Press Releases
New Jersey Sportsbooks Bring Good News With $165 Million in June Bets

Futures betting and nontraditional sports helped New Jersey’s sportsbooks avoid an early summer lull in June, while online casinos and poker continued to lead the state’s gaming industry. June’s $165 million handle was good news, even if it still meant sportsbooks took in $300 million less in bets than an ordinary June, according to PlayNJ estimates. And with baseball and the NBA season set to open in late July, retail casinos reopening, and significant investments in online casinos and poker, better days are nearing for the Garden State’s gaming industry.
“June is typically slow for sports betting so any growth is a surprise, and it appears July will return the gaming industry to something more resembling normal,” said Dustin Gouker, lead analyst for PlayNJ.com. “New Jersey will still have longer-term issues. It will take time to recover, and the gaming industry will likely be affected for as long as the world is suffering from this health crisis. But for now, optimism in the industry is growing.”
New Jersey’s handle rose 40.1% to $165 million — all from online betting — from $117.8 million in May, according to official reporting released Tuesday. June 2020 was down 39.6% from $273.2 million in June 2019.
Gross revenue in June rose to $12.6 million from May’s $9.9 million and was actually more than the $9.7 million in revenue generated in June 2019. June’s revenue yielded $1.7 million in state taxes.
Sports categorized by New Jersey as “other” than football, basketball, and baseball generated a shocking $125.8 million in bets in June, up from $95.4 million in May. And bets on the three major U.S. sports ticked up, mainly on the power of futures betting on baseball and the NBA ahead of an expected July return of both.
“The robust betting on nontraditional sports since the sports world has shuttered has been a surprise, but it will never completely make up for the loss of major sports,” said Eric Ramsey, an analyst for PlayNJ.com. “Futures will continue to gain steam, fueled by pent-up demand, as the opening of baseball, basketball, and hockey nears. If plans continue to move forward, July and August should produce a significant leap.”
With Atlantic City casinos closed in June, online sportsbooks were again the only revenue generator for the state. FanDuel Sportsbook/PointsBet led the market with $6.2 million in gross revenue, up from $4.3 million in May. FanDuel was followed in revenue by:
- Resorts Digital/DraftKings/Fox Bet ($3.9 million, up from $3.8 million in May)
- BetMGM/Borgata ($881,435, up from $701,283)
- Ocean Casino/William Hill ($691,135, up from $439,967)
- Monmouth/William Hill/Sugarhouse/TheScore ($593,548, up from $466,142)
- Hard Rock/Bet365/Unibet ($450,589, up from $230,004)
- Caesars Sportsbook/888sport ($43,561, down from $107,171)
- Tropicana/William Hill ($5,245, down from $23,476)
- Golden Nugget/BetAmerica ($66,533, up from $54,433)
“As strong as online sports betting continues to be, the reopening of Atlantic City is crucial to healing the industry, even with restrictions,” Gouker said. “It will help generate new revenue, of course. And in doing so, operators are hopeful that it will help the industry steady itself.”
Online casinos and poker level off
The rapid growth of online casinos and poker cooled in June, combining to generate $84.9 million in revenue, down 1.2% from the record $85.9 million in May but up 123.1% from $38.1 million in May 2019. Together, online casinos and poker generated $2.8 million a day in the 30 days of June — on par with May — and yielded $12.8 million in state taxes.
Online casino games alone have grown revenue from $50.2 million in February to $81.4 million in June. Online poker has jumped from $1.8 million in February to $3.5 million in June.
Even with retail casinos reopening, many remain bullish on the future of online gambling. Golden Nugget Online Gaming, which dominated the market again in June with $29.15 million in revenue, announced plans to go public. And last week, MGM Resorts/GVC Holdings released its plan to invest $250 million more in its online platform.
“The Golden Nugget Online Gaming going public, in addition to the recent success of DraftKings stock, shows just how much interest investors have in the future of online gambling,” Gouker said. “Online gambling has proven its importance to the industry through this crisis. Even if the growth slows with the return of retail casinos, it will continue to be an enormously important vertical for the industry.”
Latest News
Atlaslive Introduces Practical Roadmap for iGaming Operators in Brazil

Atlaslive, a reliable provider of technology solutions for the iGaming sector, has introduced its latest guide titled “How to Start an iGaming Business in Brazil: The Successful Roadmap.” Created for operators looking to enter or grow within Brazil’s fast-expanding online gambling scene, the guide delivers vital insights for navigating the country’s evolving regulatory environment.
With Brazil now at the forefront of the iGaming landscape in Latin America — thanks to the legalization of sports betting through Law No. 13.756/2018 and subsequent developments — the country is poised for remarkable growth. The Atlaslive guide underscores significant opportunities, emphasizing critical market insights, legal frameworks, licensing requirements, and strategies for successful operations. Key highlights of the guide include:
- Market Overview: A breakdown of Brazil’s vast potential, including forecasts of gross gaming revenue reaching $7.18 billion by the close of 2025.
- Legal Landscape: An overview of the changing regulatory environment and the licensing system governed by Brazil’s Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA).
- Compliance & Taxation: Clear explanations of licensing conditions, compliance protocols, and taxation duties relevant to operators.
- Payment Solutions: A look at preferred local payment options, particularly the widespread use of PIX for instant transactions.
- Marketing Strategies: Approaches to acquiring and retaining players while staying within the bounds of advertising laws.
“As Brazil’s iGaming market matures, operators must be equipped with the right knowledge and tools to navigate its complexities,” said Anastasiia Poltavets, CMO at Atlaslive. “Our guide offers a roadmap that empowers businesses to seize opportunities and ensure compliance in this dynamic landscape.”
With 218.8 million residents and an internet penetration rate surpassing 86%, Brazil represents a lucrative audience for iGaming operators. Atlaslive’s guide serves as a fundamental resource for anyone seeking to thrive in this evolving sector. Gain a strategic edge in Brazil’s iGaming market — download “How to Start an iGaming Business in Brazil: The Successful Roadmap” today.
Latest News
Aviatrix launches with Rei do Pitaco in Brazil

