In March, New Jersey’s gaming sector achieved a revenue of $596.4 million, marking a 9.2% increase compared to the previous year, propelled by robust online gaming and sports betting that outperformed traditional in-person casino earnings.

Data from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement indicates that online gaming alone produced $272.1 million in March, surpassing the $236.6 million earned by Atlantic City’s nine brick-and-mortar casinos. This figure for online gaming is the second-highest recorded for a month, and it also signifies the seventh month in a row where digital revenue exceeded that of retail casinos.

Sports betting enjoyed significant success during this month. Casino and racetrack operators, along with their partners, accepted over $1 billion in bets, much of which was driven by the NCAA March Madness tournament. After accounting for payouts and operational expenses, these operators retained $87.6 million, reflecting an almost 23% increase compared to March 2025.

Throughout the first quarter of 2026, total gaming revenue reached $1.7 billion, representing a 7.5% rise from the same period last year. So far this year, the industry has contributed $246.1 million in state gambling taxes.

Retail Segment Shows Modest Annual Growth

While still lagging behind online figures, in-person casino revenue increased by 2.5% year-over-year. The reported figure of $236.6 million for March was the highest for that month since 2013, as noted by James Plousis, chairman of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission. He also remarked that overall gaming revenue has exceeded $500 million for 13 consecutive months.

Operators continue to view retail casino income as their core business unit because earnings from online gambling and sports betting are shared with external partners, which include sportsbooks and technology firms.

Mixed Performance Across Gambling Properties

Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa led the pack with $67.2 million in on-site revenue, reflecting a 15.1% increase over the previous year. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City recorded $42.6 million, declining by 4.1%, while Ocean Casino Resort achieved $35.4 million, up by 2.2%.

Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City reported $20.5 million, a decrease of 2.3%, and Caesars Atlantic City had $19.5 million, up 17.5%. Tropicana Atlantic City brought in $18.6 million, a decline of 6%, while Resorts Casino Hotel showed $11.5 million, down 11.9%.

Bally’s Atlantic City generated $10.9 million, down 1.1%, and Golden Nugget Atlantic City finished the month with $10.2 million, down 13.1%.

Online Operators Drive Growth

In the online gaming landscape, FanDuel earned $62.6 million, showing a 20% increase. DraftKings reported $48.2 million, down 2.6%, while BetMGM posted a revenue of $34.9 million, up 10.4%.

Borgata garnered just over $21 million online, a decline of 6%, while Caesars Palace Online Casino brought in $18.5 million, up 11.1%. Additionally, Hard Rock Bet saw a striking 56% rise, reaching $18.4 million.

Jane Bokunewicz, director of the Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality, and Tourism at Stockton University, observed that the current trend may relate to seasonal demand.

“The consistent pattern of brick-and-mortar gaming not surpassing online gaming since August 2025 suggests a significant seasonal component influencing in-person gaming,” Bokunewicz commented. “As warmer weather arrives and visits to coastal areas become more inviting, it will be interesting to monitor how these trends shift.”

“The convenience of online gaming, particularly in less favorable weather conditions, will likely continue to foster growth in internet gaming operations, while retail performance may plateau during off-peak times,” she added. “However, we can expect some growth in traditional venues during the peak summer tourism season.“

This revenue data comes as Atlantic City operators keep a close watch on developments in neighboring markets, including planned casino projects in New York City and continuing efforts to seek voter approval for casino expansions beyond Atlantic City.