New Jersey Online Poker Accounts Increase To 126,231

Since New Jersey opened its first online poker site on November 26th, the number of accounts being created has risen steadily and currently stands at 126,231. However, the first three weeks produced the most intense growth (wk1 17,000; wk2 51,352; wk3 71,486) with the last three weeks indicating that the initial interest in New Jersey online gambling may have started to ease slightly (wk4 91,531; wk 5 109,946; wk6 126,231).
Nevertheless, the latest figures released by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) were greeted enthusiastically by the organization, with DGE Director David Rebuck, commenting: “We have seen a steady and continual increase in site traffic since November 21 due to the outreach of the casino operators. We are encouraged by their marketing efforts and are optimistic for the future of New Jersey’s Internet gaming industry.”
Up until now, seven of Atlantic City’s licensed casinos have been offering online poker and online gambling games, including Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort, Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, Tropicana Casino and Resort, Caesars Atlantic City, Bally’s Atlantic City and The Golden Nugget. However, just two of the casinos have been dominating the market thus far with partypoker accounting for over 50% the market share, averaging 240 real-money cash game players over a seven-day period. Next, Caesars Interactive Entertainment’s World Series of Poker, with its partner 888 Holdings, reported a seven-day average of 150 players last week, followed by All American Poker Network (80 players) and Ultimate Poker (18 players).
New Jersey embraced online gambling in order to give its struggling casinos a boost and bring extra revenues to the state. However, opponents to the move expressed concerns that online gambling could produce more addicts in a state that already has an estimated 350,000 problem gamblers. Nevertheless, a number of safeguards have been implemented by regulators in order to help problem gamblers, including a Casino Gambling Self-Exclusion Program for Internet gaming. As Gov. Chris Christie previously explained when signing the online gambling bill into law:
“But with the proper regulatory framework and safeguards that I insisted on including in the bill, I am confident that we are offering a responsible yet exciting option that will make Atlantic City more competitive while also bringing financial benefits to New Jersey as a whole.”