NJ Devils

One easy way of attracting customers is signing deals with pro sports teams and/or leagues. Having brand awareness inside of stadiums and arenas helps market the product to thousands of potential customers.

To that end, Unibet announced a multi-year marketing deal with the New Jersey Devils in September.

And more recently, the company became the first online casino partner of the Eagles. Users of the Unibet app will notice the promo ad with the words “official partner of the Philadelphia Eagles” in all caps.

NFL rules, however, restrict the deal from including the sportsbook. Customers, however, do have access to a shared wallet, and therefore, access to NJ sports betting odds.

Now that Unibet is going through its Pennsylvania soft launch as of Tuesday, signing with the Eagles could end up being beneficial across state lines.

And that’s with the two state-specific apps being completely separate.

While more and more teams and leagues are signing deals with sportsbook and casino operators, Janickas said they are not something that defines the industry.

“For us, being close to the fans is important, and sports teams provide that,” he said. “… We don’t see [sponsorships] as a crucial part. It helps build that initial trust, I think, especially for a brand like Unibet entering the market.”

Unibet, New Jersey and beyond

Since the summer launch of its casino product, Unibet has slowly but surely been evaluating US betting trends.

Janickas said users are playing multiple products, whether it be slots, table games or sports.

Right now, the short-term focus is on building a market share and partnerships. Long term, going live in NJ and PA is setting the foundation for much bigger plans in future states.

Janickas said Kindred is having “conversations with every state” and moving forward “depends on many factors.”

Potential market access, partners, competition, taxes and product availability all play a part in the how and when of Unibet’s overall US plan.

But first things first. “The next step is (to) continue growing the brand,” said Janickas.

“With us entering the US market, we truly became a global brand with Europe and Australia. And now we want to continue building it.”