Canada
New Jersey sportsbooks surge with another historic month
New Jersey’s sportsbooks capitalized on an unprecedented confluence of major U.S. sports to set yet another all-jurisdiction record with nearly $750 million in September. And with the record, the Garden State’s handle year-to-date has surpassed the first nine months of 2019, a remarkable trajectory considering major sports were shut down for months, according to PlayNJ.
“September was a once-in-a-lifetime moment on the sports calendar when all four major U.S. sports were playing meaningful games all at once, which was obviously a boon for sportsbooks,” said Dustin Gouker, lead analyst at PlayNJ.com. “The growth seen over the last two months will likely level off once the sports schedule returns to normal. But it’s clear New Jersey’s sports betting industry is setting a new floor.”
Wagers at New Jersey’s online and retail sportsbooks soared to $748.6 million in September, up 68% from $445.6 million in September 2019 and easily surpassing the all-jurisdiction record of $668 million set by New Jersey just last month. New Jersey sportsbooks have now collected $3.3 billion in bets through the first nine months of 2020, up from $2.96 billion through the corresponding months in 2019.
The state’s sportsbooks have now collected $9.1 billion in wagers since the industry launched in June 2018, surpassing yet another milestone.
September’s bets produced $45.1 million in gross operator revenue, up 14.1% from $37.9 million in September 2019. Those revenues yielded $5.6 million in state taxes.
In August, New Jersey generated nearly $200 million more than Nevada’s $474.9 million handle, and appears poised to outpace the nation’s No. 2 market significantly yet again. New Jersey’s sportsbooks took in a whopping $159.5 million in football bets in September. But bettors also placed another $208.3 million on “other” sports, a classification that includes hockey, $115.3 million on baseball, and $98.8 million on basketball.
“Bringing all the major sports together at once enabled New Jersey to show off its unique ability to attract significant action on a wide variety of sports,” Gouker said. “New Jersey is less event-driven and football commands a smaller share of the overall handle than Nevada, which is an obvious benefit under the current circumstances.”
Online bets accounted for 90.7%, or $678.7 million, of September’s handle. That was up from 90.1% in August and 84% in September 2019. FanDuel Sportsbook/PointsBet topped the market with $25.1 million in gross revenue, up from $17.6 million in August. FanDuel was followed in revenue by:
- Resorts Digital/DraftKings/Fox Bet ($4.8 million, down from $10 million in August)
- BetMGM/Borgata ($3.7 million, up from $3.3 million)
- Ocean Casino/William Hill ($2.3 million, up from $1.2 million)
- Monmouth/William Hill/Sugarhouse/TheScore ($2.3 million, up from $1.7 million)
- Hard Rock/Bet365/Unibet ($947,986, up from $530,136)
- Golden Nugget/BetAmerica ($168,391, up from $41,851)
- Tropicana/William Hill ($109,185, up from $51,948)
- Caesars Sportsbook/888sport ($244,974, up from -$41,648)
Struggling retail sportsbooks showed modest improvement, generating $69.8 million in bets, up from $66 million in August. FanDuel Sportsbook at The Meadowlands once again topped retail books with $3.1 million in revenue.
“September’s results hint at a $1 billion month someday soon, which would’ve been impossible to fathom two years ago,” said Eric Ramsey, analyst for PlayNJ.com. “As we can see with Unibet’s recent launch, online sportsbooks will continue to be where we see growth and where operators will continue to invest.”
Online gambling eyes $950 million for 2020
New Jersey online casinos and poker rooms continued their place as the industry’s most consistent performer in September with a near-record $87.6 million in revenue, up 113% from $41.1 million in September 2020. September’s revenue injected $13.2 million into state coffers, giving New Jersey $103 million in taxes from online casinos and poker so far this year.
Now the industry has a bigger number in sight — $950 million in annual revenue.
Through the first three quarters of 2020, online gambling has generated $685.6 million, up 102.2% from $339 million through the first nine months of 2019. The industry would have to average $88.1 million per month, only a slight uptick, over the final three months of 2020 to reach $950 million for the year.
“Nearly $1 billion in revenue is a staggering figure to think about, and every dollar has been vital in keeping New Jersey’s gaming industry afloat during a difficult year,” Ramsey said. “The growth in online revenue has begun to flatten after a spring surge, but the importance of online gambling to the overall health of the industry continues to grow.”
Some other highlights from September’s report:
- Online casinos and poker generated $2.9 million a day over the 30 days of September, breaking the record $2.83 million a day produced in August.
- Revenue from online casinos alone was $85.1 million, up from $84.7 million in August.
- Online casino games have now generated $2.01 million in revenue since launching in November 2013.
- Online poker produced $2.6 million in September revenue, down from $3 million in August.
- The Golden Nugget’s market dominance continued with $26 million in September, down from $27.7 million. Borgata was second with $19.8 million.
For more information and analysis on regulated sports betting and online gaming in New Jersey, visit PlayNJ.com/news.
About the PlayUSA.com Network:
The PlayUSA.com Network is a leading source for news, analysis, and research related to the market for regulated online gaming in the United States. With a presence in over a dozen states, PlayUSA.com and its state-focused branches produce original daily reporting, publish in-depth research, and offer player advocacy tools related to the advancement of safe, licensed, and legal online gaming options for consumers. Based in Las Vegas, the PlayUSA Network is independently owned and operated, with no affiliations to any casino — commercial, tribal, online, or otherwise.
Boxes
Hacksaw Gaming and DraftKings Score Again in Ontario
2023 saw Hacksaw Gaming go live in West Virginia and New Jersey and now we have made our long-awaited entry in Ontario, Canada. Securing this trio has hit new heights and hopes for further successes throughout the rest of this year.
