Press Releases
PlayNJ.com: New Jersey sportsbooks nearly hit $1 billion in December; set U.S. annual handle record
New Jersey fell just short in December of becoming the first state to accept $1 billion in sports bets in a single month, but still extended a streak of record-setting months while reaching a record $6 billion in wagers for the year. This while online casinos and poker set a new high, again helping to stem the millions in revenues losses by struggling Atlantic City casinos, according to PlayNJ, which offers news and analysis of the state’s gaming industry.
“A unique set of circumstances, most notably a once-a-century pandemic, sent online sports betting to these previously unfathomable highs,” said Dustin Gouker, lead analyst for PlayNJ.com. “The pandemic has had a diametrically opposite effect on New Jersey’s online and retail markets for both sports betting and casino games. But the growth of online betting was crucial in making up for at least some of the losses in revenue at Atlantic City casinos and certainly continue to steady the entire gaming industry.”
In December, New Jersey’s sportsbooks collected a record $996.3 million in wagers, according to official data released Wednesday. That surpassed the record $931 million bet in November, and marked the fifth straight month the state has set an all-jurisdiction record. Since August, sportsbooks have amassed $4.1 billion in bets.
December’s bets generated a record $66.4 million in revenue. Year-over-year, handle was up 78.6% from the $557.8 million bet in December 2019 and revenue was up 125.6% from $29.4 million in December 2019. December’s bets produced $8.3 million in state taxes.
For all of 2020, New Jersey’s retail and online sportsbooks produced:
- $6.02 billion in bets — a record for any legal jurisdiction despite major U.S. sports being shut down for four months —and up 31.3% from $4.6 billion in 2019.
- $5.5 billion in online wagering, up 44.2% from $3.8 billion in 2019.
- $398.5 million in operator revenue, up 33.1% from $299.3 million in 2019.
- $50.1 million in state taxes and $15 million in local taxes.
“Even when post-pandemic life returns to normal, online sports betting won’t likely give up its gains from this year,” said Eric Ramsey, analyst for PlayNJ.com. “The silver lining for the industry was that this year was an opportunity for online operators to focus heavily on their products and build their customer base, using a combination of technology improvements and aggressive promotions. That has matured the market far more quickly than was projected.”
Online betting generated 93.3%, or $929.3 million, of the state’s total handle in December, down from 93.6% in November. FanDuel Sportsbook/PointsBet topped online operators with $29 million in gross revenue, up from $21.2 million in November.
FanDuel was followed in revenue by:
- Resorts Digital/DraftKings/Fox Bet ($15.4 million, up from $14.6 million in November)
- BetMGM/Borgata ($6.3 million, up from $1.3 million)
- Monmouth/William Hill/Sugarhouse/TheScore ($3.3 million, up from $1.9 million)
- Ocean Casino/William Hill ($3.2 million, down from $3.6 million)
- Hard Rock/Bet365/Unibet ($562,188, up from $363,099)
- Caesars Sportsbook/888sport ($489,141, up from $247,615)
- Golden Nugget/BetAmerica ($343,849, up from $199,667)
- Tropicana/William Hill ($108,427, up from $105,028)
Retail sportsbooks generated $67 million in bets, down from $75.9 million in December 2019. Meadowlands/FanDuel topped retail books in December with $4.2 million in revenue. For the year, retail books generated $38.6 million in revenue, down from $54.9 million in 2019.
“The race for market share seems to be frozen in place,” Gouker said. “An expected launch of Penn National’s Barstool-branded sportsbook in 2021 could shake things up, but as of yet no operator has really eaten into the market share of FanDuel or DraftKings.”
Online casinos and poker just miss $100 million
New Jersey’s online casinos and poker rooms generated a record $99.5 million in revenue, up 101.6% from $49.3 million in December 2019 and shattering the previous record of $93.5 million. The month produced $14.9 million in state taxes.
December closed the books on a remarkable year in which online casinos tallied $970.3 million in revenue — a 101% gain over the $482.7 million in 2019 — and produced $145.7 million in state taxes. With revenue at retail casinos down $1.2 billion for the year compared with 2019, the dramatic rise in online gaming revenue was critical in offsetting some of the losses.
“It’s scary to think of where New Jersey’s gaming industry would be without online casino gaming,” Ramsey said. “Every dollar of revenue gained and tax dollar generated from online gaming proved desperately needed.”
Some other highlights from December’s report:
- Online casinos and poker generated $3.2 million a day over 31 days in December, up from $3.1 million a day over 30 days in November.
- Golden Nugget led online casinos with $29.4 million in December revenue, up from $26 million in November. But Borgata continued to eat into a market lead that once seemed insurmountable, hitting $27.2 million in December. Resorts Digital was third with $21 million.
- Revenue from online casinos was $96.4 million, up from $89.4 million in October. Online poker produced $3 million, up from $2.4 million in October.
For more information and analysis on regulated sports betting and online gaming in New Jersey, visit PlayNJ.com/news.
About the PlayUSA.com Network:
The PlayUSA.com Network is a leading source for news, analysis, and research related to the market for regulated online gaming in the United States. With a presence in over a dozen states, PlayUSA.com and its state-focused branches produce original daily reporting, publish in-depth research, and offer player advocacy tools related to the advancement of safe, licensed, and legal online gaming options for consumers. Based in Las Vegas, the PlayUSA Network is independently owned and operated, with no affiliations to any casino — commercial, tribal, online, or otherwise.
