J.R. Duren, Author at

Your Guide To NJ Sports Betting As NFL Playoffs And NBA Season Rolls Onward

For now, there are 8 retail sportsbooks and 8 online sports betting apps in New Jersey. But NJ sports betting is just getting started.

It’s now the NFL playoffs and the top teams are fighting for a chance to play in Atlanta at the Super Bowl in February. Things are heating up fast for NJ sports betting.

As of Jan. 7, there are nine retail sportsbooks and nine online sportsbooks available in New Jersey. How’s that for some options?

In this guide, you’ll have the complete rundown of where you can bet, which types of bets you can place and which types of bets you can’t place.

Where can you bet on sports in New Jersey?

If you can believe it, it’s been almost eight months since the repeal of PASPA. That decision paved the way for legal sports betting in New Jersey.

New Jersey casinos and racetracks were eager to launch land-based and online sportsbooks. As such, one online sportsbook quickly ballooned into nine.

Online Sportsbook	Sports Betting Partner(s)	Land-Based Affiliate	Launch Date	Promo Offer
DraftKings	Kambi/SBTech	Resorts AC	Aug. 6	$35 free
BetStars	NA	Resorts AC	Sept. 13	Up to $500 in free bets
FanDuel	IGT/Betfair/FanDuel	Meadowlands	Sept. 1	$500 risk-free bet
888 Sport	Kambi	Caesars	Sept. 10	$10 free
SugarHouse Sportsbook	Kambi	Monmouth Park	Aug. 23	100% up to $250
Caesars	Scientific Games	Caesars	Sept. 6	$10 free
William Hill	NA	Monmouth/Ocean Resort	Sept. 1	NA
playMGM	IGT	Borgata AC	Aug. 22	NA
PointsBet	NA	Meadowlands	Dec. 11	NA

The following is a list of casinos and racetracks in the state and the types of sports betting they offer:

Resorts: In-person, online (DraftKings and BetStars)

Resorts Atlantic City opened the DraftKings Sportsbook at Resorts on Nov. 20. Powered by Kambi, the new, expansive retail location features five betting windows, 12 self-service kiosks, a VIP area, stadium-style seats and a full-service bar.

Earlier in 2018, Resorts teamed up with DraftKings and the result was the first-to-market NJ online sports betting site, DraftKings Sportsbook. DraftKings was the go-to online sportsbook for most of August.

Download DraftKings Sportsbook app here.

Resorts AC also provides a skin for BetStars. The sports betting product, from poker giant PokerStars, began accepting wagers Sept. 13.

Among its offerings include promotions, in-game betting and a cash-out option. As of now, the iOS version of BetStars is available via the PokerStars iOS app. But a standalone Android app is available for download.

In the future, Resorts will most likely run its online sportsbook via its partnership with SBTech.

Download BetStars Android app here.

Meadowlands: In-person and online (FanDuel and PointsBet)

Meadowlands Racetrack opened a FanDuel-branded sportsbook on July 14, quickly becoming a powerhouse in the NJ sports betting market. Sitting next to New York City, the retail sportsbook is reaping the benefits of its location.

And not to be outdone by its daily fantasy sports (DFS) competitor (DraftKings), FanDuel Sportsbook launched its mobile sports betting app Sept. 1 alongside William Hill’s app.

Get lucky at FanDuel Sportsbook app here.

In December, PointsBet emerged into the NJ online gambling scene with its unique sports betting option called Points Betting. After a weekslong soft launch, the site opened up and is now taking bets.

Points Betting rewards players on accuracy. The more accurate your bet is to the outcome, the more you win. You can learn more about it here.

Caesars/Harrah’s/Bally’s: In-person and online (Caesars and 888 Sport)

Caesars opened land-based sportsbooks at Harrah’s and Bally’s. The Caesars AC property, however, has no retail book.

The entertainment group announced a partnership with Scientific Games and launched its online sportsbook hours before the start of the NFL regular season.

Caesars added its sportsbook to its existing Caesars NJ online casino app, which is available on browsers and mobile for iOS and Android.

