Author: Kim Yuhl

Kim Yuhl is a freelance writer and blogger who writes about poker culture and the online gambling industry. A part-time member of the poker media since 2013, Kim recently sold her marketing business to write full-time while traveling around the world. You can learn more about her work and travels at kimyuhl.com.

Not Every Year Was Perfect, But Six Years Of NJ Online Gambling Sure Had Its Moments

New Jersey online casinos celebrate six years and what a crazy ride it has been. We take a look back at the changes, growth, and the ups and downs.

The sixth (6!) anniversary of New Jersey online casino gambling is upon us and what a crazy ride it has been.

There have been some dramatic changes, significant growth, and definitely some ups and downs over the past six years.

Looking at where it all started and comparing it to today, it’s hard to imagine that it has only been six years. It is akin to the memory that feels like yesterday and yet, it still feels like forever.

Well, it wouldn’t be an anniversary without a look back at the humble beginnings of the NJ online gambling market.

Leading up to the launch of NJ online casinos

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and the Legislature finally came to a compromise on the differences that earned a veto on a previous version of the bill.

On Feb. 26, 2013, online casino gambling became a reality for companies partnered with brick-and-mortar Atlantic City casinos.

In preparation for the launch of online casino gambling, the Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) started accepting applications in July. All 12 AC casinos at the time applied for online gambling licenses.

Year One (Nov. 21, 2013-14): NJ online casinos launch

All eyes were on the NJ online casino industry as it prepared to launch. To make things fair, the DGE arranged a synchronized launch for Nov. 21, 2013.

All online operators had the same timeline to secure licensing and perform testing. And when the time came, six Atlantic City casinos flipped the switch, bringing seven online casinos and six online poker rooms in NJ to life:

  • Borgata
  • Harrah’s
  • Caesars
  • Tropicana
  • Trump Plaza
  • Trump Taj Mahal

Golden Nugget had every intention of participating in the synchronized launch. Unfortunately, technical issues prevented it from moving out of the testing phase.

It would be about three more weeks before Golden Nugget successfully passed testing. It finally came online on Dec. 13, 2013.

Technical issues continued to plague the industry, mostly in the form of geolocation software. In fact, geolocation continued to be a problem through much of the first year.

In January, three notable events took place:

  • Virgin Casino comes online under the Tropicana license.
  • WSOP.com hosts the first major online poker tournament, the New Jersey Online Championships.
  • Borgata Casino paid out the first online jackpot of more than $150,000 from a progressive slot machine.

Much of the first year was uneventful, or as uneventful as launching a new industry can be. That all changed in September.

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Within one week, both Trump Plaza and Trump Taj Mahal shut down leaving several online casinos without a home.

Ultimate Casino and Ultimate Poker shut down when Trump Taj Mahal failed to pay them. Betfair Casino and Betfair Poker, originally partnered with Trump Plaza, temporarily moved to Caesars’ license until a permanent partner was found.

Betfair secured a deal with Golden Nugget AC just days before the one year anniversary of the market. Additionally, this was the time Pala Casino came online, the first online casino operated by a Native American tribe in NJ.

At the end of Year One, the online casino market racked up $104.3 million in revenue and paid $15.6 million in taxes to the state.

On Nov. 20, 2014, and heading into Year Two, there were:

  • Eight online casinos
  • Five online poker rooms

Year Two (Nov. 21, 2014-15): Bad actor no more

Year Two does not start off well. On Dec. 1, 2014, Betfair Poker closes its virtual poker room.

Online poker then takes center stage when 888 Poker and WSOP.com ring in the new year by pooling liquidity.

This strategic move catapulted WSOP and 888 into first place among online poker rooms in NJ. It also stepped up the competition against its main rival, the Party Poker-Borgata network.

Following the boost to the online poker scene, Resorts Casino finds its way online minus a poker room.

Resorts is aligned with PokerStars NJ, which has been prevented from launching due to the “Bad Actor” clause in the legislation.

The next big news again focuses on poker, only this time it is outside of New Jersey. In March, Nevada and Delaware begin combining player pools across state lines.

Unfortunately, it will be several years, before New Jersey makes the duo a trio.

In the summer of 2015, Golden Nugget joins forces with NYX Entertainment and undergoes some significant software enhancements. Looking back, it is easy to see these enhancements setting the stage for Golden Nugget’s eventual market domination.

Around the same time, Mohegan Sun Casino came online under the Resorts’ license.

The fall of 2015 welcomed the popular e-wallet PayPal to the market for deposits and withdrawals at New Jersey online casino sites. It is still one of the more popular ways to fund an online casino account in the Garden State.

Additionally, PokerStars NJ finally wins its approval from the DGE. Its initial launch was scheduled for November, but it wouldn’t come online until Year Three.

