Tropicana Casino & Resort in Atlantic City launched its sportsbook Thursday, bringing a ninth operator into New Jersey sports betting.
William Hill operates the new sportsbook at Tropicana, and threw open the doors in time for the second half of football season. Bets will be taken in the North Tower Casino for now, while a new 5,000-square-foot sportsbook is built out.
The casino also announced the launch on its website Thursday, adding a section to promote the new sportsbook on its property. Tropicana opened only its physical sportsbook Thursday — no mobile or online yet.
Tropicana lagged behind the rest of the New Jersey sports betting market in getting up and running. More than $330 million already has been bet on sports in the Garden State since its summer start.
Why it took a bit longer for Tropicana to start
A number of New Jersey sports betting operations appeared prepared for a summer start after the fall of PASPA. William Hill launched the sportsbook at Monmouth Park in June and seven others followed suit in the next two-plus months.
Tropicana’s situation became complicated by its pending acquisition. Eldorado Resorts agreed to purchase Tropicana from Icahn Enterprises in the spring in a $1.85 billion deal.
The sale did not close until months later, though, with word of final approval coming in early October. That slowed Tropicana in jumping into the sports betting landscape, especially after Eldorado quickly fired Tropicana’s online casino staff.
William Hill announced its partnership with Tropicana in September, making clear the sportsbook would launch this year. Now Tropicana adds the ninth option to the New Jersey sports betting market just weeks after its sale closed.
New Jersey sports betting taking off
David Rebuck, New Jersey’s top gaming regulator, promised “stunning” revenue numbers for September’s sports betting report. Released last week, the report showed rapid expansion in New Jersey sports betting during football season.
State casinos took more than $184 million in sports wagers and held nearly $24 million in revenue in September. That handle more than doubles the total from August.
September marked the first full month with eight mobile and online sports betting options in New Jersey, which boosted the total significantly. In fact, digital revenue ($12.5 million) surpassed land-based revenue ($11.4 million) for the month, a sign of what is to come in New Jersey.