Download the Caesars Sportsbook app here.

Additionally, Caesars provides a skin for 888 Sport NJ. You can place sports bets on the 888 Sport website or using the mobile app on Android and iOS.

Check out 888 Sportsbook app here.

Monmouth Park: In-person and online (William Hill, SugarHouse)

Monmouth Park partnered with William Hill to open the first land-based sportsbook June 14.

Their partnership also extends to the online/mobile space, where William Hill NJ accepts sports wagers online and on its Android and iOS mobile apps.

At one point, SugarHouse Sportsbook was under Golden Nugget’s NJ online gambling license, but not anymore. As of October, SugarHouse switched its online sports betting site to the Monmouth Park license.

The reason is simple: SugarHouse wanted to accept NBA bets and with Golden Nugget, that’s not possible. The online casino side of the integrated site is still under the Golden Nugget’s license.

SugarHouse Sportsbook includes all your favorite betting options, mobile apps, and a shared wallet with SugarHouse online casino.

Place your bets at SugarHouse Sportsbook here.

Golden Nugget: In-person

Golden Nugget opened the doors to its temporary sportsbook in the summer after moving the poker room to a different part of the property to make way for a sports betting space.

But as promised, the sportsbook opened in its new and permanent space a few weeks later, complete with nine self-service kiosks and lounge areas.

Golden Nugget Sportsbook online site is an unknown at this point, but a likely possibility in the future.

Borgata: In-person and online (playMGM)

Borgata runs a temporary sportsbook out of its current horse racing betting area, which is allowable under current sports betting regulation. They do, however, have plans to build a stand-alone sportsbook in the future.

Its land-based sportsbook has 100 seats and 10 betting windows.

Borgata is owned by MGM Resorts, which means that a playMGM sports betting app was always a likely scenario. On Aug. 22, playMGM opened its online app in New Jersey.

There may be a couple more online sportsbooks in Borgata’s future, as its parent company has a partnership with international sportsbook operators GVC and Boyd Gaming.

Ocean Resort Casino: In-person

Hard Rock Atlantic City may have earned more revenue in the first couple of months, but Ocean Resort beat its rival to the punch by opening a retail sportsbook.

The William Hill Sports Book at Ocean Resort claims to be the best in the business, with nearly 7,500 square feet of space. It sits in the center of the casino floor and features seating, a bar, TVs and plenty of betting windows. The grand opening of the new Ocean Resort Sportsbook occurred Sept. 6.

Ocean Resort is also partnered with William Hill US, a union which most likely will result in a self-branded online app at some point in the future. The timeline for that supposed launch, however, is unclear.

Hard Rock: None — for now

One of Atlantic City’s newest casinos, Hard Rock AC has yet to open a land-based sportsbook. However, this all changed in October when Gaming Innovation Group (GiG) signed a letter of intent with Hard Rock to open a sportsbook in Atlantic City.

The target date is sometime in the first quarter of 2019, but Hard Rock AC has already petitioned the NJ Division of Gaming Enforcement to give it a transactional waiver to speed up the process.

The property also has a partnership with bet365, a leading international sportsbook operator. There is also a deal in place with Kindred Group (Unibet).

Tropicana: In-person

Tropicana underwent a recent sale, the consequences of which have Penn National running the property and El Dorado Gaming running the gaming operations.

Recently, Tropicana AC signed a deal with William Hill to offer sports betting in Atlantic City. And at long last, on Oct. 25, the casino opened its temporary sportsbook.

The full 5,000-square-foot permanent space is still in process. Of course, an online sportsbook can’t be too far behind.

The only other property in the state that could offer sports betting is Freehold Raceway, the oldest racetrack in the state. But its plans, while in the works, are pretty much a mystery.

Types of bets you can place in NJ sports betting

You’ll get the full-fledged betting experience at all the in-person locations throughout the state, with everything from spread to prop bets in play.

Shop around each online and mobile sports betting app to see which kinds of lines you can get, as they may not all be uniform. In-game betting is a popular addition to sportsbooks, and most if not all of the new apps in the state offer it.

