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Every year comes with its own personality, but New Jersey doesn’t wait around to see what the rest of the country decides is “in.” We move fast here. We adapt. We complain loudly — and then we make it part of our routine. Somewhere between a jughandle turn and a diner refill, 2026 developed a very Jersey personality. You may not have noticed it happening, but you’re already living it.

Here are 10 things that feel unmistakably so 2026, Garden State edition.

The way New Jersey talks now (and what it really means)

Calling every inconvenience “a situation.”
Traffic? Situation. School drop-off? Situation. The coffee machine acting up? Full-blown situation.

Quietly flexing about not pumping gas.
We don’t brag. We just casually mention it… often.

Errands, routines and the New Jersey sense of time

Planning an entire weekend around one errand.
Costco, Home Depot, or MVC — choose wisely and clear your schedule.

Checking Dan Zarrow’s forecast on the NJ101.5 app religiously.
Because if you’re going to trust the weather, it might as well be someone who knows New Jersey.

Having a “favorite small town” you don’t live in.
You’ve “been a few times.” You “get the vibe.”

Roads, tolls and the daily traffic psychology of NJ

Treating tolls like a personal betrayal.
Every increase feels targeted, and we all do the same mental math at the booth anyway.

Explaining traffic circles and roundabouts like a survival skill.
Somehow we all know exactly what to do — except when we don’t.

Money stress, comfort food and Garden State coping mechanisms

Treating diners as emotional support buildings.
Coffee refills fix things. It’s science.

Complaining about taxes while never actually leaving.
Because deep down, we know better.

Comparing energy bills like it’s a competitive sport.
Nobody likes the numbers, but everyone wants to know if theirs is worse.

The truth is, 2026 in New Jersey isn’t about trends you see online. It’s about habits, shortcuts, shared frustrations, and small victories we all pretend are normal. And if you read this nodding along, congratulations — you’re not behind the times. You’re just right on schedule… in New Jersey.

They’ve been around for over 12 years, yet online casinos in New Jersey continue to find ways to set revenue records. After posting the industry’s largest single-month total in October, NJ online casinos last month combined for $253 million to set a November record and ranks as the second-biggest single-month total in Garden State history.

NJ online casinos set single-year record with one month left

Since launching in 2013, NJ online casinos have continually set high-water marks – even now, a dozen years later.

With $253 million in November revenue, as reported by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, casino apps in the Garden State now sit at just over $2.64 billion for the year, leading to $455 million in state tax revenue. With one month left in 2025, the industry has already set a single-year record, which previously stood at around $2.4 billion.

To further put into perspective the growth of online gambling in New Jersey, the industry is over 22% ahead of the 11-month pace it set in 2024. Consider the first 14 months of online casinos in NJ, during which time operators combined for a mere $131.2 million in revenue.

While it’s unlikely that NJ online casinos will reach the $3 billion mark by the end of the year, iGaming has proven it can continue to grow after more than 10 years of existence.

FanDuel Casino, DraftKings Casino continue to set pace

While the monthly total is one for the books, the standard brands set themselves apart from the rest of the market.

For example, FanDuel Casino – which new users can sign up with and claim the FanDuel casino bonus – reported $60.2 million. That was well ahead of the second-place DraftKings Casino bonus, which helped drive $49.6 million in November.

Along with the BetMGM Casino app ($30.6 million), Borgata Casino ($20.6 million) and Caesars Palace Online Casino ($19.3 million), the top five revenue-earners in November accounted for more than 71% of the total online casino total in November.