Category: New Jersey Casino And Online Gambling News

When it comes to NJ live online casino content, Evolution is a well-known and respected global company.

PlayStar Casino, on the other hand, does not have the brand recognition. At least here in the United States, especially in New Jersey.

However, PlayStar, rumored to be nearing its NJ online casino launch date, is making moves to offer Garden State players the best possible product.

This includes announcing a live casino partnership with Evolution.

According to the press release, the initial deal is for the provision of Evolution’s online Live Casino and ‘First Person’ RNG-based casino games in New Jersey.

And the live dealer games will be streamed in real time from Evolution’s established Live Casino production studio in Atlantic City. NJ online casino players will find classic games like:

• Roulette
• Blackjack
• Baccarat
• Numerous Poker variants

However, even with this news, PlayStar has yet to officially announce when the NJ soft play period will begin. The company still needs regulatory approval from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.

Evolution partnership marks ‘great milestone’ in PlayStar Casino journey

From a PlayStar Casino perspective, partnering with Evolution is a pretty big deal.

Adam Noble, Co-Founder and Chief Business Development Officer of PlayStar Casino, calls the deal “a great milestone in the PlayStar Casino journey.”

And by teaming up with Evolution, PlayStar is one step closer to “launching our online casino experience like no other.”

“We’re pleased we’ll be offering the full suite of Evolution content, including NetEnt and Red Tiger titles, and of course Evolution’s market leading live catalogue. This formidable offering of content is a must have to drive our aspirations in the New Jersey market, followed by Pennsylvania with more markets to come,” said Noble.

Of course, PlayStar is not the first NJ online casino app to partner with Evolution. Add in the fact that additional brands are planning to enter the Garden State market, it seems highly unlikely this company will be the last.

Jeff Millar, Evolution’s Commercial Director for North America, views the PlayStar deal as another big step in his company’s overall US plans.

“This is another step forward in Evolution’s journey to providing our award-winning games portfolio to more and more players within the US market. Our portfolio offers something for everyone, and we hope that PlayStar’s customers will love the quality and variety on offer,” said Millar.

All roads leading to NJ online casino launch day

So those who are following the PlayStar Casino news are aware the company is busy making deals.

The first is of course signing a market access deal with Ocean Casino Resort.

Just last week, the details of a partnership with Pariplay were announced.

The highlight of this deal is how PlayStar will power its platform using the  Pariplay Fusion aggregation platform. For those unfamiliar with the product, It features thousands of titles from the industry’s leading game developers as well as a suite of back-office conversion and retention tools that enhance player value.

Additionally, PlayStar will gain access to Wizard Games, which is Pariplay’s in-house development studio. NJ players could see titles like:

• Dragons of the North
• Rumble Rhino Megaways
• Wildwood Buffalo

However, PlayStar has yet to share details regarding what slots and table games will be available once launch day finally arrives.

Why is PlayStar coming to NJ first?

The reality is New Jersey is the most mature of the legalized US online casino markets, debuting in late 2013.

Today there are 30 different NJ online casinos available to Garden State players.

And the demand is still there. All it takes is one look at the most recent revenue results.

NJ online casinos earned nearly $137 million last month. It marks the third time this year monthly figures have exceeded $130 million.

As a side note, state regulators are also known for setting high standards. Basically, once a company gets approved by New Jersey, it makes entering the Pennsylvania and Michigan markets that much easier.

We do know PlayStar has 2022 PA launch plans.

However, no matter which state we are talking about, the partnerships with Evolution and Pariplay confirm PlayStar is very serious about offering NJ players a very strong product.

Sportsbooks and online casinos post impressive year-over-year growth even as industry faces economic headwinds

(ATLANTIC CITY, N.J.) — Wagering at New Jersey’s online and retail sportsbooks slowed in April to $927 million, marking the first month of an expected seasonal ebb in sports betting. But year-over-year gains in sports betting remained high while online casinos continued their momentum in April, a sign that the digital industry continues to fare well despite economic headwinds that are beginning to affect brick-and-mortar casinos, according to PlayNJ, which tracks gaming developments in the state.

“So far the national economic headwinds do not appear to be taking a significant bite out of the gaming industry,” said David Danzis, an analyst for PlayNJ.com.  “But it is entirely possible that as everyday costs increase, people will begin to curtail their betting. Time will tell, but it is a concern for the industry.”