Some books also have special events and promotions. SugarHouse Sportsbook is rewarding betting sharps with some bonus cash. And BetStars has nearly a constant flow of NBA, NFL and college betting promos to get you into the game with a little insurance.

Also, with the NBA season now in play, remember that Golden Nugget’s relationship with the Houston Rockets will exclude them from offering bets on NBA games.

Types of bets you can’t place

There are no specific sports excluded from sports betting in New Jersey, although it’s not a guarantee that sportsbooks will offer those sports. Each sportsbook is different.

The only bets excluded from the state’s in-person and online/mobile sportsbooks are bets made on high school sports, as well as bets made on college teams in New Jersey, which includes Seton Hall, Rutgers, Monmouth and more.

ICYMI: New Jersey Online Gambling And Sports Betting Had A Crazy Busy Week

Sports betting, pro sports teams, and legendary brands all made headlines this week in the expanding NJ sports betting and online gambling markets.

When it rains, it pours.

And that’s very true of last week in the world of sports betting and online gambling.

A flurry of news surfaced relating to New Jersey casinos, NJ online gambling, NJ sports betting operators as well as professional sports teams including the New York Jets, New Jersey Devils, and Philadelphia 76ers.

So before more partnerships and gambling news erupt onto the scene (like this one between the NHL and FanDuel this morning), here’s a quick rundown of some of the big NJ news bits.

Sports, casinos and a bunch of gambling partnerships

Perhaps the biggest news of the past week was the dual announcements from NJ casino companies about sports betting partnerships with professional sports teams.

MGM Resorts International struck a partnership with the Jets, in which they would be the official gaming partner of the storied franchise.

In a press release from the gaming giant, CEO Jim Murren expressed his excitement about the groundbreaking deal:

“We could not be more excited to join with the New York Jets for a first-of-its-kind partnership in the NFL. We look forward to working with the Jets to innovate gaming, increase our customer base through cross marketing opportunities and provide NFL fans with a one-of-a-kind entertainment experience.”

MGM owns Atlantic City’s flagship casino, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, and will surely increase the visibility of their Jets partnership at the casino’s sportsbook.

Meanwhile, Caesars Entertainment announced it entered a deal with the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers and the NHL’s New Jersey Devils.

In their press release about the partnership, Caesars’ Chief Marketing Officer Chris Holdren emphasized the launch of Caesars Club, a premium experience in the Prudential Center, the Devils’ home ice in Newark.

“Caesars Entertainment has enjoyed a long relationship with the New Jersey community,” Holdren said in the release. “With the introduction of the Caesars Club Sports Lounge, we’re excited to expand our relationship and deliver our world-class hospitality and entertainment in a new part of the Garden State.”

MGM, Golden Nugget make moves in PA online gaming

Next, we move to our neighbor Pennsylvania.

This past week, MGM and Golden Nugget were the only two out-of-state “qualified gaming entities” (QGE) to submit petitions for Pennsylvania online gambling licenses.

The state had 39 of these licenses to hand out to its 13 casinos and racetracks, with each casino able to secure licenses for online slots, online table games, and peer-to-peer online games such as online poker.

Casinos in the state swept up all but 11 of the licenses, allowing QGEs — gambling operators in other states, for example — to swoop in to buy the remaining licenses. Prices for the licenses were $4 million for a single license and $10 million for all three.

One of the interesting angles here is that Golden Nugget is the undisputed king of online gambling revenue in New Jersey. Their move into the PA online gambling market will no doubt strengthen their position atop the revenue in online casinos.

What remains to be seen is how much revenue they’ll be able to generate in PA, as no online casinos have gone live yet.

Churchill Downs has NJ sports betting, online casino plans

The third slice of big news in online gambling and sports betting comes from Churchill Downs Inc., aka CDI.

CDI, the company behind the fabled Churchill Downs horse track in Kentucky, revealed they had solidified a partnership with Golden Nugget AC and would be opening an NJ online casino and sportsbook later this year.

CEO and director William C. Carstanjen talked about the partnership in the company’s Nov. 3 earnings call, through which CDI will use Golden Nugget’s skin to run their online operation.

