In March 2026, New Jersey's gaming revenue soared to $596.4 million, reflecting a 9.2% increase compared to the same month last year. This growth was primarily driven by online gaming and sports betting, which outperformed traditional in-person casino revenues.
The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement reported that internet gaming alone brought in $272.1 million, surpassing the $236.6 million generated by the nine casinos in Atlantic City from physical gamblers. This figure marks the second highest monthly total for online gaming ever recorded and the seventh consecutive month where digital revenue outstripped that of retail casinos.
Sports betting also had a remarkable month, with casinos and racetracks accepting over $1 billion in wagers, partly fueled by the NCAA March Madness tournament. After accounting for payouts and expenses, operators retained $87.6 million in revenue, which represents a nearly 23% increase compared to March 2025.
For the first quarter of 2026, total gaming revenue reached $1.7 billion, a 7.5% rise from the same period last year. The industry has contributed $246.1 million in state gambling taxes so far this year.
Despite trailing online figures, in-person casino revenue experienced a 2.5% year-over-year increase. The $236.6 million reported for March was the highest for that month since 2013, according to James Plousis, chairman of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission. He noted that combined gaming revenue has now surpassed $500 million for 13 consecutive months.
Operators still view retail casino revenue as their main business segment since online gaming and sports betting proceeds are shared with third-party partners, including sportsbooks and technology providers.
Among individual casinos, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa led with $67.2 million in in-person revenue, marking a 15.1% increase from the previous year. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City generated $42.6 million, down 4.1%, while Ocean Casino Resort recorded $35.4 million, up 2.2%.
Harrah's Resort Atlantic City reported $20.5 million, down 2.3%, and Caesars Atlantic City posted $19.5 million, an increase of 17.5%. Tropicana Atlantic City generated $18.6 million, down 6%, while Resorts Casino Hotel recorded $11.5 million, down 11.9%. Bally's Atlantic City reported $10.9 million, down 1.1%, and Golden Nugget Atlantic City posted $10.2 million, down 13.1%.
In the online gaming sector, FanDuel generated $62.6 million, up 20%. DraftKings reported $48.2 million, down 2.6%, and BetMGM posted $34.9 million, up 10.4%. Borgata's online revenue was just over $21 million, down 6%, while Caesars Palace Online Casino reported $18.5 million, an 11.1% increase. Hard Rock Bet posted $18.4 million, nearly a 56% rise.
Jane Bokunewicz, director of the Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality and Tourism at Stockton University, highlighted that the current trends may be influenced by seasonal demand. She noted, "The fact that brick-and-mortar gaming has not exceeded internet gaming since August 2025 may indicate a significant level of seasonality in in-person gaming. As the weather improves and beach visits become more appealing, it will be intriguing to see how this trend develops."
Bokunewicz added, "The convenience of online gaming, especially during less favorable weather, is likely to continue driving growth for internet gaming operations, while brick-and-mortar performance may remain flat during off-peak seasons. However, we can expect some year-over-year growth in physical casinos during the busy summer tourism season."
This revenue data comes as Atlantic City operators keep a close eye on developments in nearby markets, including new casino projects planned for New York City and ongoing efforts to secure voter approval for casino expansion beyond Atlantic City.