New Jersey’s online and retail sportsbooks generated $926.9 million in bets in April, which is still up 23.9% from $746.8 million in April 2021, according to official reporting released Monday. April’s handle was down 17.3% from $1.1 billion in March, and was the lowest since $664.7 million in bets were made in August 2021.

While year-over-year growth remained significant, April marked the first month this year with a year-over-year gain of less than 31%.

April’s bets produced $50.3 million in operator revenue, which was down 8.2% from $54.7 million in April 2021, and down 24.2% from $66.4 million in March. March’s win yielded $7.1 million in state and local taxes.

Basketball betting — which included the Final Four and the NBA Playoffs in April — buoyed sportsbooks by generating $323.4 million in straight wagers. That was up 83.6% from $176.2 million in April 2021. Basketball has now generated $2 billion in wagers over four months of 2022. Baseball attracted $177.9 million in straight wagers, up from $154.9 million in April 2021.

“The popularity of the NBA has always buffered the state from a more dramatic spring slowdown,” Danzis said. “Having the Sixers and Nets in the early rounds of the NBA Playoffs this year certainly doesn’t hurt either. The market will continue to cool in the coming months as NBA games become less frequent and baseball and other sports such as golf take center stage.”

Online sportsbooks attracted $863.1 million in wagers, or 93.1% of April’s handle, and won $46.3 million in revenue on those bets.

FanDuel/PointsBet/SuperBook topped the online market with $29.2 million in gross revenue, down from $33.7 million in March. DraftKings/Fox Bet was second with $7.4 million in revenue.

Meanwhile, retail sportsbooks won $4.0 million on $63.8 million in bets. Meadowlands/FanDuel topped the market with $4.1 in revenue.

“While volume is expected to remain relatively low over the summer months, sportsbooks have been successful over the years in generating significant revenue with baseball parlays and major golf tournaments,” said Eric Ramsey, an analyst for the PlayUSA.com Network, which includes PlayNJ.com. “Those bets have less favorable odds for bettors than straight wagers, and help ensure operators remain profitable.”

Online casinos and poker

New Jersey’s online casinos and poker rooms generated $136.9 million in revenue in April, the third-most over a single month behind only March’s record $140.7 million and January’s $137.8 million. Averaged out per day, though, revenue was up to $4.6 million over the 30 days in April, topping the previous record of $4.5 million per day in March.

April’s win was up 27% from $107.7 million in April 2021, and generated $20.5 million in state taxes and fees.

“We keep looking for the ceiling in the online market, but New Jersey still hasn’t hit it,” Ramsey said. “With inflation eating away at discretionary income, though, it wouldn’t be surprising to finally see a leveling off in the coming months after nearly 10 years of constant growth. But online gaming could also benefit if customers choose to stay home rather than travel to an Atlantic City casino.”

Other highlights from April report:

• Borgata led the state with $39.9 million in casino and poker revenue. Golden Nugget was second with $38.1 million and Resorts Atlantic City was No. 3 with $29.1 million.
• Online casino games produced $134.6 million in revenue, up 27.8% from $105.3 million in April 2021.
• Online poker generated $2.3 million in revenue, down 6.3% from $2.4 million in March 2021.

For more information and analysis on regulated sports betting and online gaming, visit PlayNJ.com/news. Contact: Zack Hall, Catena Media, [email protected]

Monmouth Park’s debut of fixed odds wagering last weekend  revealed the promise of this revolutionary betting system. And here in the United States,  the Oceanport horse racing facility is where the national debut took place.

Other states need to approve legislation.

With Fixed Odds wagering,  bettors lock in their price at the time of the bet (just like betting the the Philadelphia Phillies run line). With the pari-mutuel system, which is common with horse racing, the odds fluctuate up until post time.

Gamblers can utilize the fixed-odds  system for Monmouth Park races, in which betting odds will be available at least a couple days before the weekend’s live racing card.

Racing resumes at Monmouth Park today with a 12:15 p.m. first post, riding the tailwind of a successful fixed odds debut.

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BetMakers executive talks about NJ bettors getting ‘the right price’

BetMakers, based out of Australia, is the company administering and delivering fixed odds at Monmouth Park.

