New Jersey in the News — Weekly Round-up for August 10, 2018

Sugarhouse Online Casino In New Jersey Awards Its Biggest Jackpot Yet

Anonymous New Jersey woman wins $287,945 on a $2 bet

Rush Street Interactive online casino subsidiary Playsugarhouse.com has awarded what it claims is the largest online jackpot yet on its Divine Fortune progressive jackpot slot, paying out $287,945 to a local woman resident who had bet just $2.

The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, revealed that she had been at work when she decided to have a flutter on her mobile phone, with the results completely defying her expectations.

“I was actually on a work conference call and almost screamed at loud!” the big winner related, noting that it was also a wonderful birthday gift for her on that particular day. She has been an online player at Playsugarhouse since January this year.

Richard Schwartz, President of Rush Street Interactive, said: “As we approach our 2 year anniversary, hitting this record-breaking jackpot is great for us and for the entire online gaming industry, as it proves people can win life-changing amounts online at anytime and anyplace.”

Caesars Reveals New Jersey Mobile Gambling Plans

Gambling group is set to merge online casino and sports betting on a single New Jersey platform

There has been a blizzard of partnership deals across the United States this past week as major US gambling groups take early advantage of the liberalised sports betting market currently unfolding there, often partnered by experienced European companies.

On Friday Caesars Entertainment added to the excitement it created earlier in the week in announcing that two of its New Jersey land casinos – Bally’s and Harrah‘s – had launched sports betting activity in the state; it revealed that it is working on plans to launch mobile sports betting in New Jersey by including the vertical in its Caesars Casino and Sports app, currently available as CaesarsCasino.com.

Melanie Gross, Caesars’ vice president of online casino, told the local publication PlayNJ.com:

“We want to offer our players a full casino experience, and give them the opportunity to play their favorite casino games and also place wagers on sports within the same application, and have it be a seamless experience.

“When the idea of PASPA (Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act) getting repealed became real, we looked at a number of different options available to us. And the right choice for our business includes one app for both casino and sports.”

Caesars had previously revealed that it has partnered with Scientific Games, which will power the mobile wagering platform with its SG Digital technology. Within the same app, users can switch between sports betting and the online casino.

The company has yet to announce a date for going live with mobile sports betting, but observers believe the plan is to have it available in time for the football season.

PlayNJ notes that a mobile Caesars app will also have appeal outside the New Jersey market in the form of sports fans in neighbouring New York, who could easily make the short cross-border journey into New Jersey to bet on their mobile devices.

At present the main mobile competitive threat is the DraftKings Sportsbook in partnership with Resorts Casino and Hotel, which has already commenced soft launch operations in New Jersey (see previous InfoPowa reports). MGM Resorts International has also indicated it has mobile plans via its Borgata subsidiary.