New Jersey

Online gaming has been big in N.J. — but it hasn’t caught on more widely in U.S.

Published

6 months ago

November 25, 2023

Online gaming has been big in N.J. — but it hasn’t caught on more widely in U.S.

In the 10 years that it has been operating in New Jersey, internet casino gambling has generated nearly $7 billion in revenue for casinos and their affiliates, sent over a billion dollars in tax revenue to the state’s coffers and helped keep Atlantic City’s nine casinos afloat while they were shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic.

So why hasn’t it caught on more widely across America?

Currently, only six states offer internet casino gambling: New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Michigan and West Virginia. (Nevada offers internet poker but not online casino games; Rhode Island has passed an online casino bill, but it is not expected to go into effect until March 2024.)

Casino operators, online gambling companies, analysts and elected officials offer a number of reasons why they think it has yet to expand more widely: among them, including fears (unfounded, analysts say) that internet gambling will draw gamblers away from physical casinos, and a higher priority effort to approve sports betting — nearly 90% of which is done online in two-thirds of the states.

Proponents say they expect additional states to adopt online casino gambling soon, in part because a wave of federal pandemic stimulus funding from the federal government is ending, and states are once again looking for new sources of tax revenue.

Internet gambling “stands out as the most lucrative revenue source from any gaming launch in history, and New Jersey is ‘exhibit A’ for its success,” said Howard Glaser of the internet gambling technology company Light & Wonder. He predicted dozens of states will adopt it in the near future.

However, Chris Krafcik, managing director of the Eilers & Krejcik gambling analytics firm, said some states may be hesitant to forge ahead with internet casinos, which some lawmakers may view as a more serious, high-stakes form of gambling than online sports betting. Another factor is competition from online giants like DraftKings and FanDuel that control nearly half the online casino market in the U.S.

Krafcik predicted “only a very small number of states” will legalize online casinos by the end of 2027.

“Online casino has always been a tough sell,” Krafcik said.

One of those states may be Indiana, where an online casino bill died in February due in large part to fears that it would hurt the state’s existing physical casinos. A report from the state’s Legislative Services Agency warned of that, citing “loss of tax revenues from displacement of gaming activities at brick-and-mortar casinos and racinos” of $134 million to $268 million a year. Lawmakers plan to try again next year.

Elaine Vallaster of New Jersey has been playing internet slots for about three years on the BetRivers.com site, where she also likes the free bingo games and a chat function that has enabled her to make several friends with whom she socializes in real life.

“There’s a lot of things to do there,” said Vallaster, who once won $14,000 online. “I’ve met people that I go to lunch with. You laugh and have a lot of fun.”

Legal internet gambling in New Jersey leads the nation in the amount of taxes paid to governments and money won by gambling companies. Collectively, internet gambling has generated $16.3 billion in revenue for the states that offer it, according to the American Gaming Association, the gambling industry’s national trade group.

Through September of this year, New Jersey generated $6.91 billion since Nov. 2013; Pennsylvania generated $4.34 billion since July 2019; Michigan generated $4.1 billion since Jan. 2021; Connecticut generated $615.3 million since Oct. 2021; West Virginia generated $294.7 million since July 2020, and Delaware generated $59.1 million since Nov. 2013.

In terms of tax revenue assessed on internet casino bets over those same time periods, Pennsylvania generated $1.83 billion; New Jersey and Michigan each generated $1.03 billion; Connecticut generated $88.4 million; West Virginia generated $44.2 million; and Delaware generated $19 million.

Internet gambling is not a total windfall for the casinos, who must share part of what they win from online casino games and sports bets with third parties including tech platforms. But that extra money came in handy in 2020, when Atlantic City’s nine casinos were closed for 3 1/2 months at the beginning of the COVID19 pandemic, and internet gambling was just about the only money they had coming in. Most sports were shut down as well, and there was little to bet on.

Internet gambling, which began in New Jersey on Nov. 25, 2013, exceeded most expectations.

