Two of the biggest casinos in Atlantic City have been listed in Yahoo.com’s list of “10 Best Casinos in the U.S. If You Love To Gamble”. Hard Rock and Borgata were the only 2 casinos in New Jersey to make it to the list. The article was featured in Yahoo’s Lifestyle segment.
The article ranked Borgata as the 4th best casino in the US to gamble thanks to its massive casino floor, which consists of more than 3000 slot machines. Yahoo praised Borgata for its wide array of poker offerings, as well as its daily tournaments that are designed to attract punters with different budgets.
Hard Rock was ranked 5th after Borgata. The article commended Hard Rock for its newly renovated facilities and its guest experience. Hard Rock, which is the old Trump Taj Mahal, has invested more than $500 million to upgrade various parts of the hotel. So far, Hard Rock has renovated its 25 Roxy and 66 Celebrity suites and made improvements that include the addition of new flatscreen monitors, as well as LED lighting.
Hard Rock also opened a new Starbucks, as well as a new dining outlet. The main casino and cage areas were also expanded, which saw the introduction of new slots and table games. Lastly, the oceanfront resort also upgraded its beachfront amenities including the bar and restrooms.
Like many other casinos across the world, Atlantic City casinos had been struggling for years under the weight of the pandemic. However, the various casino operators in the city appear to be pulling through. According to reports given by the Division of Gaming Enforcement, casinos in AC have enjoyed a strong summer season that has been fueled by the return of normal operations and gambling behavior, which should ensure continued progress as the year nears a close.
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New Jersey’s gambling market keeps thriving
Most recently in May, New Jersey became the first state in the country to legalize fixed odds wagers on horse races. Punters in the state can now place fixed odds and pari-mutuel bets on races at Monmouth Park and any of the state’s 2 other racetracks through self-service terminals. Punters can also place bets on horse races online via a website or through a mobile app that’s powered by BetMakers.
Designed to suit racing and sports betting fans, all the necessary data will be provided by Eqibase. BetMakers has also been working closely with other sportsbook operators in New Jersey to launch fixed odds bets through their individual betting apps. By engaging customers frequently and growing the number of products being bet on, this will help to widen the customer experience while also attracting a new breed of online punter to the horse race betting market.
Horse racing is an untapped vertical for sportsbooks and this new vertical will ensure that operators have more content and more products on offer, which should deliver solid margins. So far, there has been an overwhelmingly positive response to the launch of fixed odds bets on horse races. As the market grows, it should help to attract a new audience of bettors, which will further help the gambling market in New Jersey and the country grow.
BetMakers first announced an exclusive agreement to deliver fixed odds and data distribution at the beginning of 2022. This agreement is slated to last for 15 years and will exist between Darby Development LLC, which operates Monmouth Park, as well as the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen Association.
The newly legalized fixed odds wagers market will prove to be tremendously useful not just to horse racing as a sport but also to the growing sports betting industry. The fixed odds system is simpler to use compared to the pari-mutuel system. Plus, the fixed odds system allows punters to place secure wagers at a fixed price, which makes the betting process less complex, particularly for those placing bets for the first time.
Now that fixed odds betting has been a reality in New Jersey for a while, its rollout will serve as a model for any other states that wish to legalize their markets. New Jersey is already starting to have a positive impact on other states. For instance, this March, the Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission approved a tweak to the state’s sports wagering rules.
As a result, fixed odds bets on horse and greyhound races are being allowed in Colorado for an 18-month trial period. That means that so far, New Jersey and Colorado are the only 2 states that offer this unique system of betting on horse races. With the introduction of fixed odds horse races in the US, the future of the gambling industry has never been brighter.
In August, New Jersey’s gambling market made history yet again when it introduced the first peer-to-peer sports wagering exchange. This August, Prophet Exchange, received approval from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement to legally set up the first exchange not just in the state but the country as well.
Prophet Exchange will allow punters to set their prices and place wagers on events set by their fellow punters. The exchange offers a unique gambling experience as it promised to offer punters better odds and prices, which will separate the product from traditional sports betting. Debuting the first betting exchange in New Jersey first proves New Jersey’s market potential and capability.
Final Thoughts
The gambling industry in the country shows limitless potential but in Atlantic City, casinos are leading the way as far as innovation is concerned. Introducing new betting systems such as fixed odds wagers on races will make the market more customer friendly and will help to attract younger betting customers that are more familiar with sports betting. This new legalization is exactly what casinos in AC need for continued growth.
The changes that have taken place in Atlantic City represent some of the most exciting and transformative changes that have occurred in the gambling industry over the last 30 years. We are witnessing immense progress in the country’s gambling market, largely thanks to the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn PASPA in 2018.
