New Jersey Online Betting Revenue Surges, But at What Cost?
In what has become an unsurprising trend, New Jersey's online gaming sector has once again outperformed traditional in-person casinos, with February 2025 marking a significant shift in revenue distribution. According to the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, total gaming revenue reached $484.8 million, reflecting a 5.1% year-over-year increase. However, while this growth might look positive on paper, the reality for players tells a different story.
Online Gaming Wins—But Are Players Losing More Than Ever?
Traditional casinos reported $203.4 million in revenue from in-person gambling, a 3.8% decline from February 2024. Meanwhile, internet-based gaming generated $207.7 million, marking an impressive 14% growth year-over-year. This shift can be attributed to various factors, including bad weather, fewer physical visitors, and the increasing appeal of online gambling.
But let's not ignore a crucial detail: New Jersey's online slots operate with an average RTP (Return to Player) of only 80%. That's significantly lower than industry standards and far below what's found at top-rated crypto casinos. With such a low RTP, winning becomes nearly impossible, ensuring the house profits while players face near-certain losses.
A Breakdown of the Numbers
Casino Wins: The nine brick-and-mortar casinos collectively earned $203.5 million, continuing a downward trend compared to February 2024.
Internet Gaming Win: Online casinos reported $207.8 million, marking 14% growth, despite the dismal RTP rates that all but guarantee player losses.
Sports Betting Revenue: Sports wagering brought in $73.6 million, reflecting an 8.9% increase, even though total betting volume was slightly down.
Where Are Players Losing the Most?
While traditional casinos still report high earnings, online platforms—where RTPs are at their lowest—continue to dominate. Key performers included:
Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa – The leader in in-person gambling revenue with $49.9 million, though it suffered a decline from last year.
FanDuel & DraftKings – Online betting giants, with FanDuel earning $33.8 million (a 27.2% increase), while DraftKings saw a slight decline.
Jane Bokunewicz, director of Stockton University's Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality, and Tourism, commented:
"A less busy month for in-person patrons opened the door to more internet gaming activity and the opportunity for online casino operations to pass brick-and-mortar for a second consecutive month with a 14% increase over February 2024."
However, this so-called "success" for online casinos only further highlights how much money players are losing.
A Warning to New Jersey Players: Consider Crypto Casinos Instead
With RTPs as low as 80%, New Jersey's regulated online casinos are designed to drain players' bankrolls rather than provide a fair chance at winning. While this setup ensures profit for operators, it's essentially legalized robbery for players.
For those looking for better odds and fairer gameplay, crypto casinos are a superior alternative. Many reputable crypto casinos offer provably fair games and RTP rates closer to 96%, giving players a legitimate chance to win. Unlike traditional online casinos, which manipulate payout percentages, crypto casinos provide transparent and verifiable fairness.
New Jersey may celebrate rising revenues, but players should think twice before playing at state-licensed online casinos. If fairness matters, it's time to look beyond New Jersey's gaming market and explore better alternatives in the crypto gambling space.
Mark Patterson is the news writer at CasinosInCanada who covers the latest developments in the iGaming industry, including casino launches, regulations, and market updates.
I agree with the points raised here. New Jersey’s online betting market has certainly flourished, but it’s crucial that they don’t lose sight of the players who may be at risk due to the rapid expansion. Let’s make sure responsible gambling stays a priority!
As someone who enjoys online betting responsibly, I’m all for seeing the industry thrive. However, I hope New Jersey puts more effort into ensuring that problem gambling doesn’t become an unintended consequence of this boom.
The surge in revenue is undeniable, but at what cost to the average player? I’ve seen friends get sucked into betting more than they can afford, and that’s something we need to address. Better education and support are crucial.
I think we need to keep a closer eye on the regulatory side of things. With all this growth, there should be more safeguards in place to protect players from addiction or harmful betting practices.
It’s great to see revenue increasing, but I’m worried about the long-term effects on casual players. More focus should be put on responsible gambling programs to ensure players don’t get caught up in the rush for profits.