New Jersey’s online gambling market saw significant expansion in May, achieving a new record for monthly revenue, while the revenue from physical gambling at Atlantic City’s casinos remained relatively stable.
The revenue from online gambling surged almost 12% compared to the previous year, reaching $276.3 million in May, breaking the former record of $273.2 million set in December, based on data from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.
Earnings from in-person gambling at Atlantic City’s nine casinos only increased by 0.1% year-over-year, underscoring the rising significance of online betting as a contributor to the sector’s growth.
Combining revenue from casinos, online gambling, and sports betting, New Jersey’s gambling industry reported $627.1 million in May, an uptick of 2% compared to the same month last year.
These figures come as regulators and industry stakeholders assess the potential effects of increasing competition from New York. Analysts have indicated that the introduction of live table games at Resorts World New York in Queens on April 28 could have impacted the table game performance in Atlantic City.
“Although internet gaming revenue continues its upward trajectory — setting a new all-time record for a single month — this month also established a new short-term record for May in gross revenue from brick-and-mortar operations,” stated Brian Tyrrell, the incoming Faculty Director of the Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality and Tourism at Stockton University.
May’s slot machine revenue grew by 1.8%, while revenue from table games saw a decline of 6.1%.
“It’s premature to draw definitive conclusions, but the drop in table game revenue may reflect the competition from Resorts World New York, which commenced table gaming on April 28,” Tyrrell remarked.
This situation warrants continuous observation to gauge its long-term effects or whether it is a result of the novelty of the new offerings at Resorts World, or simply part of the industry’s natural fluctuations,” he added.
Online gambling earnings hit $1.3 billion during the first five months of 2026, marking the quickest rate on record for New Jersey’s online gaming sector.
Sports bettors placed over $912 million in wagers in May, with sportsbook operators retaining $85.2 million in revenue after payouts, a nearly 17% decline from the prior year.
The total revenue from all gambling forms reached $2.93 billion by the end of May, up 7.2% from the same timeframe last year. Tax revenue from gambling reached $87.4 million for May and $419.5 million for the first five months of the year.
Among Atlantic City’s casinos, the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa retained its status as the market leader in physical gambling revenue, bringing in nearly $73 million in May, although this represents a 0.3% decrease from the previous year. Ocean Casino Resort recorded one of the most substantial increases, with revenue rising 10.7% to $46.7 million.
For online gambling, FanDuel, in collaboration with Golden Nugget Atlantic City, topped the market with $64 million in revenue, reflecting a 17.6% year-over-year increase. DraftKings, in partnership with Resorts Casino Hotel, gained nearly $47 million, while BetMGM, associated with Borgata, reported $34.5 million.
James Plousis, chairman of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, noted that Atlantic City’s casino wins exceeding $265 million in May for the second consecutive year could serve as a “launchpad for a promising summer season.”