New Jersey Casinos Generate $528M, Dwarf Sports Betting Revenue

New Jersey casinos achieved a milestone in June 2026, as online gaming revenue surpassed physical casino floors for the first time, contributing to total gaming revenue of $528,323,938. The combined casino and online gaming operations posted a 7.9% increase from the previous year, particularly outpacing sports betting revenue by a nine-to-one margin. Internet gaming specifically generated $271.0 million, narrowly exceeding the casino floor’s $257.3 million, meanwhile sports betting produced just $57.3 million.

New Jersey Casinos Post $528 Million in Gaming Revenue

Atlantic City’s nine casino properties demonstrated sustained momentum throughout 2026, with May recording $627.10 million in total gaming revenue across casinos, racetracks, and their partners. This figure represented a 2.0% increase from May 2025’s $614.70 million. Casino win specifically reached $265.60 million in May, marking a 0.1% gain and establishing the market’s strongest May performance in over a decade.

The year-to-date results through May revealed continued expansion, with total gaming revenue climbing to $2.93 billion, reflecting 7.2% growth from the corresponding period in 2025. Slots revenue generated $199.40 million in May, posting a 2.4% year-over-year increase, while table games revenue declined 6.1% to $66.20 million. This divergence illustrated the relative stability of electronic gaming compared to the more variable nature of table game operations.

February 2026 produced $520.80 million in total gaming revenue, representing a 7.4% increase from $484.80 million recorded in February 2025. New Jersey casinos maintained a streak of twelve consecutive months generating over $500 million in revenue. Atlantic City casino win reached $202.90 million in February, experiencing a marginal 0.3% decline attributed to weather conditions more severe than recent years.

The state collected $79,269,552 in taxes from June’s gaming activities, while May generated $80,731,149 in tax receipts.

Sports Betting Revenue Trails Casino Operations by 9-to-1 Margin

Sports betting operators processed $917 million in wagers during June 2026, representing a 16% increase from June 2025. However, revenue plummeted 37.7% year-over-year from $91.9 million to $57.3 million. The dramatic divergence between rising handle and falling revenue stemmed from patron winnings associated with NBA Finals and FIFA World Cup games, combined with aggressive sportsbook bonus promotions.

The statewide hold collapsed to approximately 6.2% in June, meaning operators retained just over $6 for every $100 wagered, compared with 11.6% during the same month in 2025. This represented the lowest monthly hold recorded in New Jersey’s sports betting market.

Year-to-date performance through June revealed broader challenges, with operators generating $513 million in revenue, down 7.1% from $552 million during the first half of 2025. Online operations accounted for $503.5 million of that total, declining 6.1%, while retail sportsbooks contributed $9.4 million, a 39.2% drop. The year-to-date handle reached approximately $5.7 billion.

Sports wagering generated $107.3 million in taxes through June, including $12.5 million during the latest month. Despite record betting volume during the World Cup, the 19.75% tax rate produced lower receipts because of reduced operator revenue.

Online Gaming Delivers Two-Thirds of New Jersey Tax Revenue

Internet gaming operations now account for 65% of total gaming taxes collected by New Jersey when combined with online sports wagering revenue, fundamentally altering the state’s fiscal relationship with the casino industry. During June 2026, online casino revenue alone produced a $60.40 million tax haul, approximately double the combined receipts from land-based casino operations at $18.90 million and sports betting at $12.40 million.

The state collected approximately $1.01 billion in total gaming tax revenue during 2025, representing a 26.1% increase from the previous year. This surge reflected both market growth and the implementation of increased tax rates on internet-based gaming activities. Of that total, $801.50 million flowed into the Casino Revenue Fund, which supports programs exclusively benefiting senior citizens and disabled residents. An additional $123.70 million funded economic development and community projects in Atlantic City, while $82.60 million entered the general fund.

New Jersey enacted legislation effective July 1, 2025, raising the online casino tax rate from 15% to 19.75%. The state collected $883.20 million in casino taxes and fees during 2024, up from $796.00 million in 2023. By the same token, the higher tax rates on digital platforms drove substantial revenue gains despite sports betting’s declining operator margins.