DraftKings Casino entered the iGaming market in Ontario in May of 2022 and partnered with Hacksaw Gaming in the back end of the same year. As Ontario’s regulated iGaming market only went live in April of 2022, the pair have given an outstanding performance with effective launch strategies and expansive footing in North America.
Apart from gaining an unprecedented reach across regulated markets, the mobile-friendly format of Hacksaw Gaming games can be visited on phone or tablet via the DraftKings Casino app. Boasting an impressive online casino’s selection of over 300 games, DraftKings now welcomes Hacksaw Gaming favourites such as Chaos Crew, Mines, Omnom and Boxes.
“The benchmarks we have set as a partnership are remarkable and we are ready to take on more challenges continuing into 2024,” the Chief Executive Officer for Hacksaw Gaming, Marcus Cordes, said.
BetVictor
Exploring Canada’s video Game Market: Survey Insights
Technology has become a great source of entertainment to many. Video games particularly have garnered interest from all demographics. In Canada, the gaming industry has experienced significant growth, fuelled by increased accessibility to gaming platforms and the growth of online gaming communities.
Statistics indicate that a large percentage of Canadians are engaged in gaming activities, whether it be playing console or PC games, mobile games, or online multiplayer games. The popularity of video games extends beyond leisure pastimes, with many Canadians participating in gaming competitions, attending gaming conventions, and consuming gaming-related content on platforms like Twitch and YouTube.
The number of video game users in Canada reflects how broad the sector is, from mobile games to digital video games, download games and live streaming. In 2024, the gaming sector will see millions of users in each of these categories. Statista projects 13.38 million users for digital video games and 7.35 million users for online games respectively. It estimates that revenue in the Canadian video game market is expected to reach US$3,925.00m in 2024, so it is no surprise to observe the increasing popularity of the sector.
Well-known online casino provider BetVictor has compiled some key points from major surveys detailing the video game market to give further insight into its makeup and potential. The gaming culture in Canada is growing, which means the type of games and genres will grow along with the sector. Statista recently conducted a survey of 1 576 respondents aged 18 – 64 who are avid video game players, with telling results. In December 2023, a survey about preferred video game genres in Canada revealed the top four genres as being Action, Action – adventure, Adventure and casual games accounting for 31% of respondents’ preferences.
David Winter, Marketing Manager at BetVictor notes that “We’ve seen a steady increase in the popularity of action-themed and adventure-themed slots and many providers are exploring how to expand further into this market.”
The popularity of Action games such as platform and fighting games can be attributed to various factors, such as: social interaction, accessibility and inclusivity, social appeal, and cultural influence. With such a diverse audience, all these factors are crucial to understand the appeal of Action games.
In the digital age, gaming has transcended mere entertainment to become a cornerstone of culture, and nowhere is this more evident than in Canada. From coast to coast, a diverse community of gamers is thriving, reflecting the country’s inclusive spirit and passion for technology. Whether it’s the casual gamer enjoying a quick session on their smartphone or the dedicated enthusiast meticulously building a custom gaming PC, Canada offers a welcome haven for all kinds of gamers.
Diving deeper into the Statista results, Strategy games accounted for 29%. This shows us that players have a strong interest in tactical and decision-making games. While role-playing (RPG) and sports games garnered 22% each, simulation and shooters trailed slightly behind at 21% and 20% respectively.
MMO (massively multiplayer online games), as well as MMORPGs (massively multiplayer online role-playing games) and MOBA (multi online battle arenas) came in at 13% and 8% respectively, representing a significant but niche following. With such a diverse array of preferences, the survey underscores the multifaceted nature of interests among Canadian gamers. It highlights the need for game developers to cater for a wide range of genres and gameplaying styles in the Canadian market.
From action shooter games to role-playing adventures, the industry has something for every gaming enthusiast in the Canadian market. Overall, the popularity of video games in Canada reflects a growing cultural phenomenon, where gaming has become a mainstream form of entertainment and a significant aspect of modern-day leisure activities.
Statistics anticipate a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.10% for 2022-2027, resulting in a projected market volume of US$24.52bn by 2027. Canada’s online gaming market is experiencing a surge in popularity, with a surging number of Canadian players engaging in immersive virtual reality experiences.
Canada
iGaming Ontario Seeks Proposals for a Centralized Self-exclusion Solution Until April 24, 2024
iGaming Ontario (iGO) is currently seeking proposals for Ontario’s centralized self-exclusion solution for igaming from now until April 24.
Partnering with iGO on this multi-year project offers a unique and exciting opportunity for forward-thinking and innovative organizations prepared to make a lasting positive impact on the igaming landscape in Ontario. Interested organizations can visit iGaming Ontario’s dedicated procurement page on MERX to review all NRFP details and prepare their submissions for this high-profile initiative.
The successful bidder will develop a system that:
- Integrates seamlessly with all Ontario igaming operators’ systems, including Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG)’s igaming site.
- Provides anyone 19+ with easy access to create and manage their self-exclusion profile.
- Implements Know Your Customer (KYC) identity verification, registration, renewal, and reinstatement processes that are intuitive, simple, and offer supporting information.
How to Participate in the Bidding Process?
The Centralized Self-Exclusion (CSE) Solution, along with other iGO current and past bid opportunities, can be found on iGO’s MERX page.
Have a question?
Use the question and answer tool provided on iGO’s MERX page to submit any questions you might have. Please note that iGaming Ontario will only entertain questions about open bidding opportunities in accordance with government directives.
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