PlayNJ caught up with Dallas Baker, head of the business division for BetMakers, to see how smoothly the fixed odds wagering debut went.

“The first success  is that we are up and running and up and running smoothly and that Monmouth Park is taking bets on fixed odds horse races,”  Baker said. “We absolutely saw the advantages for bettors on site. The great thing for the customers, which adds to the excitement of the races, is the challenge of not only picking the right horse, but picking the right horse and getting the right price.”

As far as expanding the fixed odds menu goes, Baker told PlayNJ that BetMakers would like to introduce some simulcast races at Monmouth Park next week. It depends on how quickly the system is settling into place.

Pari-mutual odds payouts versus fixed odds payouts

Last weekend at Monmouth Park, bettors willing to shop found value in the second race, where Kingdom Queen paid $18.20 to win in pari-mutuel odds. A comparable $2 Fixed Odds wager returned a closing price of $32.00. In the fifth race, Hushion paid $17.20 in pari-mutuel wagering with a $2 fixed odds bet closing at a $28.00.

Fixed odds value was available on heavy favorites as well. Last Romance returned $3.80 to win on a $2 bet with pari-mutuel odds but closed at $6.40 on a comparable $2 fixed odds bet.

This is quite significant to big-money players, who like to hone in on one selection and slam it. Consider the price impact on a $100 wager. That’s a $2.60 difference in the payout.

On the pari-mutuel scale, the $3.80 return made a $100 wager cash out at $190, a $90 profit.

At $6.40, that same wager returns $320, a profit of $220, and a difference of $130 profit on the $100 wager.

That’s a whopping difference, an absolute game-changer and something sharp NJ horse-racing bettors are not going to miss.

Granted, the earlier wager must account for uncertain weather conditions and the disadvantage of not seeing a horse in the post-parade a few minutes before the race. The post-parade reveals  a body  language in the horses that impact wagering decisions by “looks” players.

Where Fixed Odds creates a huge advantage beforehand, however, is in the area of scratches.

A horse is 2-1 on Thursday. On Friday, trainers of his top competition  decide not to run the horse. That 2-1 shot becomes 7-5.

Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike withdrawn from Preakness

There are a couple perspectives regarding Rich Strike, who threw the horse-racing establishment on its ear as an 80-1 underdog Kentucky Derby winner.

Late on Thursday, his handlers took him out of the May 21 Preakness Stakes, saying he needed more rest.

That means horse racing will not have a 2022 Triple Crown winner.

While that will upset Preakness officials, it won’t lessen the impact of the Rich Strike miracle.

His Kentucky Derby victory has elevated  the stature of horse racing beyond its traditional base, creating nationwide excitement.

It’s a Cinderella story on  steroids.

Rich Strike was only  entered into the race after Ethereal Road was scratched one day before the Derby.

He had run behind Derby longshots Tiz the Bomb and Tawny Port in a minor stakes race.

Rich Strike lost to Epicenter by the racing equivalent of a country mile in the Gun Runner Stakes last year. Rich Strike  was a distant fifth, not  even in the same conversation as the leaders in that race but…

He came from clouds to secure  the largest Kentucky Derby upset since Donerail prevailed at shocking 91-1 betting odds in 1913.

This is Buster Douglas over Mike Tyson and the 1980 Miracle on Ice rolled into one.

The pace was  wicked fast, setting the stage for a closer to fit the trifecta or superfecta picture.

Bettors  simply thought it would be some one else running late, like Mo Donegal (who finished 5th) or Barber Road, who ran well at the end of previous prep races.

What makes the victory more impressive is that favored Epicenter and Zandon were wisely guided back to avoid  the speed duel. They made their moves at the proper time. They did everything right.

But Rich Strike  ran a final quarter-mile for the ages.

He will skip the Preakness but is tentatively set for the Belmont Stakes on June 11.

However, the July 23 Haskell at Monmouth Park would be a logical follow.

Imagine the interest at Monmouth if he does.

Fan-friendly tradition finally returns to Monmouth Park

Dennis Drazin, the CEO of Monmouth Park operator Darby Development, tells PlayNJ that fans often inform  track officials about how much they missed the social interaction during the pandemic.

Well, come Memorial Day weekend, they will be happy.

Monmouth Park’s biggest event – the Jersey Shore Food Truck Festival – is back on its normal date and back to its normal size.