At the end of Year Two, the online casino market racked up $141.1 million in revenue. That is an impressive increase of 35.3% over its first year in operation. Plus, the state collected another $21.2 million in taxes.

On Nov. 21, 2014, and heading into Year Three, there were:

  • 12 online casinos
  • Four online poker rooms

Year Three (Nov. 21, 2015-16): Hit me, dealer

It was March of 2016 before the next big news hit the market.

PokerStars NJ is finally online. Players in NJ were waiting a long time for the global brand to come to the Garden State.

Then several months later, the online casino industry would change forever. On Aug. 11, Golden Nugget launched live dealer games to provide an online casino experience similar to that of a brick-and-mortar one.

Live dealer games become hugely popular. Along with its computer upgrades from the year previous, it is said to be the main reason Golden Nugget enjoys its market leader status today.

It’s September before the next online casino launches. SugarHouse Casino crosses the Pennsylvania state border to launch an online casino in the Garden State under Golden Nugget’s license.

That brings us to the end of Year Three. The online casino market earned $188.4 million in online gaming revenue. That figure is good for a 33.5% increase over the same period from the previous year.

The state is getting wealthier, too. It added another $28.3 million in tax revenue to its coffers.

On Nov. 21, 2014, and heading into Year Four, there were:

  • 15 online casinos
  • Five online poker rooms

Year Four (Nov. 21, 2016-17): Poker players can almost taste shared liquidity

The beginning of Year Four was relatively quiet.

The first real big news came in May when Betfair adds live dealer games to its portfolio. Golden Nugget and Betfair will continue to be the only NJ online casinos to offer live dealer games until 2018.

Then during the summer of 2017, Pala Poker opens its poker room. It surprises everyone by forgoing the opportunity to share liquidity with Borgata and Party Poker.

Pala Poker has struggled to meet guarantees and draw players to its network from the beginning.

In late summer, two more online casinos launch:

  • Scores Casino (Under the Borgata license)
  • BetMGM Casino and Poker

Besides the arrival of PokerStars, the big news online poker players were awaiting was the opportunity to join Delaware and Nevada in sharing player pools.

New Jersey finally signed the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) with the two states on Oct. 13. However, it will still take several months before shared liquidity happens.

At the end of Year Four, NJ online casinos generated $239.8 million in revenue. It, again, saw double-digit percentage growth of 27.3% over the year prior. The industry paid an additional $35.9 million in tax revenue to the state.

At the end of Year Four, there were:

  • 17 online casinos
  • Seven online poker rooms

Year Five (Nov. 21, 2017-18): New Jersey saves the day

Little did we know at the start of Year Five what a momentous year it would be. However, it wouldn’t take long to understand that history was in the making.

On Dec. 4, 2017, the State of New Jersey challenges the legality of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in front of the Supreme Court of the United States. A SCOTUS Blog watch would commence a few months later.

And while NJ sports betting has its own milestones to celebrate, there is a correlation to the launch of online sports betting in June 2018 and the continued growth and success of online casino gambling in the Garden State.

Of course, casinos and casino games continued to grow throughout the year. Live dealer games spread to eight casinos by summer and a second live dealer studio opened up thanks to Evolution Gaming.

And finally, what all poker players were waiting for became a reality. Just before the first “shuffle up and deal” of the 2018 World Series of Poker, player pools finally combined between three states:

  • New Jersey
  • Delaware
  • Nevada

The timing was just right to allow New Jersey online poker players a chance to win one of four WSOP gold bracelets offered for online events. In fact, a New Jersey player would go on to place one of those gold bracelets on his wrist.

Even with the sports betting news and the implementation of shared liquidity, the biggest news for Atlantic City came in June when two shuttered casinos on the Boardwalk came back to life.

Hard Rock Atlantic City and Ocean Resort Casino opened their doors on June 28, just a few weeks after the first sportsbook opened its betting windows. Both Hard Rock and Ocean Resort would launch online casinos shortly after.

Then after being the first online sportsbook to launch in NJ, DraftKings Casino began offering blackjack.

What was notable about this news wasn’t that DraftKings became the daily fantasy sports operator turned sportsbook turned casino. It’s the integrated online sportsbook and online casino app prioritizing the customer experience.

Once the Supreme Court decision was handed down, the rest of the year flew by in a blur. Revenue for the online casino market grew by 18.5% year over year to $284.1 million. The state collected its share, which equated to $42.6 million.

At the end of Year Five, there were:

  • 19 casinos
  • Seven poker rooms
  • Nine online sportsbooks

Year Six (Nov. 21, 2018-19): Another record-setting year

It didn’t seem possible to keep up the pace of the second half of 2018. But as 2018 came to a close and the beginning of Year Six began, a new normal in New Jersey online gambling was being established.

More online casinos would launch, more cross-selling between sportsbooks and casinos would occur, and more revenue records would be set.

