playMGM Joins Thriving New Jersey Online Gambling Community

Since 2013, when New Jersey legalized real-money online gambling, online gaming and slots have been a vital part of the lifeblood of Atlantic City’s casino industry. The money brought in from online revenues has helped fuel a resurgence along the aging boardwalk, and now there is another new player on the scene as MGM Resorts International opens up its playMGM online casino later this year.

It is a big step forward for MGM resorts, which also licenses the Borgata Casino on the boardwalk. To create the online casino, they have partnered up with GVC Holdings PLC, which is a leading provider of business to business and business to customer online gaming, bingo, slot machines and sports betting. The partnership holds potential to unlock big money for the two companies, as online gambling has really taken off in New Jersey since legalization.

Currently, New Jersey is one of only three states to allow online gambling for real money and real stakes, along with Delaware and Nevada. Other states are considering allowing online gambling to take place within their borders, but have not yet passed the needed legislation.

Online gambling started slowly in November 2013, but in the past year it has really taken off, as more big casino names and players have been joining the online gaming community. Other famous casino names, including Caesar’s Interactive NJ, Golden Nugget Resorts, and Tropicana have all staked out their own online gaming websites for New Jersey residents, and seen those revenues offer an essential boost to their live, in-person holdings.

Starting in 2016, however, internet gambling began bringing in serious money to both the casinos and the state. It was online gaming sites that gave Atlantic City its first major revenue increase in ten years, earning 197 million dollars and increasing total revenues by 32 percent. The five casino licensees have added an additional 93 million dollars of tax revenue to New Jersey. The start of 2017 has continued that trend, and with new venues such as playMGM opening up later this year, it is likely to continue into the future.

The traditional Atlantic City boardwalk has been the heart of New Jersey’s gaming community for decades, and it too has benefited from the expansion of gambling online. Many of the casinos on the boardwalk depend upon revenue flowing in from their websites to fuel their insurgence of life and activity. Few analysts had expected that the turnaround would be so strong or so sudden, but with the added gambling venues on the web it happened faster than expected.

Those analysts have cheered the changes and benefits of online gambling since it started. In order to take part in online gambling in New Jersey, you must be 21 years or older and have a computer located through GPS tracking in New Jersey at the time you play the game.