New Jersey Online Poker Down Again in September
Another month delivered a familiar story about the internet gaming industry in New Jersey. Online poker revenue declined in September while online casino game revenue increased.
The coronavirus pandemic prompted New Jersey poker players to log on in record numbers, and online poker soared for several months this year, specifically in April and May. Poker players served up another increase in July. But the last two months saw decreases. While revenue remains high with respect to the previous year’s numbers, it was unable to maintain its momentum from the spring into the fall.
Online casino games saw a typical increase, as has been the overall pattern for years. But the poker dip brought the overall internet sector down just below the previous month, though the overall year-on-year numbers remain doubled.
Let’s just get to the numbers for September 2020, as provided by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement..
September 2020 Online Poker Revenue
The aforementioned roller coaster of online poker in New Jersey began in March with a jump due to the casinos closing due to the pandemic. April revenue surged even higher. It dropped in May and June but roared to life again in July. Last month, however, online poker dipped 37%.
The decrease in September was not as pronounced but notable nonetheless.
–September 2020 online poker win: $2,554,216
–August 2020 online poker win: $3,035,003
–September 2019 online poker win: $1,638,916
—Month-on-month: 15.8% decrease
—Year-on-year: 55.8% increase
If online poker can keep its revenue so much higher than the previous year, it would be a solid step for this sector. But the recent dive indicates it may not be able to sustain much – if any – of the 2020 progress.
The Borgata casino said Thursday it will resume live poker play on Oct. 21. It is the first Atlantic City casino to announce the resumption of live poker. https://t.co/xQly6Er9XJ
— Action News on 6abc (@6abc) October 16, 2020
September 2020 Online Casino Games Revenue
As usual, online casino games – both table games and slots – continued their growth pattern. While the increases were significant in March, April, and May, the path remained the same but not as steep on a monthly basis. Last month, the revenue rise for this sector was only 2.5%.
September showed a much smaller month-on-month increase.
–September 2020 online casino games win: $85,079,481
–August 2020 online casino games win: $84,737,965
–September 2019 online casino games win: $39,499,341
—Month-on-month: 0.4% increase
—Year-on-year: 115.4% increase
The yearly growth remains substantial and extremely beneficial for New Jersey.
Total Internet Gaming Win for September 2020
With the exception of a few months in 2020, online casino games growth has carried the total internet gaming sector for several years. When online poker falls, online casino games typically show enough growth to keep the whole sector on an upward trajectory. That wasn’t possible in September, so the monthly numbers were down slightly.
–September 2020 total internet gaming win: $87,633,697
–August 2020 total internet gaming win: $87,772,968
–September 2019 total internet gaming win: $41,138,257
—Month-on-month: 0.16% decrease
—Year-on-year: 113% increase
Again, the growth of internet gaming in its entirety from the previous year remains consistent and strong.
Sports Betting in September 2020
After a nice increase for sports betting revenue in August, it rose again in September, though by a smaller amount. With many pro sports leagues in action and online wagering playing a significant role, the numbers were solid across the board in this sector.
–September 2020 sports betting win: $45,083,178
–August 2020 sports betting win: $39,507,181
–September 2019 sports betting win: $37,883,375
—Month-on-month: 14.1% increase
—Year-on-year: 19% increase
New Jersey's sports betting market shattered its own national record in September, taking in nearly $749 million in bets.https://t.co/SeZuQT4egG
— Axios (@axios) October 16, 2020
Total New Jersey Gaming Revenue for September 2020
The third month of open land-based New Jersey casinos delivered interesting results. This is because many casinos remained under protocols that limited the number of customers allowed and had not yet allowed all table games – including poker – to begin again.
There was also another wave of coronavirus cases that kept some people from venturing out into public spaces like casinos. Put that on top of back-to-school month and people staying outside to grab the last of the summer weather, September wasn’t the best month ever for casinos.
–September 2020 total casino win: $190,572,796
–August 2020 total casino win: $199,052,809
–September 2019 total casino win: $224,507,013
–Month-on-month: 4.3% decrease
–Year-on-year: 15.1% decrease
All in all, New Jersey showed some growth in a very tough season and year. Thanks to internet gaming, overall revenue increased from the previous year despite casino revenue down for the month.
–September 2020 total gaming revenue: $323,289,671
–August 2020 total gaming revenue: $326,332,958
–September 2019 total gaming revenue: $303,528,645
–Month-on-month: 9.3% decrease
–Year-on-year: 6.5% increase
The number of positive Covid-19 cases in New Jersey – and in nearby states – is likely to drastically impact gambling revenue for the state in the coming months. With a second wave of cases sneaking in and threatening to increase significantly in the next few months, the gambling numbers will tell the story.
New Jersey’s September gaming revenue rose 6.5% YoY to $323.28M.
Slots = $144.01M / -9.6%
Table = $46.55M / -28.7%
Online = $87.63M / +113%
Sports = $45.08M / +19%For the second month in a row the state’s sports betting handle set a national record with over $748M wagered. pic.twitter.com/XS6imTzaTM
— Just Won One (@JustWonOne) October 16, 2020
