New Jersey Online Gambling Brief: More on Sports Betting and Mayors’ Event Results
The majority of the poker world has migrated to the oasis that is Las Vegas for the next six weeks (some kind of tournament is taking place I hear), but there is still a lot happening back east in New Jersey, where after a long battle with several disappointing judgments New Jersey’s efforts to bring legal sportsbetting to Garden State residents will finally get a look from the Supreme Court – whether the SCOTUS takes up the case is another matter.
In addition to the latest on New Jersey sportsbetting in this week’s column we’ll also take a look at some of the revenue data from the New Jersey market, including a comprehensive breakdown of the revenue numbers and a look at the suddenly declining player values in NJ.
We’ll finish up with a couple of interesting tidbits in our “We thought you should know” section, including the results of the Mayor’s Charity Tournament held at Bally’s this past week, and some good news for former Full Tilt Poker players still waiting for their remission payments… ***Spoiler Alert*** Your check may be in the mail.
A closer look at the NJ revenue numbers
Over at NJ.com I’ve been busy breaking down the very generalized revenue numbers we are given by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (NJ DGE) each month, looking at these revenue numbers in a more focused light to see just how well certain companies are performing in the market.
In my first article on the topic I broke down the revenue numbers by brand instead of by operator (which expands the list of providers from 6 to 13) and in doing so drastically closed the gap in terms of brand performance in the market.
In a second column I took this a step further and looked at each provider’s online casino revenue only (since some operators do not offer online poker) and in doing so turned what looked like an industry of have’s and have not’s into an extremely competitive industry that could very well turn on a dime.
I have a third column planned that will breakdown the added marketing expense for operators promoting more than one brand, but you’ll have to wait until next week for that one.
NJ “player value” on the decline
While I’ve been breaking down revenue numbers, OnlinePokerReport.com has been busy dissecting the “player values” in New Jersey, and the results are not good for NJ online gaming providers.
In his article (link below) and using data from PokerScout.com Chris grove details how for the first time the value of each player at a site decreased.
What this means is the sites are no longer making up for dwindling traffic numbers and signups by generating more money from each player at the site. Much like a restaurant that tries to make up for fewer and fewer patrons by raising menu prices, the NJ online gambling industry is discovering that this only pushes the problem out and doesn’t actually solve it.
You can read Chris Grove’s complete report on player values at OPR.
Sportsbetting appeal gets a date with the SCOTUS
A story we’ve been following closely this year is New Jersey’s attempts to legalize sportsbetting in the state, and their challenges to the federal ban on sportbetting under PASPA – which of course has several exemptions, most notably Nevada, which is the grounds New Jersey is fighting the case on.
Well, it appears that NJ will finally get their day in front of the Supreme Court… for a conference hearing anyway, as the SCOTUS will decide whether or not to hear the sportsbetting case on June 19th when the high court looks at the, New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, Inc. v. National Collegiate Athletic Association, case.
Issue: (1) Whether the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act’s (PASPA) prohibition on state licensing or authorization of sports wagering exceeds the enumerated powers of Congress and violates both the Tenth Amendment and structural principles of federalism; and (2) Whether PASPA’s discrimination in favor of Nevada and other exempted States violates the fundamental principle of equal sovereignty.
We thought you should know…
DOJ sending out $15 mil more to FTP customers
The Garden City Group will be sending out another $15 million in Full Tilt Poker remissions to US players according to their official website.
In all, 3,500 players will receive checks sometime in the middle of June, including players who have corrected some of their information, players who filed late remission applications, and players who were mislabeled as affiliates.
Tenafly Mayor Peter Rustin wins online/live charity tournament
Last week six mayors from around New Jersey headed to Bally’s Atlantic City for a $10,000 Charity Poker Tournament held on WSOP.com, but played in the new WSOP branded Bally’s Poker Room.
Rustin donated the $10,000 to five separate charities: The Center for Food Action, Pascack Valley Meals on Wheels, Kosher Meals on Wheels, Bergen County United Way and The Community Chest of Englewood and Tenafly.
As NorthJersey.com reported, ” the mayors faced off against each other on laptops as a means of promoting New Jersey’s Internet gambling industry.”
Here are some pictures from the event.
