Another week passes and Atlantic City casinos remain closed.
It is one month before the big July Fourth holiday weekend, and everyone wants to know if they will be open to capitalize on one of the biggest weekends of the year.
And while the casinos remain closed, a new plan for a family-friendly entertainment option on the Boardwalk is gaining momentum.
The biggest question out there, besides when casinos will open, is when sports will return. Well, DraftKings Sportsbook is getting ready for that day with a new partnership that will enhance the customer experience on its mobile betting app.
Here is a look at the latest headlines making New Jersey online gambling news this week.
Will AC casinos be open by July Fourth?
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and his administration are “trying like heck” to get AC casinos open in time for July Fourth weekend.
There’s a very good reason for the push to get casinos as soon as possible — revenue.
Gambling in New Jersey generates billions for the economy every year. And while NJ online casinos have helped pick up some of the slack, the online casino revenue they produce is just a fraction of what the brick-and-mortar casinos on the Boardwalk are capable of.
Additionally, opening the casinos will put thousands of unemployed casino employees back to work.
There is one major hurdle standing in the way of reopening casinos. The pandemic is not over.
“It’s indoors. There’s no ventilation. It’s close proximity, and it’s largely sedentary,” Murphy said.
In preparation for the eventual opening, several casinos have released their plans for keeping customers safe. The plans call for social distancing, mask-wearing, and intensive cleaning procedures.
The following casinos have shared casino opening safety plans with the public:
- Resorts
- Tropicana
- Borgata
- Caesars
The AC casino season usually kicks off Memorial Day and lasts all summer. Obviously, it missed that milestone.
Will AC casinos be open for the Fourth of July weekend? Our fingers are crossed.
NJ online casino customer finds a Golden Nugget
Scotty W., from Bridgeton, took a break from gardening to play at one of his favorite NJ online casinos, Golden Nugget. It was a timely break that led him to a $1 million spin.
His online slot of choice: Pillars of Asgard. He likes the game because of its Norse theme. After playing for an hour, Scotty hit the bonus feature and now has the money to buy his dream home in Florida.
This isn’t Scotty’s first big win at Golden Nugget, either. In 2019, Scotty drove away in a Ford Mustang after winning a giveaway at the casino.
During Memorial Day weekend, Golden Nugget gave away 10 free spins on Pillars of Asgard to celebrate the big win.
Forget the AC beach, head to the indoor water park
Bart Blatstein, the owner of the Showboat Hotel, wants to give families a reason to come to Atlantic City.
He is planning to build a year-round, family-friendly water park in the space that is now the parking lot between Ocean Casino Resort and the Showboat.
On the surface, a water park right next to the beach might not seem like the brightest idea. However, Atlantic City doesn’t really have much entertainment designed for families.
More facilities on the Boardwalk that cater to families might just open up a whole new market. The project will cost around $100 million and will break ground in August.
On the board at NJ sportsbooks
As sports leagues make plans for their return, DraftKings Sportsbook announced a new partnership with Sportradar to bring live streaming to its mobile sports betting app.
This will take in-game betting to the next level and provide a seamless experience for its customers. And bettors can try it out by live streaming Bundesliga and Moscow table tennis.
In addition to Bundesliga and table tennis, NJ sportsbooks are spreading action on:
- UFC 250
- NASCAR Cup Series – QuikTrip 500
- Portugal Premier Liga
And then there is horse racing.
Horse racing remains popular with the NJ sports betting crowd as they await the return of their favorite sport.
In fact, horse betting is really the only constant in the sports world since the coronavirus forced sports into hibernation in March.
The good news this week, though, is New Jersey horse racing is back. Meadowlands will begin live racing to empty grandstands on Friday.
Monmouth Park already pushed back its opening day until July 3 and will stick to that schedule. The $1,000,000 TVG.com Haskell Invitational is scheduled to begin July 18.
And while fans can’t watch in person, they can bet online via 4NJBets, powered by TVG.