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Zitro recently held its first-ever Zitro Experience Paraguay, an exclusive event that brought together top operators, clients, and industry leaders at the prestigious Hotel Casino Acaray.
Held during SAGSE, the event quickly became a must-attend gathering to showcase the company’s latest innovations and strengthen strategic partnerships in the region.
Attendees got an up-close look at Zitro’s new CONCEPT cabinet line and games, which are already transforming the gaming experience across Latin America with their striking design and high performance. The presentation featured a spectacular production that highlighted Zitro’s commitment to innovation and product excellence.
The atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming, designed to foster business relationships while offering a full experience with curated cuisine and unique entertainment, making the evening truly memorable. Clients, operators, and industry professionals alike agreed on the importance of this event for driving growth in the Paraguayan market and reinforcing Zitro’s position as a key strategic partner.
Alejandra Burato, Regional Director for Latin America, shared: “It was a privilege to connect with so many operators and friends at this event. I especially want to recognize Viviana Colman, our Country Manager in Paraguay, whose dedication and deep market knowledge have been instrumental in strengthening our presence and partnerships here. Paraguay is a strategic market for us, and this event reaffirms our commitment to delivering a broad and diverse offering that adds real value to operators.”
Sebastián Salat, Zitro’s International President, added: “We’re incredibly proud to bring Zitro Experience to Paraguay for the first time. As the first slot machine manufacturer to organize an event like this in the country, we want to demonstrate our commitment to this market and continue innovating with high-performance products that drive our clients’ success. As I always say, Zitro isn’t just entering Paraguay — we’re already here, with a dedicated and talented local team and office. This Zitro Experience marks the beginning of a new era where we’re more determined than ever to support the dynamic and growing gaming industry in this fantastic country.”
Leading Mexican online casino and sportsbook, and glamorous sports broadcaster, join forces to promote the brand to more players than ever before
Winpot, Mexico’s player-favourite online casino and sports betting brand, has signed popular sports broadcaster Miroslava Montemayor to its growing team of brand ambassadors.
Miroslava is a former beauty pageant winner who has become one of the leading sports broadcasters and TV personalities in Mexico.
Her TV career began back in 2014, appearing on TV Azteca Noreste’s sports show where she covered the 2015 Pro Bowl and the Super Bowl XLIX from Glendale, Arizona.
She then left Azteca to join ESPN, where she presented the Spanish-language version of NFL Live, as well as ESPN Mexico’s afternoon sports talk show, Los Capitanes.
In 2017, she became anchor for the Spanish version of SportsCenter and hosted a show called Otra Ronda, which aired on ESPN2 in Mexico.
Today, she hosts the Champions League and Premier League coverage for TNT Sports Mexico.
As a Winpot brand ambassador, she will promote the hugely popular online casino and sportsbook to her fans through a range of campaigns and media activations.
This includes the brand’s latest TV campaign, set to air in August, which is focused on Winpot offering the best odds, guaranteed.
Winpot, which is powered by the cutting-edge Wiztech platform, has become the go-to destination for online casino players and sports bettors in Mexico.
It offers generous bonuses, localised payment options and a vast game lobby covering slots, table games, instant wins, live dealer and more, as well as the best odds across a huge range of sports.
Yoni Sidi, CEO at Winpot, said: “Miroslava is one of the most loved sports broadcasters in Mexico, combining her deep knowledge of the game with her captivating presenting style.
“This has seen her build a large and loyal fanbase across Mexico, and through this partnership, we can introduce these people to Winpot for the first time.
“We are really excited about our upcoming TV ad campaign, with Miroslava taking centre stage.”
Miroslava Montemayor, sports broadcaster and Winpot brand ambassador, added: “Winpot is one of the most trusted betting brands in Mexico, and I’m delighted to have been announced as a brand ambassador.
“I’ve had great fun filming the TV ad campaign and look forward to seeing it hit TV screens in August.
“This partnership is the perfect fit – I have a large and loyal fanbase of sports enthusiasts, and Winpot provides the superior sports betting experience they deserve.”
BMM Testlabs (“BMM” or “the Company”) announced that Travis Foley, Chief Government and Regulatory Officer, has been appointed Chair of the Emerging Technology Committee (ETC) for the International Gaming Standards Association (IGSA).
The ETC is a specialized committee within IGSA focused on identifying and evaluating transformative technologies likely to be deployed within the gaming industry. As Chair, Foley will lead collaborative efforts to support suppliers, regulators, and operators with clear frameworks, regulatory guidance, and standardization strategies that ensure the safe and efficient implementation of new technologies.
IGSA President Mark Pace said, “We are thrilled to have Travis lead the Emerging Technology Committee at such a critical time in the gaming industry. His deep understanding of regulatory frameworks and new and evolving gaming products and solutions will be invaluable as we work to guide the industry through the safe and practical adoption of groundbreaking technologies.”
Foley said, “The gaming industry is evolving rapidly, with technologies like AI, blockchain, cloud-based systems, and advanced remote gaming platforms reshaping how we think about compliance and innovation. I’m honored and excited to chair the Emerging Technology Committee and to work alongside IGSA’s members and global stakeholders to help see new technologies implemented safely, securely, and with integrity.”
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