The Ocean Resort Casino of Atlantic City, which recently reopened on June 28 after four years of uncertainty, has launched its real money online casino site via a platform powered by GAN – Gaming Account Network – an iGaming solutions provider based in London, England. Along with the real money online gaming site, GAN will also provide a simulated gaming social casino. The online gaming options are part of an agreement signed between the two companies earlier in January. With the technological expertise provided by GAN, visitors to the Ocean Resort Online Casino will be able to enjoy online and on-site gaming proficiencies.
The loyalty program of the casino, recognized as Ocean Premier, is linked to the iGaming site. Players who sign up for a new player account via the Ocean Resort Casino can link their existing Ocean Premier rewards card to their online account. Visitors can then receive reward points with online game play and use the points for on-site expenditure. Points can also be earned on-site and used to increase the cash available for online gaming. Players are excited to give the online casino a try, as can be seen via the Ocean Resort Casino Facebook page.
The brand announced that the site was coming soon just two days ago on the social media site and players have been commenting on how they are ready to give the brand a try and how excited they are that the loyalty program is connected for more reward earnings. For the first five days, the Casino was in a soft launch phase and 24-hour play started on last Friday. However, the game selection will be fairly limited with only six versions of video poker, and table games including poker, roulette and around 50 slot games, many of which are unique to the site. More games will be added over the next few weeks and months.
In the future, the site will be offering sports betting, subject to the customary commercial and regulatory approvals. Commenting on the launch, Ocean Resort Casino CEO Frank Leone said: “GAN delivered efficiently and cost-effectively for Ocean Resort Casino and possesses a strategic patent which will give Ocean Resort Casino a competitive advantage with casino guests in Atlantic City who also choose to gamble online. Furthermore, GAN’s proven platform, ‘dual-mode’ Simulated Gaming as well as real money internet gaming and track record of client success in the New Jersey market are among the many reasons we chose GAN to bring Ocean Resort Casino online in 2018.”
The Ocean Resorts Casino online offering joins an already imposing iGaming market. The state of New Jersey has seven online operators with 16 individual online casinos in operation. Under the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa brand, there are five online casinos in operation, while the Caesars Interactive Entertainment license supports three online casinos. The Golden Nugget Atlantic City, the most successful online gaming license holder in the state, has three online casinos in operation, while the Resorts Casino Hotel has two. Rounding out the list is the Tropicana Casino and Resort with two online casinos and the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and the Ocean Resort Casino.
When the Ocean Resorts Casino and the Hard Rock have offered their online gaming services for a full month and beyond, it will be interesting to see how they contribute to the overall iGaming revenues for New Jersey. Once the Division of Gaming Enforcement releases revenue reports with the two online casinos included, we will have a better depiction of how the market will function with the two additions. Will monthly revenues go up or will the pie be sliced just a little bit differently? The caveat also is that players must be in New Jersey to play online so major Sportsbooks like Bovada and BetOnline should still continue to have their fair share of online players.