“In New Jersey, we have entered into what is known as a skins agreement with the Golden Nugget casino to gain access to the New Jersey iGaming and sports wagering markets,” Carstanjen said. “We do not have a casino in New Jersey to enter the market directly but have an arrangement with Golden Nugget, which will allow us full management and control of our own site.”

The company also noted they’re finalizing a sports-betting deal with Pennsylvania’s Presque Isle Downs.

In-Play NBA Betting Is In Play, Thanks to Kambi

No bettor should be limited to money lines and spreads.

That seems to be the spirit of an announcement earlier this month from sports betting provider Kambi. The company said it has augmented its NBA betting options by adding pre-game and in-game wagering.

The goal of the changes, Kambi Head of Live Basketball Stefanos Moysidis said in a statement, is to offer more complex betting options for a more complex NBA.

“The NBA has become extremely popular over the last few years, with the game becoming faster, smarter and teams relying on analytics more than ever before. Superstars are dominating games with a barrage of three-pointers and bettors are increasingly wanting to wager on high-profile players and choose their own lines. At Kambi, we have embraced these changes and developed our offering to cater to a new and more informed audience.”

These new offerings will be available through the three NJ sports betting sites they support:

Pre-game, in-game provide more action and nuance

Three of the types of bets Kambi added to their NJ sports betting platforms include type of field goal, next point scorer and total player points.

So, it’s possible that you could make dozens of bets in each quarter, ranging from putting money on LeBron James scoring the next bucket and that bucket being a three-pointer. Before the game starts, you can put money on how many points you think LeBron will score.

All of this enhances the experience for those taking advantage of the NJ sports betting market, which continues to grow as casinos and operators seek to expand customer options.

Kambi continues money-line, spread bets

While the company felt like it was important to offer additional betting options to enhance the pre-game and in-game experience, they’ve motored on with their traditional bets too.

In a recent Clippers and Pelicans match-up, Kambi lines included:

Money line
Point spread
Result at the end of the fourth quarter
Total points
Points by home team
Points by away team
Multiple bets by quarter
Multiple races (first to 5, 10, 15 points in a quarter)

NBA joins other sports on Kambi platforms

Kambi’s pre-game and in-game betting options are also available for MLB and NFL games.

At the time of publishing, PlaySugarHouse had various options for betting including:

“Mookie Betts to Strikeout in Plate Appearance 2”
Outcomes of specific pitches (i.e. home team, 3rd inning, first batter, second pitch)
Player-specific bets including Justin Turner or Manny Machado hitting home runs during the game

Kambi has shown a willingness to improve their product, something that benefits individual bettors and the NJ sports betting scene.

G2E Says Borgata Casino Is The Property Of The Year

Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa won the Property of the Year award at the 2018 Global Gambing Awards, beating out nine other casino-hotels.

“World’s best” has a nice ring to it.

Earlier this month, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa earned the “Property of the Year” award at the Global Gaming Expo, further solidifying the casino’s standing as the flagship property of Atlantic City.

The casino wrote about the award in a blog post:

“This honor caps an already historic year for us at Borgata. Celebrating its 15th year of operations, the unparalleled East Coast resort destination continues to raise the bar in Atlantic City years after its momentous debut, offering guests an electrifying summer season of the biggest names in entertainment, exclusive culinary experiences, and unique casino promotions and special events.”

According to the release, Borgata was one of 10 finalists. All of them endured the scrutiny of 60 judges made up of, for the most part, industry executives.

Borgata beat out casinos from U.S., Argentina, Macau

According to the Global Gaming Awards website, the Property of the Year award is reserved for those properties that exhibit a commitment to go beyond the ordinary to provide a powerful customer experience.

“The land-based casino industry would not exist without singular properties which deliver customer experiences that keep patrons coming back time after time,” the award’s page states.