To ring in 2019, DraftKings becomes the latest online casino to offer live dealer games through a partnership with Evolution Gaming. On the other end of the spectrum, six-month-old Ocean Resort is struggling financially and goes up for sale.

It is renamed Ocean Casino in early 2019.

An Eldorado and Caesars merger is heating up and Eldorado moves to sell a few properties to clear the way. Consolidation seems to be the latest industry buzzword.

This year ushered in four new gambling sites:

  • BetAmerica (Golden Nugget)
  • Unibet NJ Casino (Hard Rock Atlantic City)
  • Bet365 Casino (Hard Rock Atlantic City)
  • Parx Casino (Ocean Casino Resort)

Now that we’ve reached the end of NJ online gambling’s sixth year, there are:

  • 23 casinos
  • Seven poker rooms
  • 17 online sportsbooks

And it doesn’t quite feel like the market is done yet. There’s a reason New Jersey is a model state when it comes to online gambling.

It has not always been easy, but NJ and the DGE have efficiently navigated the ups and downs that rapid growth brings to any business.

It’s impressive to review the changes from one year to next. One can only imagine what 2020 will bring.

6 Changes Worth Noting In 6 Years Of New Jersey Online Gambling

As the New Jersey online gambling market celebrates six years, we take a look back at the six biggest changes to the market since those early days.

New Jersey online casinos opened for business with seven casinos and six online poker rooms in a coordinated launch on Nov. 21, 2013.

But it took a little work and almost three years to get there.

Protecting Atlantic City casinos, adhering to the Wire Act, and educating the public about what online gambling really meant, resulted in a veto and rewriting the legislation.

Eventually, a bill legalizing online gambling in New Jersey was approved in a bipartisan effort on Feb. 26, 2013.

Former-Gov. Chris Christie followed with his signature, making New Jersey the third state to legalize online gambling behind Delaware and Nevada.

New Jersey may have been third to legalize online gambling, but it is the state other states look to for guidance in crafting legislation.

As the New Jersey online gambling market celebrates six years, we take a look at the six biggest changes to the market since those early days.

1. Size matters when it comes to NJ online casinos

On Nov. 21, 2013, seven online casinos and six online poker rooms began a weeklong testing phase. Five days later, all 13 were approved for full-time operations.

Today, New Jersey is home to:

  • 23 online casinos
  • Seven online poker rooms
  • 17 online sportsbooks

The first year of operation saw a limited number of games and technical challenges that slowed down the industry’s initial growth.

Six years later, the Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) is a well-oiled machine. Online casinos, plus the technology involved, have advanced tremendously. While technical glitches still happen, they are usually short-lived.

During December 2013, the first full month of operation, the online gambling market earned $7,388,672.

Compare that to today. In October 2019, the latest NJ online casino revenue numbers available, online casinos generated $45,214,555 of income.

Since the launch of online casino gambling, the industry brought in $1.4 billion and the state benefited to the tune of $2.1 million.

In 2019, seven out of the 10 months produced record revenue, the most recent record-setting month coming in October. Even more impressive is the massive year-over-year growth of 69%.

Last year at this time, many people started asking the question, when will the online casino market stop growing?

Well, 2019 is not the answer. By the look of things, neither is 2020.

2. Live dealer games liven up online casinos

Live dealer games in New Jersey are probably the biggest innovation to online casinos over the years. Golden Nugget online casino first launched live dealer games in August 2016.

In those days, Golden Nugget offered one table each of:

  • Blackjack
  • Roulette
  • Baccarat

Betfair Casino, under the Golden Nugget license, was the next online casino to offer live dealer games in May 2017.

It was almost another year before Borgata added live dealer games to its casino portfolio.

Bringing the experience and excitement of the casino floor to online sites was a gamble that paid off big time for Golden Nugget.

That addition is often credited for catapulting Golden Nugget to market leader, a position it still holds today.

Today, players can enjoy more games at more NJ online casinos, including:

  • Baccarat
  • Blackjack
  • Casino hold ’em
  • Roulette
  • Three-card poker

Live dealer games are as popular today as they were three years ago when they first came into the market. A majority of websites in the state now have a live dealer library.

They are a must if an online casino wants to make it in the highly-competitive New Jersey market.

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3. NJ sports betting’s impact on online gambling

There is no doubt one of the biggest changes to online gambling in New Jersey was the introduction of NJ sports betting apps.

When online sports betting launched in August 2018, online casino gambling was hovering around the mid-$20 million range. Since January 2019, online casinos in NJ have not posted revenue of less than $30 million.

Yes, some of that is due to innovations like new games and new online casinos such as:

  • BetAmerica
  • Unibet NJ
  • Bet365 Casino
  • Parx Casino

However, a lot of that revenue can be attributed to online sports betting and bringing new customers into the casino.

