NJ Online Sportsbooks & iPhone Betting Apps Land-based sportsbooks like FanDuel at the Meadowlands and Borgata Sportsbook helped to launch the legalized sports betting industry in NJ. In order to grow and rapidly expand regulated sports wagering, online and mobile betting apps are needed for mass wagering volume.
Incredibly, nearly three months have passed since New Jersey legalized sports betting.
Now with eight brick-and-mortar sportsbooks, NJ is also the only state outside of Nevada to boast mobile wagering. Seven online skins are live in the Garden State, giving residents from Jersey — as well as from neighboring states — a variety of options with which to place bets. Of course, you have to be in New Jersey to access those apps.
Here’s a rundown of all the options available currently in the Garden State, with the most recent updates included:
Per the bill signed by Gov. Phil Murphy in June, online sports betting platforms could not launch until 30 days after the governor’s signature. No operator tested the timeline.
In fact, it wasn’t until August that the first mobile app rolled out.
Daily fantasy sports giant DraftKings introduced its DraftKings Sportsbook app at the beginning of the month and was fully launched by Aug. 6.
DraftKings utilizes the Resorts sports betting license and tech provided by Kambi Group.
At DraftKings Sportsbook, the options are limitless on what to bet including in-game betting. Since it’s a mobile sports betting app, it’s available 24/7.
For the better part of the month, DraftKings Sportsbook ran a mobile monopoly in New Jersey. Until the floodgates opened.
The wait for the playMGM sports betting app was a long time coming. On July 31, MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren said an app would launch by week’s end. That obviously did not come to fruition.
Finally, though, the app went liveAug. 22. Powered by IGT, the playMGM app banks on seasoned operators. The app has been operational in Nevada since 2016, using GVC to provide the platform.
“Fortunately we have a running start here because we operate the largest sports betting operation in Las Vegas with our 10 resorts,” Murren said in July. “We hub out of the Mirage property, but as you know, we own properties up and down the Las Vegas Boulevard. And our playMGM app has been active for quite some time and is already quite popular.
“So I think that the experienced gaming customer, and even the novice, is really going to gravitate toward integrity, trust, branding, information. And I think this provides us a tremendous advantage over my competitors.”
Though not the first mobile sports betting app, SugarHouse online casino did become the first in one area.
With its SugarHouse Online Sportsbook & Casino, the Philadelphia-based and Rush Street Interactive-operated company was the first to integrate an online sportsbook with an existing online casino.
“Being the first US-based gaming operator to launch a regulated online sportsbook outside of the US has been helpful in establishing the SugarHouse Online Sportsbook & Casino,” Rush Street president Richard Schwartz said in a press release, referring to Rush Street’s regulated online operations in Colombia. “We’ve matured our sportsbook product and validated that players value our proprietary sportsbook loyalty program, including earning points on every single bet.”
Like DraftKings Sportsbook, the SugarHouse sportsbook benefits from its partnership with Kambi Group and opened Aug. 23 by using the Golden Nugget sports betting license. And also like DraftKings, it has all the bells and whistles including the popular in-game betting.
Download the SugarHouse Sportsbook app.
The chief daily fantasy sports competitor of DraftKings, FanDuelsoft-launched — and has since fully activated — its mobile app Sept. 1.
Clad in the company’s trademark blue and white color scheme, FanDuel used company members and resources from owner Paddy Power Betfair to complete the mobile sportsbook.
Also with a website that went live the same day, FanDuel Sportsbook features a carousel of potential bets for patrons, a carousel that becomes more customized after users begin placing wagers.
Similar to DraftKings Sportsbook, FanDuel’s product allows users to share funds between DFS and sports betting and offers in-play and prop bets.
Additionally, the FanDuel Sportsbook mobile platform provides customers the opportunity to follow individual events via game casts rather than bettors needing to physically watch gameplay.
Quietly launched the same day as FanDuel Sportsbook, a mobile product from William Hill US entered the New Jersey market.
The William Hill online sportsbook, available only for desktop and Android for the time being, is adorned in the company’s traditional blue, gold, and white color scheme and features sports ranging from football, basketball, and baseball to auto racing and boxing.
Partnered with both Monmouth Park and Ocean Resort Casino, William Hill US — the American arm of the major British bookmaker — designed its product to allow users to wager on props and futures as well as with in-play wagering. It’s also now available on both Android and iOS.