Aviatrix, the award-winning crash game, has gone live with leading brand Rei do Pitaco in Brazil.
The partnership significantly expands Aviatrix’s reach in one of the world’s most exciting new regulated markets.
Rei do Pitaco is known for its loyal audiences and innovative approach, making it an ideal match for Aviatrix’s unique gameplay.
Anastasia Rimskaya, Chief Account Officer at Aviatrix, said: “We are absolutely delighted to see Rei do Pitaco players in Brazil enjoying Aviatrix. This is a world-class brand with a huge following. A special mention to our dedicated LatAm team, which is on-the-ground ensuring integrations with the best operators across the region.”
João Cordani, Head of Product at Rei do Pitaco, said: “Aviatrix is a game that has a unique style and energy that really stands out, and we’re confident it will quickly become a hit with our players. We’ll be working closely with their team going forward.”
In April, Aviatrix announced it had received full Federal Certification to offer its games to licensed operators in Brazil, as well as acquiring a dedicated certification for the state of Paraná.
Latest News
Luka Pataky Joins Bragg Gaming Group as EVP of AI and Innovation to Spearhead Growth and Usage of New Technologies Across Business

Bragg Gaming Group, a global leader in next-generation iGaming content and content delivery, engagement and player management technology, today proudly announces the appointment of Luka Pataky as Executive Vice President (EVP) of AI and Innovation.
In his new role, Pataky will work closely with Bragg’s technology teams to develop a 360॰ AI strategy, integrating AI into product development and design, user experience, external communications, safer gambling initiatives and internal processes to drive growth and efficiency.
This strategic leadership addition comes as part of Bragg’s commitment to the leveraging of data, advanced analytics and powerful AI to enhance user experience, player engagement, maximize revenue potential, and drive smarter, more efficient iGaming operations.
Luka Pataky boasts a strong pedigree in AI and technology, with over a decade of experience at Sportradar, a company at the forefront of sports data and content. His tenure at Sportradar culminated in his role as Senior Vice President for Automated Content, where he spearheaded an initiative from its inception to a production-ready, scalable system that ended up powering over 300,000 sports events per year with a team of over 70.
In this leadership position, he was instrumental in revolutionizing sports content creation through AI, Computer Vision, and Deep Learning, successfully bringing real-time data collection solutions to production, being the driving force behind integrating acquired tech businesses, thereby turning advanced technology into significant business value through the optimization of operating costs and business efficiencies.
Prior to his SVP role, Pataky played a key role in establishing Sportradar’s innovation unit, a hub for pioneering new ideas, implementing processes that enabled faster experimentation and fostering a culture of rapid prototyping and testing.
As part of this, he also led the team responsible for scaling Sportradar’s startup program and forging strategic innovation partnerships with universities and innovation labs. In his multiple innovation-based roles, he demonstrated a consistent focus on leveraging AI and data analysis to identify and develop new product opportunities and strategic initiatives.
His extensive experience across these leadership roles highlights his proven ability to lead large, cross-functional teams, manage complex technological advancements, and strategically integrate new ventures, underscoring his expertise in driving growth and innovation within the technology sector.
Known globally for its award-winning iGaming content and technology solutions, Bragg has consistently championed the integration of artificial intelligence technology across its business model, as typified by the introduction of an AI-powered Games Recommendation System into its Fuze ™ marketing and promotional toolset.
The Company has also utilised AI extensively across its responsible gambling work, using these new technologies and extensive data collection to more effectively identify at-risk gamblers.
“Luka Pataky is the ideal hire for Bragg, as we look to supercharge our AI and innovation ambitions,” said Matevž Mazij, Chief Executive Officer at Bragg. “His extensive experience of being at the forefront of this gamechanging technology and innovation will help springboard Bragg into the next iteration of our growth. With the increased adoption of AI across the iGaming industry, Bragg has once again shown its commitment to staying ahead of the competition.”
“Bragg has always struck me as a company where technology and innovation are key drivers,” said Luka Pataky. “This is a company which is always pushing the boundaries, using its extensive knowledge and the skills of its teams to create and set new trends. It sits on vast amounts of user data and insight, which we can turn into intelligence that will power next generation player engagement. Introducing AI at all levels of product and operations will make it perfectly positioned for future growth.”
“I am looking forward to playing a role in accelerating Bragg’s journey to becoming an AI-first company. I have no doubt we’ll be able to compliment and elevate Bragg’s already amazing next generation player experiences for its operator partners and drive value for the business.”
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