Additionally, a shared wallet between the sportsbook, casino and poker sites has helped companies such as DraftKings make a bigger splash on the market.

It is now easier than ever for a bettor to take a slot out for a few spins while watching and betting on a game.

Speaking of DraftKings, the successful pivot from daily fantasy sports (DFS) to sports betting for DraftKings Sportsbook and its DFS-turned-sportsbook rival, FanDuel Sportsbook, is also worth noting.

Both companies had a strong brand presence and access to a large database of customers with a history of betting on fantasy outcomes.

It is certainly easier to convert a fantasy player to a sports bettor to a casino gambler than it is to acquire a brand-new customer without a history of gambling online.

There is no doubt that legal sports betting in NJ is one of the main reasons online casinos continue to set revenue records in the Garden State.

4. Cross marks the sweet spot

Cross-selling, cross-border traffic and casinos crossing into the Garden State has certainly dominated the headlines over the last year.

It seems everyone, and that includes players and gambling companies, wants an invite to the party in New Jersey.

As a way to expand their reach, we’ve seen SugarHouse Casino cross the Pennsylvania border into NJ to set up shop — even before online sports betting was available in the Garden State.

More recently, Parx found its way across the border. After six years of online gambling, and still the NJ market continues to grow at a double-digit pace, is too enticing not to want a piece.

Even Native American tribes are getting in the action. Specifically, the Pala Tribe from California and Mohegan Sun Tribe from Connecticut operate casinos in NJ and have since the early days of online gambling.

We touched on the importance of cross-selling between sportsbooks and casinos above, but now, FanDuel and DraftKings are cross-selling their product between:

  • New Jersey
  • Pennsylvania
  • Indiana
  • West Virginia (DraftKings only)

One app, one account and one wallet that geolocates you to the state your in and provides you gambling options in that state.

It’s true, Indiana has not legalized online casinos yet. West Virginia has legalized them but has not launched them.

Even so, setting up the infrastructure to cross-sell products across borders will be a key to the success of online betting apps in the future.

When sports betting first launched, New Jersey benefitted from the lack of legal sports betting in the region. Bettors from New York and Pennsylvania would head to the nearest truck stop on the border to place their bets.

While New York is still not online, Pennsylvania is. Will cross-border traffic decline? It is too early to tell, but it most likely will to some degree.

Even so, there are still enough bettors without access to sports betting apps in their states to keep cross-border traffic as a contributor to online gambling revenue.

5. Partnerships, mergers and consolidation, oh my

While partnerships and mergers existed before the launch of legal sports betting in the US, the deals accelerated as more European companies moved into the US market and the sports leagues looked to capitalize on a new revenue stream.

With 23 online casinos and 17 online sportsbooks, we already see the consolidation of the majority of income within a few brands.

In October 2019, the top two online casinos generated as much income as the entire NJ online casino market in October 2018. Sportsbooks show a similar story.

As income starts to consolidate, company consolidation will certainly follow. In fact, we already see it with Flutter’s recent acquisition of The Stars Group (TSG).

And in case you forgot, Flutter was the result of a merger between Paddy Power and Betfair, which acquired FanDuel in 2018.

The other news dominating headlines are the latest partnerships between gambling companies and:

  • Media outlets
  • Advertisers
  • Sports leagues

It’s not just big deals with big names, either. FanDuel signed a deal with the NHL, not for sports betting but for DFS. The Stars Group has a sponsorship deal with the UFC.

Deals are being signed at record speed. It is changing how companies evaluate markets and prepare for online gambling launches.

Take the recent Yahoo and BetMGM deal.

Yahoo, a media company, rolls out an NJ sports betting app powered by BetMGM. While technically, Yahoo is sending the customer to BetMGM; from a customer perspective, Yahoo has a sportsbook.

Two years ago, that would be crazy talk. Six years ago, there would be plenty of incredulous laughs. Today, we barely bat an eyelash.

Word of caution for those gambling companies taking a wait-and-see approach. If they wait too long, they will likely be left out in the cold.

6. Gambling as entertainment is more widely accepted

It wasn’t that long ago where someone might be ashamed to admit that they spent a day in a casino. Or worse, spent a few hours online playing the slots.

Today, more Americans accept gambling as a form of entertainment.

According to a survey commissioned by the American Gaming Association (AGA), nearly half of all Americans think of the casino industry favorably and two-thirds think casinos are a form of high-quality entertainment.

Additionally, 49% of those surveyed believe casinos are beneficial to their local communities. Specifically, they contribute to the local economy and create jobs.

It is those numbers that are driving more states to bring online gambling legislation to the table.

“The favorability of our industry has never been higher,” said Bill Miller, president and CEO of the AGA.

“As gaming expands across the US and more Americans engage with our industry’s offerings, they see firsthand gaming’s positive impact on local economies and its value as a community partner.”