For the better part of the summer, Caesars Entertainment has worked toward a mobile product that integrated its online casino with sports betting. That finally came to fruitionSept. 6.
That day, as a complement to the company’s retail books at Bally’s and Harrah’s, Caesars online rolled out its Caesars Casino & Sports app, which is available for desktop, iOS, and Android.
Betting selections include the traditional football, basketball, baseball, and hockey as well as golf, tennis, soccer, motorsports, boxing and MMA. Bettors also have access to moneylines, totals, futures, point spreads, and parlays. While no in-play betting is available just yet, that feature should be expected to be introduced in the near future.
“Since New Jersey decided to allow mobile sports betting, we have been working diligently to create the most engaging and fun mobile platform which provides users with the ability to place bets on their favorite sporting events,” said Mark Frissora, CEO and President of Caesars.
The NJ mobile sports betting crowd swelled to seven as 888 Sportsoft-launched its product Sept. 10.
A European sports betting giant, 888 Sport takes its first crack at the US market, featuring a wide selection of sports, high-end graphics, software and user interface.
Courtesy of its partnership with Caesars, 888 has roamed the Garden State airwaves for some time. You might recognize the name since its popular 888 Poker and 888 Casino sites have been active in New Jersey for some time.
With the 888 sportsbook, bettors can wager on football, baseball, and basketball as well as boxing, cricket, and soccer, among other sports. Users will also have access to in-play betting, or live betting, as well as the traditional prop wagers.
Mere days after 888 Sport entered the party, BetStars NJ waltzed through the door.
A subsidiary of The Stars Group, BetStars, using its partnership with Resorts to gain licensing access, skipped the testing period and became fully activated on day one. With an Android app as well, BetStars for iOS users was integrated with the PokerStars NJ app. A standalone product for Apple customers is expected to be developed in the future.
With in-game betting and a game feed to keep bettors updated on game action, BetStars also offers early cash-out options and bonuses. The BetStars app features a variety of sports, from football and basketball and baseball to horse racing and soccer and tennis.
The Oceanport racetrack had sports betting plans in place since 2013, when Monmouth first partnered with bookmaker William Hill US. After a lengthy wait, the track finally had its dream become reality.
Three days after NJ sports betting was legalized, Monmouth opened its sportsbookJune 14. Over two days during the sportsbook’s first weekend, nearly 35,000 people went to the racetrack. In its first 17 days, the William Hill sportsbook piled up $2,279,166 in NJ sports betting revenue, a figure that dropped to $856,280 in July due in part to a dead time in the sports calendar.
But that won’t be for long. Football is just around the corner and you can bet there will be a variety of bets available.
The Monmouth Park Sportsbook by William Hill is open at the following times:
Not long after Monmouth kicked off the legalized sports betting era in New Jersey, Borgata joined the party.
Philadelphia 76ers Hall of Famer Julius Erving christened the Atlantic City casino’s IGT-powered operation by placing the first wager. His bet started the ball rolling for a respectable first month for Borgata, which reported $986,831 in June. Like Monmouth, a down time in the sports calendar led to a dropoff in revenue in July, during which Borgata posted $562,830.
You can place your bets at the Borgata Race &. Sports Book daily starting at 11 a.m.
It was obviously the first AC casino to launch a sports betting operation, but it would not be long until another property along the Boardwalk joined the fray.
The arrival of Ocean Resort Casino had long been anticipated by Atlantic City. Replacing the former Revel, Ocean Resort opened its doorsJune 28 and immediately began accepting wagers.
As part of the $2.4 billion property is an expansive William Hill sportsbook that sits as the crown jewel of Atlantic City sportsbooks. Located at the heart of Ocean Resort’s casino floor, the $6 million, 7,500-square-foot book includes a state-of-the-art 360-degrees sports ticker, multiple TV viewing spots and a nearby bar area. The resort reported $192,671 in revenue for June, followed by $1,036,766 in July.
Are there football bets at Ocean Resort sportsbook? You bet. Check out the action from 9 a.m. to midnight daily.
If not for New York lawmakers failing to pass sports betting legislation, who knows how long it would have taken for Meadowlands Racetrack to open its FanDuel Sportsbook? The Empire State stumbled, though, resulting in the East Rutherford track fast-tracking its sportsbook opening.
As a result, after debuting July 14, Meadowlands reported the strongest July of all New Jersey sportsbooks.
