New Jersey Sports Betting, Gambling Markets Set Records During November

Grant Mitchell
By:
Grant Mitchell
12/19/2023
Industry
Mobile Betting

Highlights

  • Atlantic City casinos were up nearly 20% year-to-year
  • FanDuel generated $57.7 million in revenue
  • The launch of ESPN Bet helped drive the sports betting market

Legal sports betting in New Jersey hit a new height in November as local sportsbooks accepted more than $1.6 billion in wagers.

According to the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, last month was the most successful in the state’s history since it legalized sports betting in 2018. That activity resulted in New Jersey sportsbooks claiming $95.9 million in revenue, an improvement on the $92.3 million claimed in October.

The casino market also yielded impressive returns, as Atlantic City casinos combined to take home more than $171.5 million from table games and slot machines, a 17.4% year-to-year increase.

Setting new standards 

$1.57 billion of the $1.62 billion November handle came from only online platforms. That represents a 21.7% increase on the $1.29 billion that was risked online in October, which once again points to continued growth in the Garden State.

New Jersey was already one of the most productive and powerful sports betting states, alongside New York, Nevada, Illinois, and a few others. Its continued growth points to it being in for the long haul in an industry that is still only just over five years into its life span, but one that has already swept the nation.

New Jersey bettors have already wagered $10.7 billion since the start of 2023. That has worked to the benefit of the popular gambling destination Atlantic City, which relies heavily on tourism and gaming to sustain its economy. 

“Rather than diminishing the brick-and-mortar gaming revenues, internet gaming and sports betting seem to be well-received consumer products that are filling a niche for certain gamblers,” said Jane Bokunewicz, director of the Lloyd Levenson Institute at Stockton University. "There will never be a replacement for the in-person gaming experience, and the current relatively flat revenues from brick-and-mortar gaming may be simply evidence of a stable market.”

Combined sports betting, in-person, and online gambling revenues reached $482.4 million in November, a 9.4% Y2Y improvement. Borgata led the way with $97 million, though that was an 8.6% Y2Y decrease. 

Golden Nugget, Hard Rock, and Ocean Casino won $61 million, $52.4 million, and $36.7 million respectively while all beat their Nov. 2022 totals. Several other casinos filled out the remainder of the revenue share, and only two lost on their previous year’s totals.

New Jersey sports betting thrives 

One of the biggest stories in New Jersey’s gambling market during November was the arrival of PENN Entertainment and Disney’s joint venture ESPN Bet. The brand-new betting platform went live on Nov. 14 and was quickly blended into the Worldwide Leader in Sports’ coverage and content. 

ESPN Bet was part of a group of three sportsbooks that made just under $5 million. FanDuel led the way with $57.7 million in revenue while DraftKings earned $19.2m, and BetMGM made $8.2 million.

The coming month will be ESPN Bet’s first full one in not only New Jersey but all states that it is active in. It set the goal to acquire a 10% share of the national market before it launched its services last month.

There are several marquee dates approaching for sports fans and bettors alike.

College football betting is about to hit its climax with the arrival of Bowl Game season, cemented by the College Football Playoff, which begins in the semifinal round on New Year’s Day.

The NBA recently hosted its highly successful and first-ever In-Season Tournament, which has built lots of anticipation and excitement for the upcoming playoffs in April. 

The most popular television event of the year, the Super Bowl, is also just a couple of months away. The nearby Philadelphia Eagles are tied for third in FanDuel’s odds to win the championship at +700, level with the Kansas City Chiefs and behind the San Francisco 49ers (+240) and Baltimore Ravens (+550). 

Grant is a sports and sports betting journalist who prides himself in his up-to-the-minute reporting on the latest events in the industry. A member of Virginia Tech’s 2021 graduating class, he has quickly put together an impressive portfolio since moving to the professional world full-time. Grant’s favorite sports to cover are basketball and both types of football (American and soccer), and he is pushing written, audio, and video content. He has been employed by companies as highly regarded as Forbes and continues on a great trajectory in the industry. When he’s not on the clock, you can find Grant at the gym, looking for adventures, or hanging out with his family.