NJ online gambling is just getting started

Looking at this list of six changes to online gambling over the past years shows the potential for the next six. As more states come online, we can expect to see more growth, more innovation and yes, more healthy competition, too.

The percentage of Americans that look favorably on the industry will grow, as will the number of Americans that visit a casino, whether online or in person.

So, here’s looking at you, New Jersey. May you continue to lead the charge. We can’t wait to see what the next few years bring.

Are FanDuel Sportsbook’s Same Game Parlays A Good Bet?

FanDuel Sportsbook in New Jersey recently introduced a new parlay betting option. Same Game Parlays allow bettors to bet on multiple outcomes in one game.

If you have been on FanDuel Sportsbook in New Jersey recently, you may have noticed a new parlay betting option — the Same Game Parlay.

The lure of any parlay bet is the potential for a big payout. That big payout comes at a cost, though. In this case, the cost is a parlay bet that is difficult to win.

It is not easy to pick several winning bets from different games to combine into a parlay and have them all win.

Same Game Parlays are different, though. A Same Game Parlay combines bets from, well, the same game.

The big question is whether the Same Game Parlays are a good bet. Like with most things related to sports betting in New Jersey, the answer isn’t a simple “yes” or “no.”

What is a Same Game Parlay?

Before you can decide if Same Game Parlays are something you want to try, you should understand what they are.

The Same Game Parlay links individual game outcomes into one bet. For instance, a bettor can create a parlay from one matchup that includes:

  • Point spread
  • Over/Under
  • Half-time result
  • Home team points
  • QB passing yards

Because the bets are correlated, the odds are adjusted to avoid too much of an edge for the bettor.

Correlated odds are simply when the outcome of one bet impacts the outcome of another.

The Same Game Parlay is designed for the bettor with the knowledge and focused interest on one team.

And, at the very least, the Same Game Parlay will liven up any game-day watch party.

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How to place a Same Game Parlay at FanDuel

FanDuel Sportsbook makes placing a Same Game Parlay bet easy.

  1. Find your matchup and click on the Same Game Parlay tab.
  2. Evaluate your options and select your bets.
  3. Track your bets on the “Live Bets” tab.
Same Game Parlay at FanDuel Sportsbook

Are Same Game Parlays a smart bet?

Same Game Parlays sound like fun, but are they a smart bet? Well, they can be.

Same Game Parlays may give the illusion of benefiting the bettor with a lot of background on a specific team. But like all bets, if it is offered on a New Jersey sportsbook app, such as FanDuel, it is because the book believes it has an edge.

This doesn’t mean an adept bettor can’t use their knowledge about a team and create a Same Game Parlay that produces a winning ticket.

Why bet on Same Game Parlays?

If you are hoping to pay your mortgage with your winnings, then a good rule of thumb is don’t bet on Same Game Parlays.

But if you are looking for some entertainment value from a specific game, then a Same Game Parlay may be just the ticket.

There is no denying watching a game is a lot more fun with some skin in it. If you look at a Same Game Parlay as an entertainment cost instead of income, you will win either way.

You can reduce some of the risks of a Same Game Parlay bet by looking for bonus bet and promotional opportunities. When an online sportsbook perceives it has an edge, they often encourage bettors to try their luck with promotions that can include:

  • A form of insurance
  • Bonus bets
  • Cash back

The bottom line is it comes down to doing your homework.

Studying the team that you are betting on and looking for promos will certainly help move that house advantage a little closer to your side of the ticket.

Just A Matter Of Time: NBA Ties The Knot With DraftKings In Sports Betting Deal

The NBA and DraftKings Sportsbook announced a multi-year partnership on Monday, naming DraftKings a sports betting partner with access to official data.

Another day plus another sports betting partnership leads to another dollar for the NBA.

The National Basketball Association and DraftKings Sportsbook announced a multi-year partnership on Monday. The deal names DraftKings as an “Authorized Sports Betting Operator” of the NBA.

As part of the deal, DraftKings will immediately have access to official NBA betting data on its mobile sports betting app and in its retail sportsbooks in states where it operates.

Scott Kaufman-Ross, senior vice president and head of Fantasy & Gaming of the NBA, commented on the partnership in a press release:

“We are excited to team with DraftKings, who has established itself as one of the leaders in the sports betting landscape in the US and has a passionate NBA following. Our partnership will provide our fans with an authentic and enhanced gaming experience and help us further protect the integrity of our games.”

DraftKings doubling down on NBA live betting

Protecting the integrity of the game seems to be a common theme with every gambling company and sports league partnership. That is no different here.

Bettors should be assured that the integrity of the game is already protected. And there isn’t any proof that having access to official data provides any further protections.

