ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — The online gambling market in New Jersey reached a historic milestone in September, as casinos in Atlantic City and their digital partners generated over $208 million in winnings.
Recent data released by the state Division of Gaming Enforcement reveals that this marks the first time in New Jersey’s history that monthly internet gambling winnings surpassed the $200 million mark. This achievement underscores the growing significance of online betting in the region, particularly as physical casino revenues have not fully recovered since the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted operations.
It is important to note that the profits from online gambling are shared with various technology providers and affiliates, meaning that the entirety of these winnings is not retained solely by the casinos. Consequently, in-person gambling remains the core focus for many establishments, which have experienced uneven success on their floors. Many venues are still seeing lower earnings compared to figures from 2019, prior to the pandemic’s impact.
While the total in-person revenue for all casinos in September was $6 million higher than in September 2019, five out of the nine casinos reported declines in revenues compared to those figures from five years ago.
The uptick in online gambling, along with a less robust increase from sports betting, contributed to a total casino revenue of $558 million for the month. This represents a growth of 7.1% compared to the same month last year.
James Plousis, chair of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, commented on the outcomes, stating, “The ongoing success of internet gaming has helped push Atlantic City’s overall gaming revenue to its highest point for the month of September in over a decade. For three consecutive months, total gaming revenue has exceeded $500 million, whereas last year it only reached that threshold in August.”
Jane Bokunewicz, who is the director of the Lloyd Levenson Institute at Stockton University, pointed out that the September figures presented a mixed picture, as online revenues surged while physical gaming revenues lagged behind. “Internet gaming continues to represent a significant portion of Atlantic City operators’ revenue mix, amounting to 40.8% of the total income for the industry in the first three quarters of the year,” she remarked.
Examining the individual performances of casinos, Borgata led with $62.4 million in winnings for September, reflecting a 15% increase; however, Hard Rock saw a 4.7% decline at $44.6 million. Ocean reported a significant drop of 28%, earning $28.4 million, while Caesars and Harrah’s also faced decreases of 4.1% and 16.3%, respectively. Other casinos, such as Tropicana at $17.9 million and Resorts at $14.3 million, also experienced declines.
In terms of combined revenues from online and sports betting, Borgata’s total climbed to $120.2 million (up 12%); Resorts followed closely with $106.5 million (down 3.4%); while Golden Nugget hosted an impressive increase to $72.8 million, up 25.8%. Hard Rock, Ocean, and Bally’s also registered varying results in their overall performances.
From the nearly $1.1 billion wagered across casinos and horse tracks that take sports bets, a total of $119.5 million in revenue was retained by these establishments and their partners.