Fans will be able to  enjoy nearly 40 of the Jersey Shore’s top food trucks.  Sample everything from lobster rolls to mac & cheese to fried Oreos.

The event takes place  11 a.m.-5 p.m. May 28-30 and will feature  stellar food,  great music, live horse racing and more. Parking is free. General admission is just $6.

Go to seatgeek.com/Monmouth and use the promo code FoodTrucks2022 to purchase general admission for all three days of the Food Truck Festival in advance and save 15%. Children 12 and under are free.

There will be live  music noon-4 p.m. all three days on two stages.

There will be clowns, face painters, pony rides and a bounce house from noon-4 p.m. in the picnic area on Saturday and Sunday.

Cheers to the Big M

The Meadowlands Racetrack, located in East Rutherford, is also celebrating social re-integration.

The harness-racing jewel affectionately dubbed “The Big M” has  tickets  on sale for its annual beer festival on May 21.

A $65 VIP ticket includes admission, special food access, tasing glass, exclusive VIP tastings and an hour of additional sampling.

All ticket holders have access to samplings, pairings and educational samplings.

Live racing unfolds tonight.

The card starts at 6:20 p.m. on both nights, features big fields and has13 races, with the finale going off at 11:20 p.m.

That schedule is in place nearly  every Friday and Saturday.

There are three things Philadelphia Eagles fans already know  about the 2022 season.

One, their full schedule will be tonight (Thursday, May 12). That’s when they’ll discover the location of their Week 1 road game.

Two, they do know they are hosting the Minnesota Vikings in a Week 2, Monday Night Football contest on Sept. 19.

Three, they are already a 2.5-point favorite for that game at DraftKings Sportsbook.

Sure, the game is more than four months away. But as the  NFL releases snippets of its schedule, designed to maximize  media coverage, New Jersey sports bettors see a September betting line that inspires immediate  interest.

Some gamblers will jump right on it, taking the favorite-friendly betting bait and making additional wagers closer to kickoff.

This line, and others like it, were not just thrown up there. Oddsmakers constructed them with thought.

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DraftKings Sportsbook director weighs clear-cut early factors

Johnny Avello, the director of race and sportsbook operations for DraftKings, told PlayNJ “There are several things we can  do to come up with a betting line this early.”

“We know the entire makeup of each team. We know who they drafted. We have our power rankings and we probably adjust them a little bit.”

Avello sees clear-cut early factors that make the game essentially even, other than the estimated  impact of 2-3 points for the Eagles playing at home.

“They have improved a little since the end of the season,” he said. “I don’t know if the Vikings are better. They are an OK team; they lose a lot of close games.

“With Aaron Rodgers losing a key receiver (Devante Adams, who went to the Las Vegas Raiders) , maybe that puts the Vikings a little closer to Green Bay.

“As for the Eagles, you know I have not been a big fan of Jalen Hurts. I am not sure he is actually the guy who can lead this team. I haven’t seen anything yet that says he is a guy that brings this team a long way, but we’ll see.”

More backdrop to Eagles vs. Vikings on Monday Night Football

It’s  never too early to anticipate some of the early drama in this Week 2 Monday Night showdown.

This is  the coulda-woulda-shoulda scenario involving Vikings star receiver Justin Jefferson. He was taken one pick AFTER the Eagles selected Jalen Reagor two years ago.

Jefferson has overwhelmingly outplayed Reagor in two seasons and has already made the Pro Bowl. He is one of the most prolific receivers in the league.

This is his first trip to Lincoln Financial Field, where he could have been a regular the past two years.

Reagor, meanwhile, has been a dud and may not even be a starter when this game unfolds.

The quarterback matchup between the scrambling Hurts  and the pocket-passing Kirk Cousins will provide an interesting contrast. Dalvin Cook of the Vikings and Miles Sanders of the Eagles provide exceptional backfield talent.

Kevin O’Connell will make his debut in Minnesota as head coach after a disappointing 8-9 season that cost Mike Zimmer his job. He will face a revamped Eagles defense that includes top draft pick Jordan Davis, third selection Nakobe Dean and others.

It’s also the Philadelphia home debut for A.J. Brown, the game-breaking wide receiver the Eagles traded for  to complement DeVonta Smith. Brown may have the biggest spotlight and pressure of any player on the field.