One thing official data does do, in theory, is provide more opportunity for live betting. Live betting, or in-game betting, is one of the most popular sports betting options at DraftKings and other online sportsbooks in New Jersey.

That is good news for a company where nearly half of NBA betting comes from live betting. And where almost one-third of all NBA bettors have placed in-game wagers at some point.

“NBA games are among the most captivating, dramatic and widely consumed sports entertainment products globally,” said Ezra Kucharz, the chief business officer at DraftKings. “And the advocacy of the league around legal sports betting further demonstrates its consistent foresight to innovate for the betterment of the fan experience.

“The correlation between sports betting and fan engagement is proven, and we look forward to the opportunities that being an authorized gaming operator of the NBA will unlock for consumers.”

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The NBA sure does get around

Immediately after the door opened for legal sports betting in New Jersey (and across the country), sports leagues set out to encourage legislation mandating integrity fees.

It wasn’t long before the leagues realized that approach or requiring official data agreements through state regulations was not in the cards.

The NBA saw the writing on the wall. It went to work early on developing agreements to secure its piece of the very lucrative pie.

The NBA has already embraced data as a way of transforming the league to maximize each team’s talent. It might as well get more bang for its buck.

Besides DraftKings, just a few of the current NBA deals in place include:

FanDuel is DraftKings’ most significant competitor in New Jersey. Having access to the same data seems paramount to keep DraftKings and its live betting options competitive.

The partnership between DraftKings and NBA makes good business sense for both companies. It keeps DraftKings competitive and makes the NBA more money.

It’s safe to say that we can move past the need to use “protecting the integrity of the game” as a reason for these partnerships. Being good for business is reason enough.

Where And How To Bet On The Super Bowl When You’re In New Jersey

For the first time, New Jersey sports betting will be able to take legal bets on the Super Bowl. Here’s a list of where you can bet on the Super Bowl in NJ.

For the first time, New Jersey will be able to accept legal bets on the Super Bowl. In case you are wondering, this is a big deal.

It’s a big deal for New Jersey sportsbooks, which are likely to welcome a record number of sports bettors to their windows.

It’s a big deal for sports bettors because they can legally wager on the most popular sporting event in the country.

Finally, it’s a big deal because the NFL is likely to witness higher fan engagement than it has in previous years. In fact, the increased engagement may even help the league embrace sports betting as the other major sports leagues have.

When is the 2019 Super Bowl?

Let’s start with the basics. The big day is Sunday, Feb. 3, and kickoff is slated for 6:30 p.m.

Super Bowl LIII (that’s 53, in case you’re wondering) will take place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Sports bettors can watch the game on CBS and live stream it on CBS All Access. Or better yet, head to your favorite NJ sportsbook to watch the game amid a sea of enthusiastic NFL fans.

Where to bet on sports in New Jersey

NJ sports betting is now home to nine mobile sports betting apps and nine retail sports betting locations. The plethora of sports betting options gives sports bettors plenty of choices with which to enjoy the big game.

Where to bet on the Super Bowl online

Online and mobile sports betting is quickly surpassing retail sportsbooks in terms of popularity.

Chances are some football fans that head to a sportsbook to watch the Super Bowl will place a wager (or three) using their mobile app. As long as you are inside NJ state lines, it’s a viable option.

Lines at the betting windows may be long, so you may want to hedge your bets and make sure you are ready to place your Super Bowl bets online.

Before you head out to a Super Bowl party or your favorite book, make sure you have one of the following mobile sports betting apps on your phone:

Online SportsbookBrowser?Android and iOS?Exclusive Welcome Offer
DraftKings SportsbookYesBoth$35 free bets
BetStars NJYesBothUp to $500 on deposit
FanDuel SportsbookYesBothUp to $500 risk-free bet
Caesars SportsbookYesBoth$10 free bet
888 Sport NJYesBoth$10 bonus
SugarHouse SportsbookYesBothUp To $250 on deposit
William Hill NJYesBothNA
playMGM Sports NJNoBothNA
PointsBetYesNoNA

To learn more about each of the sportsbooks, you can read the reviews below:

For the most part, each NJ online sportsbook app offers the same betting options such as moneyline, point spreads, and over-under. But not all of them offer in-game betting.

PlayMGM’s sports betting app doesn’t have in-game betting. DraftKings has a Sportsbook Pool option for the casual bettor, and PointsBet offers something unique called Points Betting.

Where to watch and bet on the Super Bowl

Partying on Super Bowl Sunday in a sportsbook is a sports bettors dream.

There are seven sportsbooks at Atlantic City casinos and another two located at racetracks that will most likely host festivities.

Several locations are even convenient to Philadelphia and New York residents.

It’s a sure bet that Super Bowl 2019 will be quite the party scene in Atlantic City.

Here is a rundown of where sports bettors can watch and place their bets on the Super Bowl.

