New Jersey’s 19 sportsbooks hit another record last month with its sports handle, with gamblers betting close to half a billion dollars, according to numbers released Thursday by the Division of Gaming Enforcement.
Patrons threw down $448 million in October, according to the DGE, putting most of their money behind Major League Baseball’s World Series, and the football, basketball and hockey seasons.
In September, bettors wagered $445 million – also a monthly record – data shows.
That marks $3.4 billion that patrons have bet since January at the state’s 10 in-person sportsbooks, located at two racetracks and eight casinos, and nine online and mobile sportsbooks.
Within five years, New Jersey will be the Mecca of sports and online gambling.
– Former state Sen. Ray Lesniak
“I now change my prediction that New Jersey will be the Silicon Valley of online gaming. New Jersey already has reached that goal. Within five years, New Jersey will be the Mecca of sports and online gambling,” former state Sen. Ray Lesniak, who sponsored several bills over the years to legalize sports betting in the state, said at a recent conference.
The DGE data shows total gaming revenue for the state was $294 million, compared to $239 million in October last year. The online gaming win was $45.2 million this year, compared to $27 million in October 2018.
Statewide, the house won $46 million in its 19 sportsbooks, compared to $11.7 million in October 2018. The state took home $26.8 million in gaming taxes last month, compared to $19.8 million a year ago.
Total gaming revenue for the casinos was $2.8 billion in October 2019, or a $488 million increase.
Thursday’s data showed patrons bet $3.4 billion between January and October, while last year they wagered just shy of $600 million.
