NJ Casino News: Weekly Roundup

Get the latest casino news and updates in New Jersey for this week (October 16, 2021 – October 22, 2021).

New Jersey Hits $1 Billion in One Month for Sports Betting

The nine Atlantic City casinos and three racetracks have collectively taken in $1.01 billion in a single month, setting new records. September marked the onset of a new football season, sending plenty of punters to the variety of sportsbooks available. Of that $1 billion, the casinos and tracks kept $82 million as revenue:

“New Jersey has always been a strong gaming market,’ said Casey Clark, senior vice president of the American Gaming Association, the casino industry’s national trade group. “Crossing the $1 billion handle mark in September is an impressive indicator of the appetite of New Jerseyans and Americans across the country who have embraced legal, regulated sports betting.”

September was a good month for New Jersey’s gambling industry overall, with total casino, internet and sports betting revenue up over 40% from a year ago, to $453.5 million.

New Jersey won a U.S. Supreme Court case in 2018 clearing the way for all 50 states to offer legal sports betting, and more than half the country now allows it.

Since then, New Jersey has been near or at the top of the nationwide sports betting industry. The previous national record for the most money bet on sports in a single month also came from New Jersey, which saw $996 million wagered on sports in December 2020.

New AC Grocery Store Funding Approved

The ongoing story of getting a ShopRite grocery store on Baltic Avenue inches ever closer to becoming reality. The board of directors of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority unanimously approved over $18.5 million in project funding. Under the current agreement, ShopRite owner company Village Supermarket Inc. will lease the property from the city for $1 per year:

“Atlantic City’s days as a food desert are soon to be over,” Gov. Phil Murphy said in a statement. “This is a great day for Atlantic City and yet another example of our administration’s dedication to revitalization and economic recovery that centers the needs of local residents at the heart of our efforts.”

The resort has been without a major grocery store for more than 15 years. The nearest supermarkets are in neighboring Ventnor and Absecon, though the resort does have a discount grocer, Save A Lot, and a number of bodegas.

AC Area Grants Available To Organizations That Fight Hunger

Atlantic City area nonprofits that help distribute food will have access to new grant funding to help with distribution. The Community FoodBank of New Jersey and the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority will have a pool of $250,000 to give out, and funding will be available in grants of up to $50,000. This is part of the food bank’s larger initiative to fund organizations that do the active work of fighting hunger throughout New Jersey:

CRDA held monthly food distribution events at Bader Field for more than a year during the pandemic. The latest initiative signals the agency’s commitment to fortifying food distribution networks in the region, CRDA Deputy Director Rosa Farias said.

With unemployment rates in the city nearly double the state average, the food bank has experienced a 50% increase in demand for food. The loss of jobs has hit Atlantic County and South Jersey particularly hard, as the region is dependent on casino and tourism jobs.

Pepsi To Be Exclusive Beverage Provider at Bally’s Properties

PepsiCo and Bally’s Corp. have announced that Pepsi will be the official beverage brand at all Bally’s casinos and resorts across the nation. PepsiCo will now have exclusive rights in restaurants, food courts, convenience stores, gift shops, and vending machines at Bally’s properties:

Top locations include Bally’s Atlantic City Hotel & Casino and Twin River Casino Hotel.

“With this partnership, our two marquee brands are bringing our guests the ultimate entertainment and hospitality experience,” said Paul Juliano, Bally’s corporate operations vice president.