Prime time for 2022 Philadelphia Eagles

With the Eagles as their anchor, the  NFL unveils a tweak on its MNF doubleheaders this season.

Bettors are familiar with the classic opening week lineup, in which  one game starts several hours earlier and may be complete before the second one begins.

This time they overlap.

The Tennessee Titans-Buffalo Bills contest starts at 7:15 p.m., just more than an hour before the Eagles-Vikings game. The opener will likely be around halftime when the Eagles contest starts.

The Titans-Bills will be broadcast on ESPN. The Eagles and Vikings will start at 8:30 p.m. on ABC.

Once both games are rolling, viewers will flip  channels between commercials and NJ sports bettors will  catch both games on separate devices to make in-game wagers.

“You add another game to a Monday Night schedule and it’s always good,” Avello asserted. “People who were all focused on one game now have two.

“The bettors on the West Coast can easily watch both games from start to finish. You guys on the East Coast might be up quite late with the second game

“… If the bettors like the matchups, they are going to take their fair share of pops on that game.”

Books love the island games on Thursday night, the Thanksgiving schedule, late-season games on Saturdays and full weekends in the post-season.

Anything with the word “more” resonates with the books. Two games on a Monday night will represent a betting bonanza for them.

Expect to see more Eagles odds up at DraftKings Sportsbook

Very soon, Eagles bettors will have more to analyze.

It will be interesting to see how close this opening line comes to the one that’s finalized just before the Vikings-Eagles kickoff.

Betting lines on this, and other games, could change by as much as a touchdown before they actually kick off, Avello said. DraftKings nonetheless plans to post every team’s entire schedule, with betting odds, shortly after the league announces the full schedule.

“The sharps are going to look at this board closely to see if there are any mistakes,” Avello said. “You can’t predict injuries or, with some of the later-season games, the losing streaks.

“Bettors on the individual games and with futures props like season win totals will pay close attention to the schedule.

“It’s one thing if you play the Kansas City Chiefs, take on some lesser opponents and then face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But if you face the Chiefs and the Bucs back-to-back, that might change your confidence level in that team.”

The schedule release will make Eagles bettors consider whether their over-under win projection of 9 at the books is an “over” invitation.

They may believe that the  Eagles are ready to at least add one victory to last season’s 9-8 finish.

We know, it’s only May

NFL bettors can hit mid-season form at any minute.

Gamblers can see a path, the opening of training camp, preseason games and the September launch of the season. It’s been three months since the Super Bowl. In another couple of weeks, we’ll be closer to the 2022 season than the end of 2021.

The schedule release will buoy their spirits further.

PlayStar Casino is making its way to the USA, more specifically the NJ online casino market.

And the launch will mark the North American debut for PlayStar Gaming.

While we don’t have a launch date yet. we do know the PlayStar NJ Casino app will be powered by Aspire Global’s Pariplay Ltd.

Pariplay announced the news via a Tuesday press release.

Additionally, Wizard Games, which is Pariplay’s in-house development studio, will provide content to PlayStar NJ online casino customers. The deal includes popular titles like:

• Dragons of the North
• Rumble Rhino Megaways
• Wildwood Buffalo

When PlayStar Casino does make its NJ debut, it will do so via the Ocean Casino Resort Internet gaming license.  Ocean online casino, betParx  and Tipico Casino are live now.

What Pariplay deal means for PlayStar NJ launch

Pariplay is licensed by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.

According to the press release, the company has targeted North America as a major growth area for the business, signing a plethora of key commercial deals in the continent over the last year.

PlayStar is one of them as they will be using the Pariplay Fusion aggregation platform. It features thousands of titles from the industry’s leading game developers as well as a suite of back-office conversion and retention tools that enhance player value.

And all of this is key for an industry newcomer such as PlayStar Casino.

Adam Noble, Chief Business Development Officer at PlayStar, talked about how the Pariplay portfolio will provide “engaging and varied content.”

“Pariplay’s Fusion platform gives us immediate access to a huge portfolio of engaging and varied content, ensuring that we are providing a breadth of choice for players that will be key for both acquisition and retention,” Noble said.

And from a Pariplay perspective, PlayStar is the latest “innovative and exciting partner” to achieve the company’s North American business goals.