With help from FanDuel owner Paddy Power Betfair and powered by IGT, the FanDuel Sportsbook piled up $1,357,477 in revenue during the first full month. Considering the lack of events on which to wager, it was an impressive month, setting a trend that should only spike with football season about to kick off.
FanDuel takes bets at the following times (sportsbook will close after all live US games have finished):
Within three days spanning July and August, Caesars Entertainment had two properties introduce sportsbooks in Atlantic City.
First came July 30 at Bally’s with its Wild Wild West Sportsbook, powered by Scientific Games. Two days later, Harrah’s opened its temporary sportsbook for business, also from Scientific Games.
Scientific Games president and CEO Barry Cottle during the Bally’s opening:
“We’re thrilled to partner with Caesars to help them bring best-in-class sports wagering experiences to their players. Our SG Digital team is excited to help Caesars stay ahead of the game, as they work to expand their sports betting, digital and mobile offerings into newly regulated markets.”
Conveniently enough, Bally’s and Harrah’s have the same operating hours (and also the same lines):
An eleventh-hour July submission for sportsbook plans allowed Golden Nugget to roll out its sports betting operationAug. 15.
The temporary Golden Nugget sportsbook sat in the casino’s former, repurposed poker room. The permanent book, dubbed The Sportsbook, opened at the end of August as planned. It includes several self-service betting kiosks, lounge areas, and a bevy of televisions.
Golden Nugget partnered withSBTech to power its book. From Thomas Winter, who oversees online gaming for Golden Nugget, speaking with Legal Sports Report at the time of the deal:
“Since sports betting is a critical component of our successful expansion for online betting and gaming in the US, SBTech persisted through our arduous review process. In the end, we knew SBTech was the right partner for us because of its industry-leading retail and online technology, their significant and diverse regulatory experience, as well as its innovative product-driven approach.”
Golden Nugget sportsbook is open daily, 10 a.m. to midnight.
Shortly after Golden Nugget’s opening, Resorts Atlantic City debuted its sportsbook.
After partnering with DraftKings in June, then again with SBTech a month later, it became clear that Resorts would not feature a DraftKings-branded sportsbook. That was confirmed when the book opened Aug. 15 as Resorts Sports Book.
Residing in the casino’s old iGaming lounge, the temp sportsbook is the latest to hit the New Jersey retail market.
“It’s very big for Resorts,” Ed Andrewes, a consultant at Resorts who heads up the online casino and sportsbook, said at the time. “But it’s also big for all the casinos in Atlantic City, really, and for the US as a whole. … This kind of makes total sense for the industry and the government and the regulators. Everyone knew (sports betting) was going on. Now it can be taxed and properly regulated.”
Place your bets at Resorts Sports Book daily 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. (though that’s subject to change).
In August, NJ Division of Gaming Enforcement director David Rebucktold Legal Sports Report that several other mobile products “in the lab” could go live in the near future.
While a majority of those products have since hit the market, that does not mean the Garden State is done rolling out online sportsbooks or retail books.
After unveiling its sportsbook in August, Resorts targeted a September launch for its mobile product. Several months earlier, the casino partnered with SBTech to develop a “sportsbook solution across on-property, online and mobile channels.”
“That’s a big project for us,” Ed Andrewes, a consultant at Resorts who heads up the online casino and sportsbook, said in August. “But it’s an exciting one. We think sports (betting) was going to flourish both on the property, which offers a different and social experience, and mobile and online as well because that allows the consumer to bet and watch it at home or at the sports bar they use to quench.”
Not to be left on the outside looking in, Tropicana officially partnered with William Hill US in the first week of September. The deal comes courtesy of Eldorado Resorts’ pending acquisition of Tropicana. A day before the casino’s partnership with William Hill, Eldorado entered a 25-year agreement to make the British bookmaker its “exclusive partner in the provision of digital and land-based sports betting services as well as online gaming.”
While the language of its partnership with William Hill suggests it has not applied for a sports betting license just yet, a casino executive shared plans for the property’s future sportsbook.
“A brand new venue is being created to host sports betting in the North Tower Casino, with kiosks located throughout the property,” Tropicana general manager Steve Callender said in a release. “We offer several sports bars to watch all the games while enjoying your favorite food and drinks including A Dam Good Sports Bar, Hooters, Chickie’s & Pete’s and Ri Ra Irish Pub. We are excited to share more details about Tropicana Atlantic City’s sports book in the coming weeks.”