The nine other casinos who made the finals with Borgata were:

Casino de Tigre (Argentina)
Eldorado Reno Resort Casino
Foxwoods Resort Casino
Mohegan Sun Casino
Mount Airy Casino Resort
Palms Casino Resort
Studio City, Macau
Viejas Casino and Resort
The Cromwell Las Vegas

Borgata continues to lead A.C. casino market

Borgata’s standing as Atlantic City’s flagship casino is one that the property has earned both through the luxuries afforded through its property as well as the revenue it generates on its casino floor.

For example, this past September, the casino has more than $70 million in gaming win. Of that, roughly 67 percent came from its 3,475 slot machines. The casino’s more than 250 table games earned it nearly $21 million.

The next closest casino in terms of gaming win was Tropicana. It pulled in about $32.1 million, which is less than half of what Borgata earned.

As far as accommodations go, Borgata has 2,000 rooms, 400 of which are varying levels of suites. The hotel’s decor is upscale and chic. At the time of publishing, a weekend night at Borgata cost $209.

The hotel’s booming casino floor and chic accommodations are, no doubt, major factors in the property’s win.

Borgata President and COO Marcus Glover said in a statement that it was the hard work of his team that brought the property to the level at which it needed to be to win the award.

“This award is welcome validation of the hard work contributed by every member of our Borgata team as we celebrate 15 years of leadership and innovation in Atlantic City. Since entering the market in 2003, Borgata has made it our mission to grow and invest in not only our property and product, but in our team members and guests; offering an unrivaled experience to anyone who walks through our doors.”

AGA Report Shows NBA, MLB Could Pocket $1.7B From Legal Sports Betting

Based on a Nielsen Sports study and AGA, legal sports betting could boost the MLB and NBA’s revenue by $1.7B, with $4.2B total for all major sports leagues.

To call it a payday would be an understatement.

The American Gambling Association has released Nielsen Sports projections for the revenue implications of legalized sports betting on the NBA and MLB.

The projections indicate the two leagues will earn a combined $1.685 billion from the burgeoning sports betting industry.

More than that, the four major sports leagues combined will see a revenue boost in the billions from legal sports betting.

“The four major sports leagues will earn a collective $4.2 billion from widely available legal sports betting, further proving that working together with the gaming industry will pay dividends for all sports stakeholders,” said Sara Slane, AGA Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, in a press release.

“Legal sports betting will also create substantial opportunities for state and local economies, generating tax revenue, jobs and supporting small businesses across the country.”

Breaking down the MLB/NBA projected sports betting numbers

Nielsen Sports’ study says the MLB could earn up to $1.1 billion a year while the NBA could earn $585 million.

Nielsen’s methodology takes into account money the leagues gain from two sources: fan engagement and gaming-related revenue.

Their report provides the following definitions for those two revenue categories:

Fan engagement includes:

Media rights
Sponsorships
Merchandise sales
Ticket sales

Gaming-related revenue includes:

Advertising
Sponsorships
Data and product revenue from third-parties

What the MLB will see from sports betting

Nielsen predicts that the MLB will earn $952 million from fan engagement and $154 million from gaming-related revenue.

The main source in the increase of revenue from fan engagement will come from ticket sales, Nielsen noted. They foresee a 12.2-percent increase in ticket sales in the post-PASPA world, from $3.661 billion to an estimated $4.109 billion.

Merchandise will account for the lowest rise in revenue. Nielsen predicts a 3.4-percent rise from $660 million to $683 million.

Keep in mind that the MLB season is about twice as long as the NBA season, resulting in a much higher predicted betting revenue than its roundball counterpart.

What the NBA will see from sports betting

The NBA’s projected yearly sports betting revenue increase is split between $425 million from fan engagement and $160 million from gaming-related revenue.

Unlike the MLB, whose fan engagement numbers are led by ticket sales, the NBA’s fan engagement revenue is led by a projected 8.1-percent jump in media rights, from $3.750 billion a year to $4.055 billion a year.

Nielsen indicates that sponsorships will account for a 4 percent increase in revenue, from $1.120 billion to $1.165 billion.

As for gaming-related revenue, Nielsen Sports predicts that the NBA will earn about half of its revenue jump from a $78 million increase in sponsorships from gambling services.