“The company’s’ exciting approach to operations gives us the perfect chance to enjoy a successful partnership with a brand that has huge aspirations to carve a real niche within the biggest emerging market in the world,” Andrew Maclean, VP of Sales at Pariplay, said.

Finding players in a crowded, mature NJ online casino market

Few will argue that attracting NJ online casino players will be one of PlayStar’s biggest challenges ahead.

We are talking about the most mature US Internet gambling market. Debuting in 2013, there are now more than two dozen NJ casino and poker apps available.

So why would a player who is loyal to say BetMGM or Golden Nugget online casino switch?

The players like the slots library or live dealer offerings and already have funds available.

With a new casino like PlayStar, players will need to download the app, register and make that initial deposit.

And at the time of this writing, there was no preview available as to what games PlayStar Casino may include when the app does launch.

Looking at the PlayStar Gaming website, it doesn’t provide much detail yet regarding what to expect. However, there is a brief blurb, regarding the PlayStar experience:

“PlayStar Casino will differentiate through personalization, engagement and exemplary customer service that makes players feel like they are the star of the show. Our proposition is backed by extensive market research and analysis of consumer behavioral patterns to ensure maximum engagement and entertainment.”

NJ online casino players will soon find out what this means for them.

For now, with the Pariplay deal in place, PlayStar Casino is one giant step closer to making NJ players “the star of the show.”

BetMGM sent out a press release announcing a new tournament for this summer. The BetMGM $1 Million guaranteed Poker Championship will take place at the Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on June 23-26.

“Excited to announce this event at Aria LV this summer and the start of a new era of qualifying players online to major BetMGM live events across the US,” said New Jersey Poker Pro and BetMGM Ambassador Darren Elias.

The $3,500 buy-in may seem a little hefty, but Garden State players will have the opportunity to win a seat by playing online. Players in New Jersey will be able to play in satellite online events and win a prize package to the major event.

“The first-ever BetMGM Poker Championship descends on Las Vegas during one of the most exciting times of the poker season,” said Luke Staudenmaier, Director of Poker, BetMGM. “ARIA is a legendary poker brand and we’re thrilled that the Championship has become an integral part of this year’s Poker Classic. Through our relationship with MGM Resorts and its world-class U.S. properties, we’ll continue to leverage event programming and connect with players both online and in their favorite poker rooms.”

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How New Jersey players qualify for BetMGM Poker Championship

Players physically located in the New Jersey boundaries can access the series qualifiers through three different poker skins:

BetMGM
Borgata Poker
Partypoker

New Jersey grinders can now check any of the online poker sites listed above and attempt to win the $6,000 package.

According to a BetMGM press release, “Through a rolling schedule of daily qualifiers and weekly satellites, BetMGM Poker will award prize packages to at least 15 players from each U.S. live poker market. The packages include a buy-in for the BetMGM Poker Championship, travel expenses, and a five-night stay at ARIA. “

There will be multiple steps that players can jump into to win a seat. The site will offer satellites into the event for as little as $5.

Mystery bounties included

For winners that make it to Vegas, BetMGM will keep players busy. Aria casino will host private sportsbook parties and also host a $600 Mystery Bounty tournament on June 25 in Las Vegas.

Mystery Bounties are a new trend in the poker world. When players eliminate another player they receive an envelope with an unknown prize. Mystery bounties allow individuals to win big, but they don’t know what prize they won until the package is opened.

Two of the biggest names in the New Jersey online gambling space – Golden Nugget Online Gaming and DraftKings – are now one.

DraftKings sent out a press release Thursday morning announcing the long-anticipated completion of the acquisition.

For those trying to figure out how big this deal is, Tilman Fertitta, chairman and CEO of Golden Nugget Online Gaming, summed it up by saying:

“This will be an alliance unlike any other in the digital sports, entertainment and online gaming industry.”

Golden Nugget Atlantic City is not part of the deal. While the idea of the Marina District property rebranding to DraftKings Hotel & Casino sounds like a cool concept, it’s not happening anytime soon.

The reason being is the GNOG acquisition does not include brick and mortar Golden Nugget casinos, which will continue to be owned by Fertitta Entertainment.

So the bigger question becomes what does this deal mean for NJ online casino and sports betting customers?