Resorts Atlantic City

Resorts Atlantic City made headlines late 2018 when it expanded its relationship with DraftKings with its retail sportsbook. Sports bettors can enjoy:

  • 15-foot video wall
  • 12 betting kiosks
  • Five betting windows
  • A VIP seating area with food and bottle service
  • Live odds feed

Golden Nugget

The Sportsbook is located inside Golden Nugget near the Main Atrium. It can accommodate seating for more than 100 and includes:

  • Nine self-service kiosks and lounge areas
  • Five video walls
  • Self-service kiosks

Ocean Resort Casino

Ocean Resort Casino opened the William Hill Sports Book at Ocean Resort the day it opened the doors to its casino. The sportsbook sits in the heart of the casino floor and offers:

  • 7,500 square feet of space
  • A central bar surrounded by a video wall
  • Plenty of betting windows
  • Luxury seating

Borgata

Borgata was the first AC casino to accept sports bets.

The Race & Sports Book is located next to the north entrance near the poker room. For now, until the permanent sportsbook is built and ready for use later this summer, it is in the old racebook location and offers:

  • Seating for 100 seats with individual flat-screen monitors
  • A video wall
  • 10 betting windows
  • Kiosks available for horse racing bets
  • A non-smoking environment

Tropicana

Tropicana Casino is under the new management of El Dorado Gaming. Soon after the change, the property opened its William Hill-powered sportsbook.

Its permanent book is under construction, but bettors can watch the games and place their bets at kiosks inside the casino at:

  • Chickie’s & Pete’s
  • A Dam Good Sports Bar
  • Hooters
  • Rí Rá Irish Pub

Caesars, Harrah’s and Bally’s

Caesars Entertainment opened sportsbooks at its Harrah’s and Bally’s casinos. Its Caesars property, however, does not have a retail sportsbook. Both books have:

  • Video walls
  • Luxury seating
  • Betting windows and kiosks

Meadowlands

The FanDuel Sportsbook at the Meadowlands reside on the Meadowlands Sports Complex.

The complex is home to the New York Giants and Jets, of course, making it a popular destination on NFL game days. You can bet it will be beyond popular for Super Bowl Sunday, thanks to its proximity to New York.

Look for plenty of seating, plus:

  • 50+ HD televisions
  • Full bar
  • Free parking

Monmouth Park

Monmouth Park and William Hill teamed up to accept New Jersey’s first sports bet July 14.

It had been preparing for sports betting well before it became legal. Bettors can enjoy:

  • 16 main betting windows
  • Six additional windows in the race and sports bar area
  • Video and live feeds walls

Wait, what about Hard Rock AC?

Hard Rock Atlantic City announced it would open its retail sportsbook sometime in early 2019.

While there is no firm date, the popularity of Super Bowl Sunday as both an entertainment and NJ sports betting high point is sure to be a motivator.

Five Dates That Changed The New Year’s NJ Gambling Scene

2018 will go down as one of the most active for NJ gambling sites and AC casinos. The industry that heads into 2019 looks completely different from 2018.

Now that it is over, it is easy to say that 2018 will go down as one of the most active for New Jersey gambling sites.

Looking back, there are some specific days on the calendar that completely changed the gambling market and will end up leaving a lasting impression for years to come.

The NJ online gambling industry in January 2019 looks completely different than it did in January 2018. Furthermore, it will likely continue to evolve in 2019 as well.

For now, though, here is a look at the dates that shaped the NJ gambling industry as it starts the new year.

1. May 14, 2018

After a lengthy and costly legal battle, the state of New Jersey emerged victorious in its legal battle with the NCAA and the major sports leagues.

The US Supreme Court, in a 6-3 vote ruled that the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act is “not consistent with the Constitution.”

As such, May 14 might be the most important date of all of these.

The decision paved the way for each state to legalize sports betting, but New Jersey was one step ahead with a sports betting law already on the books.

The Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) immediately went to work outlining the regulations required for casinos to secure an NJ sports betting license.

While the DGE was hard at work, the level of speculation about revenue, partnerships, and launch plans took on a fevered pace, a pace that would last until the end of the year.

One sportsbook in particular, Monmouth Park, was chomping at the bit to accept the state’s very first sports wager. The sportsbook was even contemplating taking sports bets before regulations were in place. The DGE didn’t look too kindly on that plan, and Monmouth Park ended up sitting on the sidelines with a persistent itch to get in the game.

2. June 14, 2018

Interestingly enough, Monmouth Park was the only company voicing its sports betting plans. It was a little surprising that there wasn’t a rush to the starting line.

Even so, Monmouth Park had company when NJ sports betting was ready to enter prime time.

Monmouth Park accepted the first NJ sports bet exactly one month after the Supreme Court’s landmark decision. A few hours later, Borgata became the first Atlantic City casino to accept a sports bet.

