NJ gaming revenue hits $586M as online surges

The basics:

• NJ gaming revenue totals $586.4M in January 2026, up 5.9% year over year
• Internet casino revenue jumps 16.8% to $258.9M
• Atlantic City casinos post strongest January in 14 years
• Sports betting revenue falls 6.5% despite $1.03B handle

Even amid harsh winter weather and Atlantic City’s traditional off-season, New Jersey’s gaming market continued its upward march in January. Surging internet casino revenue and the strongest January brick-and-mortar figure in more than a decade fueled the early 2026 growth.

The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement reported total gaming revenue of $586.4 million in January. The figure marks a 5.9% increase over January 2025. Total gross revenue taxes reached $86.5 million.

The nine Atlantic City casinos hotels posted $213.3 million in brick-and-mortar win, up 1.6% from January 2025. This marks the highest such figure in the first month of the year in 14 years for the resort.

The top three performing properties by January 2026 casino win were:

• Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa $56.7 million down 6.1%
• Hard Rock Atlantic City $45.9 million up 20.9%
• Ocean Casino Resort $35.5 up 0.8%

Internet gaming generated $258.9 million, a 16.8% year-over-year increase. Sports wagering revenue dropped 6.5% to $114.2 million, versus $122.2 million last January. The handle of $1.03 billion marked a 10.2% year-over-year decrease.

“In a volatile month impacted by unusual winter weather, Atlantic City saw modest growth in its monthly casino win, narrowly achieving its best January in 14 years,” said New Jersey Casino Control Commission Chairman James Plousis. “Internet gaming win recorded double-digit growth, eclipsing $250 million for the fourth consecutive month. State-wide total gaming revenue has exceeded one-half billion dollars in eleven consecutive months.”

Off-season momentum in Atlantic City

Jane Bokunewicz, faculty director of the Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality and Tourism (LIGHT), Stockton University School of Business, echoed those sentiments.

“Despite a span of brutal cold and severe winter weather across the region, Atlantic City casino operators realized a fairly strong month of brick-and-mortar gaming revenue for January 2026,” said Bokunewicz. “Operators’ total Gross Gaming Revenue for the month also continued a growth trend propelled by internet gaming revenues.

“For the third consecutive month (and the eighth time since inception) internet gaming gross revenue surpassed brick-and-mortar revenue to claim 48.1% of total revenue share. Sportsbooks (online and retail) represented 12.2% of revenue while traditional land-based gaming accounted for just 39.7%.”

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Bokunewicz also noted that with this January report, available here, the DGE debuted a new gross revenue summary table called “Internet Gaming Win and Online Sportsbook Gross Revenue Summary.”

“For the first time we are getting a clearer (more accessible) view of the business dynamics of different online-based brands,” she explained. “Statewide, there are only two ‘Casino Brands’ (Bally Bet and Ocean) – operations where the casino recognizes all of the gross revenues – and these brands accounted for just 2.3% of the total market share.

“The majority of online-generated revenue in the state (67.6%) was realized by ‘Third-Party Brands’ – entities that contract with casino or racetrack licensees for market access.”

The top grossing third-party brands include:

• FanDuel $104.6 million, 28.2% market share
• DraftKings $79.2 million, 21.3% market share
• BetFanatics $22.9 million, 6.2% market share

“Internet gaming continues to grow in popularity among gamblers, and as it more frequently surpasses brick-and-mortar gaming revenues on a monthly basis it becomes more important than ever as a revenue stream,” Bokunewicz continued. “With casinos often relying on third-party operators to manage their internet gaming sites, it seems that much of the benefit of this growing segment is experienced outside of Atlantic City.”

NJBIZ recently reported on the strong 2025 in gaming and tourism across Atlantic City — with major events, reinvestment projects and action scheduled throughout the resort town throughout 2026.

Plousis noted about internet gaming, “Atlantic City is enjoying momentum from record results in 2025, and the ongoing success of online casinos provides competitive advantage to operators even during Atlantic City’s traditional off-season.”

PPAG partner Bill Pascrell III summed up the recent report. “January’s numbers demonstrate the strength and maturity of New Jersey’s gaming industry,” he said in a statement. “Total revenue climbed nearly 6% year over year, fueled by another impressive double-digit increase in iGaming, which continues to expand the market and reach new consumers.

“With a diversified portfolio across casino, digital and sports betting, the Garden State once again proves that a well-regulated, innovative marketplace delivers sustainable growth and sets the gold standard.”