The AGA study and sports betting as a whole

The Nielsen Sports analysis projects sports betting revenue based on the opinions of “more than 1,000 adult sports fans.” Those include fans of the MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, and other leagues.

Those surveyed included fans and sports bettors. From the data collected from those respondents, Nielsen extrapolated “how a national, legal sports betting market would affect the sports consumption habits of non-bettors, casual bettors and avid bettors, and how this change in consumption would translate to increased revenue.”

Similar studies were done for the NFL and NHL, both estimated to see a high volume of additional revenue thanks to legal sports betting.

Considering the fast growth of NJ online sports betting and the subsequent release of eight mobile sportsbooks in the Garden State, the revenue boost from a mature US sports betting market is entirely possible.

Hard Rock AC Finds Missing NJ Sports Betting Link In GiG Partnership

An NJ sports betting question is answered with Hard Rock AC teaming up with GiG to launch online and retail sportsbooks by the end of the year.

The wait is over.

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City will be home to NJ sports betting thanks to a partnership with international developer Gaming Innovation Group (GiG).

The two companies announced this past week that they’d be teaming up for a sportsbook at Hard Rock Atlantic City by the end of the year.

In the press release, GiG said they signed an LOI, or “letter of intent,” to launch land-based and online/mobile sportsbooks for Hard Rock AC.

Here is the statement:

“Gaming Innovation Group Inc. (GiG) has signed a Letter of Intent with Hard Rock International (Hard Rock) for the provision of an omni-channel Sportsbook platform in the newly opened New Jersey, US market at its Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City.
The intention of the LOI is to execute an agreement and launch the Sportsbook in New Jersey in Q4 2018.”

More detail on the NJ sports betting partnership

The agreement shouldn’t come as too big of a surprise considering GiG is the brains behind Hard Rock online casino. The NJ gambling site launched in late June, shortly after Hard Rock AC opened its doors on the Boardwalk.

We reached out to GiG’s CCO, Ben Clemes, for more information about the letter of intent.

Clemens told us that because the contract wasn’t finalized, he couldn’t discuss the details of the partnership:

“At this point, I cannot elaborate much more than what was stated in the release we made on the Oslo exchange where we announced that we have entered into an LOI with Hard Rock International to deliver the retail and online sports solution to NJ,” Clemens said. “We expect the contract to be finalized in the near future with the retail solution being live in (Q4) of this year.”

Good news for Hard Rock Atlantic City

The announcement solved what many considered the biggest mystery of the NJ sports betting landscape: When will Hard Rock AC launch a land-based and online sportsbook?

Competing new casino Ocean Resort opened its William Hill sportsbook in June of this year. There are seven other in-person sportsbooks in operation in the state.

Only Tropicana, Hard Rock, and Caesars have yet to open an online or land-based sportsbook. But this doesn’t mean Trop isn’t thinking about or planning for it. A recent partnership with William Hill brings Trop closer to launch than ever before.

And recent petitions submitted by both Hard Rock and Tropicana to the NJ Division of Gaming Enforcement move things forward further. The petitions ask for transactional waivers to commence sports betting at the two Atlantic City casinos.

This leaves Caesars on the outside looking in, but only somewhat. After all, Caesars has an online sportsbook of its own.

Deal marks third for Hard Rock AC

Per New Jersey’s gambling laws, a casino is allowed three “skins” for sports betting operators. This means that, with one license, each Atlantic City casino is allowed to create partnerships with three sports betting operators.

Over the past few months, Hard Rock AC filled up its quota through a trio of partnerships.

Hard Rock finalized its first partnership in July when it announced it had joined forces with bet365, an international sports betting giant based in the United Kingdom.

Then, this past August, Hard Rock teamed up with Kindred, a force in European online gambling. Kindred’s portfolio includes some of Europe’s biggest online gambling websites including Bohemia Casino, 32 Red, Vlad Cazino, and more. It also oversees Unibet, an online sports betting operation that will make its way into New Jersey soon.

Bottom line, Hard Rock AC has its ducks all lined up and ready to go. The question now is when exactly those ducks will launch.