New Jersey Online Gambling Surges to Record $208 Million in September

New Jersey's online gambling market hit a major milestone in September, surpassing $200 million in monthly online winnings for the first time, reaching a record $208 million. This growth underscores the rising importance of online gaming within the state's gambling industry, particularly as traditional brick-and-mortar casino revenues face ongoing challenges.

The figures, released by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, reveal a significant shift in the state's gaming landscape. Online gambling is reshaping the industry, but it’s important to note that the revenue generated must be shared with external technology partners. Despite this, physical casino gambling remains a key focus for many operators.

While total in-person revenues for September rose by $6 million compared to the same month in 2019, five out of nine Atlantic City casinos reported lower in-person earnings than they did five years ago. This signals a broader trend where online platforms continue to capture more market share.

Overall, New Jersey's gaming revenue for the month hit $558 million, marking a 7.1% year-on-year increase, driven by both online gambling and sports betting. Notably, this is the third consecutive month where total gaming revenue has exceeded $500 million, a significant achievement considering this level was only surpassed once last year, in August.

James Plousis, chairman of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, commented:

“The ongoing success of internet gaming helped push Atlantic City’s total gaming revenue to its highest figure for the month of September in over a decade.”

Jane Bokunewicz, director of the Lloyd Levenson Institute at Stockton University, described the September results as “a mixed bag,” highlighting the disparity between the strong online growth and the weaker performance of physical casinos.

During the first three quarters of the year, online gaming accounted for 40.8% of Atlantic City operators' total revenue, underscoring its growing role in the region's gambling industry.

In terms of in-person winnings, September saw Borgata lead with $62.4 million (up 15%), while Hard Rock earned $44.6 million (down 4.7%), and Ocean reported $28.4 million (down 28%). Other notable figures included Caesars at $20.5 million (down 4.1%) and Harrah’s at $18.6 million (down 16.3%).

When internet and sports betting revenues are included, Borgata topped $120.2 million (up 12%), Golden Nugget saw a 25.8% rise to $72.8 million, and Hard Rock increased by 10.8% to $64.4 million.