Could we see another DraftKings retail sportsbook open in Atlantic City?

Here is a look at what the GNOG and DraftKings deal means for both brands

The current DraftKings, GNOG New Jersey portfolio

Looking at this deal from an NJ sports betting perspective, there is DraftKings Sportsbook and Golden Nugget Sportsbook.

However, when you think of sports betting brands, does Golden Nugget even make your top-10 list?

We’re guessing probably not.

DraftKings, on the other hand, is one of the bigger brands out there.

On the NJ online casino side, Golden Nugget online casino is one of the top-performing apps available. In slots alone, the library currently includes nearly 1,000 titles.

Both platforms give players the option of jumping back and forth between sports and casino.

There also is a separate DraftKings Casino app available to NJ gamblers and currently has just under 400 slots. Maybe this will increase now that the deal is complete?

Since New Jersey doesn’t break the monthly revenue results down by brand, it’s hard to paint an exact picture how each product has performed on a month-by-month basis.

Every report is broken down by Atlantic City casino license.

Golden Nugget falls under the GNOG license and DraftKings operates under Resorts Digital. And in both cases, the totals are the combined results of at least five different online skins.

So why did these two companies become one?

Jason Robins, chairman and CEO of DraftKings, said “Acquiring Golden Nugget Online Gaming gives us synergies across our business.”

“We anticipate that this acquisition will provide meaningful revenue uplift by utilizing our data-driven marketing capabilities and a dual brand iGaming strategy, gross margin improvement opportunities, and cost savings across external marketing and SG&A,” said Robins.

And looking at this deal from a NJ perspective, where both brands are well-established, the two companies really do make a strong combination.

From a NJ online casino perspective, the Garden State is where Golden Nugget launched the live dealer concept. By launching, and introducing the product to North America, other states like Pennsylvania and Michigan have followed the example.

Several years later, live dealer studios are now operating 24/7, just like Atlantic City casino floors.

And others, like DraftKings, have taken that model and created a similar concept. Some take it a step further with themed or branded tables.

Hard to ignore the Golden Nugget online casino slot library

It seems highly unlikely anybody at DraftKings is complaining about the current slots menu available to Golden Nugget online casino players. To put the 986 games into perspective, the Golden Nugget AC casino floor has nearly 1,500 slot machines.

But with the mobile app, all the titles are only a click, not a drive away. And some of the games are exclusive to Golden Nugget players. Golden Nugget Stepper, Golden Nugget Video Slot and Golden Nugget Megaways are just a few of the titles.

Like on an Atlantic City casino floor, players can win six- and seven-figure jackpots using mobile casino apps.

It seems NJ online casino players are having luck playing the Golden Nugget Video Slot. Reviewing the list of New Jersey jackpots posted on the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement website, the title appears several times. Here are just a few mentions:

• Feb. 21, $192,160.00
• Feb. 26, $227,280.00
• March 22, $143,720.00

However, all three of these jackpots don’t come close to matching the biggest Golden Nugget AC jackpot of 2022. In mid-January, somebody hit for over $2.8 million playing the Monopoly Money Grab penny slot.

As far as the online product goes, it will be interesting to see if the DraftKings Casino app suddenly expands its slots library. However, it seems the Golden Nugget Video Slot will remain exclusive to those players.

Could we see a DraftKings Sportsbook open at Golden Nugget?

Gamblers visiting Atlantic City to place bets at a retail sportsbook have nine different options.

And each of these spaces are different sizes and offer a variety of amenities. The Sportsbook at the Golden Nugget, for instance, is one of the smaller spaces at 2,500 square feet.

And guests can watch their favorite sporting events on the five video walls featuring 50-plus TVs.

However, if we are looking at things from a NJ sports betting revenue perspective, Golden Nugget isn’t what one would consider a NJ sports betting destination.

Through the first three months of 2022, Golden Nugget has lost $19,787 from wagers placed at its retail location. This includes Super Bowl and March Madness betting. And for March, the property won $328. Yes, as in hundred.

The reality is the majority of Garden State bettors are placing bets via mobile apps. So why not take advantage of this DK-GNOG deal and bring the DraftKings brand to the Marina District?

Fertitta owns the Golden Nugget and is now a major DraftKings shareholder. If done correctly, a DraftKings-branded retail sportsbook would be an added attraction, especially during NFL betting season.