“The volume of wagering, the interest from people, the excitement surrounding it as an entertainment option shows the power and reach of the internet,” said David Rebuck, director of the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement. “We were able to do it in a responsible, professional way that avoided embarrassment and scandal.”

There was concern initially that internet gambling would eat into money that would otherwise be won by brick-and-mortar casinos from people physically on their premises. But that has proved not to be the case.

New Jersey extended online gaming through 2028 under a law Gov. Phil Murphy signed in July.

Jane Bokunewicz, director of the Lloyd Levenson Institute at Stockton University, which studies the Atlantic City gambling industry, noted that in most internet gambling states, brick-and-mortar gambling revenue has grown alongside that of internet betting, although at a slower pace.

Richard Schwartz, CEO of Rush Street Interactive, agreed that the two complement each other.

“New Jersey proved it,” said Schwartz, whose company operates the BetRivers and PlaySugarHouse platforms. “Casino revenue after the pandemic has stabilized, and online revenue is setting new records.

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New Jersey

Dear Annie: He won’t introduce her to his female friends as his girlfriend and says her jealousy is ‘a turn-off’

Published

6 hours ago

June 2, 2024

Press Room

Dear Annie: He won’t introduce her to his female friends as his girlfriend and says her jealousy is ‘a turn-off’

DEAR ANNIE: I’ve been in an on-and-off relationship with a guy for four years. He has a lot of female friends, and I’m not really sure how I am supposed to feel about that. He goes to dinner with them for their birthdays and meets them out for drinks, and yet he won’t introduce me to them as his girlfriend. He tells me that my jealousy is a turnoff, but I feel like some boundaries are being crossed here. Please help. — Jealous and Confused

DEAR JEALOUS AND CONFUSED: You have every right to feel jealous and confused. But there is not much confusion, really. He is dismissing your feelings and shutting you out of a part of his life. I say move on and find someone who is better for you.

***

DEAR ANNIE: This is the first time I’ve ever written to an advice columnist, but I recently read your column with the letter from “Baffled Daughter,” whose mother was a 77-year-old woman who admitted to having an affair with a young male nurse who is married with children.

You gave sound advice about reporting it to the rehab facility, but I just wanted to suggest one possibility: She could have dementia. My mother is now 90 years old and has been in a nursing home for 12 years with dementia (bedridden now), but 14 years ago, she told me she had been kidnapped by a neighbor on the block and that he had taken her keys and had a priest marry them. This was my first sign of realizing that my mother was mentally off; the neighbor had died six months earlier of the same disease, so she had not seen him that day but she thought that she had.

It’s just a thought — that the 77-year-old woman also has a form of memory loss and therefore has problems with reality.

I enjoy your column, so keep up the great work! — Dementia Advice

DEAR DEMENTIA ADVICE: You bring up a great point. She should have her mother checked for memory care, as the whole affair might have been something she imagined because of dementia. Thanks for writing.

Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com.

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New Jersey

UFC 302 — Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier: Results, highlights, fight card, winners, complete guide

Published

13 hours ago

June 2, 2024

Press Room

UFC 302 — Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier: Results, highlights, fight card, winners, complete guide

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The champ is still in charge after UFC 302. Islam Makhachev managed to retain his lightweight title in a brutal battle with Dustin Poirier in the main event on Saturday night in Newark, New Jersey. Makhahcev extended his winning streak to 14 with a D’Arce choke in the fifth round that seemed to come out of nowhere.

Poirier put up a valiant effort in defeat. The native of Louisiana fell short in his third attempt to become champion, but put on arguably his best performance in a title fight to date. Poirier managed to keep Makhachev off of him for long stretches of the fight and fought him on even terms on the feet. Despite getting his back taken in Round 1, Poirier stayed calmed and defended well. He just couldn’t come up with a defense for the final choke as Makhachev rushed in and put him out cold.

Poirier continued to tease retirement after the fight as he had all week, noting that this may be the last time we see him in the Octagon. “The Diamond” will go down as one of the best fighters in promotional history to never earn undisputed gold.