Those two sportsbooks would hold court for two weeks until the launch of Ocean Resort Casino’s sportsbook which coincided with the hotel’s grand opening.

From there it seemed like a new sportsbook came online every few weeks until the end of August. At that time there were eight NJ sportsbooks in operation: two at racetracks and six at AC casinos. Then, Tropicana came online a little late to the party in October, making it nine.

We know there will be at least one more brick-and-mortar sportsbook in early 2019. Hard Rock Atlantic City plans to launch its sportsbook in Q1.

The growth in sports betting revenue has exceeded expectations. In July, the first full month of operation, brick-and-mortar casinos accepted $40,682,237 worth of sports bets, including futures bets.

That figure translated to $3,845,880 of revenue for the sportsbooks.

For November, AC casinos accepted sports bets totaling $92,132,952 for $6,797,295 in revenue. Doubling revenue in just a few short months puts NJ sports betting under the national spotlight as other states contemplate legalizing sports betting.

The best part? The NJ sports betting market is just getting started. We are certainly looking forward to a prosperous 2019.

3. June 28, 2018

Besides sports betting, the other big story shaping the NJ casino landscape was two casinos coming back to life.

After a severe economic downturn that resulted in the closing of five casinos, the timing was right for the re-introduction of two of them.

New investment in two of those casinos generated a sense of optimism about AC’s future that hadn’t been felt in years.

The Boardwalk was one big party over the last weekend in June, as both casinos opened their doors on the same day.

The former Trump Taj Mahal found new life as Hard Rock Atlantic City. And the former Revel Casino was reborn as Ocean Resort.

Speculation leading up to the grand opening was how the two new casinos on the Boardwalk would impact the old-timers. AC casinos were generating solid revenue figures with several months of record numbers.

The fear was Hard Rock and Ocean Resort would cannibalize the other casino’s revenue.

Initial revenue reporting from the first few months shows Hard Rock and Ocean Resort are impacting the profits of the other casinos while contributing to record revenue for the industry.

For example, the total casino win for November was $209.2 million, an increase of 12.6 percent compared to the same month last year.

Borgata, the casino revenue leader, earned $55,788,971 for the month. That is a 7.6 percent decrease compared to the same period last year.

It seems logical that 2019 will see the casino industry continue to adjust as necessary to the new casinos and the expansion of gaming in the region. The big question going into the New Year is whether or not every casino will make it through the transition.

4. Aug. 1, 2018

DraftKings Sportsbook was the first to launch its online sports betting platform that included a browser-based and mobile sports betting app.

It kept its plans close to the vest, making it a complete surprise when it went live. Not only that, but the online sportsbook did not have a retail sportsbook yet.

The rush to market paid off as it was the only mobile sports betting option for nearly a month. That time gave DraftKings a distinct advantage in the market, and it has since maintained its position as the overall revenue leader in the market.

It only took a couple of months for mobile sports betting apps to generate more revenue than retail sportsbooks.

In September, online sports betting brought in $12,567,785 in revenue compared to $11,393,253 for for physical sportsbooks. Two months later, in November, online sports betting more than doubled the revenue from casino sportsbooks — $14,446,570 compared to $6,797,295.

It is an exciting time to be following NJ sports betting and NJ online gambling. We look forward every month to the 12th (or somewhere close to that date). It’s when the new revenue numbers are released and the fun of analyzing what it all means begins.

Speaking of the 12th …

5. The 12th of every month

All the NJ gambling news this year is helping 2018 end on an optimistic note.

There is nothing better to confirm or challenge that optimism than the official revenue reports from the DGE. Live entertainment is great, two new hotels and sports betting fever speak to a growing industry, but only the bottom line can confirm it.

There were several months where the NJ online casino industry posted record revenue figures. Additionally, there were equally as many months where casinos posted double-digit growth over the same periods from last year.

And while we don’t have historical sports betting numbers for the nascent industry, an 87 percent increase from October to November is definitely something to write about.

The bottom line is we can celebrate the launch of a mobile sports betting app and speculate how a new retail sportsbook will impact the NJ sports betting scene. But it isn’t until the 12th that we can see the actual impact.

The numbers don’t lie. That is why every month on the 12th all hands are on deck to crunch the numbers, analyze the data, and find the trends.

It’s also why we are celebrating every 12th for 2018.

Looking ahead to 2019

We know there will be at least one more casino sportsbook launching early this year at Hard Rock AC. And Freehold Raceway is working out the details of its potential launch. Additionally, several online sportsbooks are likely to come online.

Beyond that, AC casinos will be fighting for their place on the revenue leaderboard as the two new casinos settle in. Online casinos, on the other hand, will likely set a few more records.

Furthermore, there will be 12 more 12th’s to help us tell the story of the NJ gambling market. There is surely an exciting story waiting to be told this year.