Yes, Resorts Atlantic City already has a DraftKings Sportsbook, but it doesn’t mean another casino can’t do the same.

Bally’s Atlantic City and the Meadowlands Racetrack each have a FanDuel Sportsbook.

And Monmouth Park is home to a Caesars Sportsbook along with the three AC properties owned by Caesars Entertainment (Caesars, Tropicana and Harrah’s).

However, in the case of Golden Nugget, we are just speculating about an idea that could make sense and benefit the property. Nobody is publicly talking about it. At least not yet.

For now, we will sit back and wait to see if the DraftKings-GNOG deal changes anything on the NJ gambling scene.

Tropicana online casino and UK-based Gamesys Limited are parting ways. Players were notified via email Tuesday informing them that Tropicana will no longer be working with Gamesys, its current platform provider.

The upside is the current Tropicana NJ casino app will continue taking bets. The changeover to the Light & Wonder (formerly Scientific Games) platform is expected to take place Wednesday, May 25.

The email sent out to current Tropicana online casino customers includes a basic summary of how the process will play out:

“On Wednesday, May 25, 2022 your account will be upgraded to our new platform and you’ll be able to access your account by downloading the Caesars Casino app or by visiting CaesarsCasino.com.”

Moving week for Tropicana and Virgin online casinos

Tropicana online casino isn’t the only NJ online casino app dealing with a big change this week.

The Virgin NJ online casino app, also powered by Gamesys, is not switching platforms. Instead, the operator now has a land-based partnership with Bally’s Atlantic City  (transferring from Tropicana Atlantic City).

The change is happening because Gamesys is now owned by Bally’s Corp. (parent company of Bally’s AC). Since the Tropicana is owned by competitor Caesars Entertainment, new deals needed to be made.

Tropicana online casino brand has been active since 2013, so it’s not like we are talking about a new product here.

More importantly, the Tropicana name has strong brand recognition (we are not talking about the orange juice). In November, the Tropicana Atlantic City celebrated its 40th anniversary.

What Tropicana online casino players need to know

There are several key dates and important information Tropicana online casino players need to know. This includes how the new platform will host a copy of historical customer records and account history.

Trop players do not have to worry about balance transfers or account history.

When it comes to accessing online gambling accounts, players will be able to do so after May 25 by visiting caesarscasino.com. This step will also help with resetting passwords and playing popular Tropicana slots and table games.

As of now, the newest Caesars Casino app is expected to be ready for download after May 25.

Don’t confuse this product with Caesars Sportsbook  & Casino, which is the rebranded William Hill app.

According to the email, personal data will remain under the protection of Caesars Interactive Entertainment New Jersey, LLC (the online gambling division of Caesars Entertainment).

Here are other key dates Tropicana online casino patrons should be aware of:

• April 4: Jackpots removed to prepare for platform change.
• April 30: Last day to access the daily and monthly free games.
• May 2: Promotions will pause, allowing time for customers to log in and claim rewarded funds.
• May 24: The old Tropicana Casino app will be inaccessible. Account balances will be transferred to the Caesars Casino app.

And for players who self-exclude on Tropicana Casino online prior to May 25, the obligation will continue to be upheld via state-wide provisions.

Impact to Tropicana online gaming revenue

When it comes to NJ online casino revenue, Tropicana is in the middle of the pack. We’re talking $18.7 million through the first two months of 2022.  In reality, it’s a solid number considering only two operators fall under the license.

Caesars Interactive, which currently consists of six different apps, has reported $20.1 million through February.

But this financial picture is about to change.

The Caesars Casino app, which is being rebranded to Tropicana, falls under the Caesars Interactive license. So it makes sense for Tropicana AC to join Caesars AC and Harrah’s AC under the same corporate umbrella.

Each land-based casino is permitted to have up to five online casino skins.  So the new Tropicana app would be added to this growing list:

• 888 Casino 
• 888 Poker 
• Harrah’s online casino
• WSOP.com 
• WynnBet 

And several other operators have market access deals with Caesars Entertainment. These brands could come into the fold sometime this year:

• PlayUp Casino
• PlayOJO Casino 
• MaximBet Casino 

Specific launch dates are still TBD.

As far as the Tropicana online casino platform change goes, it’s business.