Elsewhere on the card, Sean Strickland kept himself in title contention with a win over Paulo Costa in the co-main event. Strickland controlled the entirety of the fight and the split-decision distinction is a bit misleading. The former champion called for a title shot next after not getting an immediate rematch with Dricus du Plessis after his loss in January. Plus, Kevin Holland is back to doing Kevin Holland things as the veteran submitted Michal Oleksiejczuk with an armbar that appeared to snap his opponent’s arm.

CBS Sports was with you throughout fight week with the latest news, in-depth features and betting advice to consider. Thanks for stopping by and we’ll see you at UFC 303 and the return of Conor McGregor in Las Vegas.

UFC 302 fight card, odds

Islam Makhachev (c) def. Dustin Poirier via fifth-round submission (d’arce choke)
Sean Strickland def. Paulo Costa via split decision (46-49, 50-45, 49-46)
Kevin Holland def. Michal Oleksiejczuk via first-round submission (armbar)
Niko Price def. Alex Morono via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Randy Brown def. Elizeu Zaleski via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Roman Kopylov def. Cesar Almeida via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
Jailton Almeida def. Alexandr Romanov via first-round submission (rear-naked choke)
Grant Dawson def. Joe Solecki via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Jake Matthews def. Phil Rowe via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Bassil Hafez def. Mickey Gall via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Ailin Perez def. Joselyne Edwards via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Andre Lima def. Mitch Raposo via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)

UFC 302 countdown

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New Jersey

There is only one scenario where the New Jersey Devils should re-sign Tyler Toffoli

Published

20 hours ago

June 1, 2024

Press Room

There is only one scenario where the New Jersey Devils should re-sign Tyler Toffoli

There’s been a lot of buzz surrounding whether a return to the New Jersey Devils is in the cards for Tyler Toffoli. He will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Toffoli is going to test free agency this summer, but there’s a chance he could find his way back to the Devils. Everything would have to align for that to happen for that to happen.

Toffoli fit in well with the Devils’ top forwards, especially Jack Hughes, and played the role he was expected to. He led the team in goals during his time in New Jersey. The Devils traded Toffoli to the Winnipeg Jets at the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline once a trip to the Stanley Cup Playoffs seemed unlikely. They received draft picks in return.

The trade was a necessary move for the Devils. They had to look to the future and avoid the possibility of losing Toffoli in the offseason for nothing. He ultimately finished the season with 33 goals between New Jersey and Winnipeg.

Toffoli is one of the former Devils that general manager Tom Fitzgerald could bring back this offseason. After the trade, Fitzgerald spoke highly of Toffoli. “He’s our leading scorer. Great in the locker room,” Fitzgerald told NHL.com. “He’s everything I thought he would be. A player that I have interest in the offseason if he’s interested in New Jersey.” The interest is mutual on Toffoli’s part. Extension talks were underway before the trade.

Despite the mutual interest, other statements Fitzgerald made showed that it would be difficult to solidify a reunion. He explained that Toffoli wants a longer deal than the Devils are willing to give. If he can find a longer deal elsewhere, that would and should prevent a reunion with the Devils, who shouldn’t get into a bidding war. It depends on what Toffoli can find when he tests the market.

Although the Devils are serious about their interest in bringing Toffoli back, the scenario that would work is compromising on term. Toffoli would have to go lower than he wants, and the Devils would have to go higher than they want. The Devils would need to go higher than a two-year contract to entice Toffoli. They’re probably not willing to go to four years, so a three-year contract could be ideal.

A factor here is whether the cost will make sense given the salary cap. Toffoli is 32-years-old. With stars under contract and some who will need contracts in the near future, the Devils don’t want to be tied to a long, expensive contract with Toffoli. Locking him up for less than a $6 million cap hit would work best for the Devils, but Toffoli might get more elsewhere.

If Toffoli isn’t able to find what he’s looking for elsewhere, and the Devils can make the salary and term work given the other moves they need to make this summer, a reunion could be in order. It isn’t the most likely outcome, but don’t rule out Toffoli returning to New Jersey next season.

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