Background

New Jersey has a state lottery, pari-mutuel betting on horse-racing, and gambling on slot machines, table games, poker, and simulcast race betting in Atlantic City casinos.

Casino Gaming

Development: Casino gaming was approved by statewide referendum in 1976, with casinos restricted to Atlantic City. There is no legislative limit on the number of licenses or machines permitted. The legislative intent was to use gambling as a unique tool for urban revitalization of Atlantic City, and to generate revenue to establish new or expanded programs to benefit senior citizens and disabled residents.

Regulation: The state's gaming industry is overseen by the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, which licenses casinos, vendors, and employees and issues regulations, and the state's Division of Gaming Enforcement, which investigates and polices the industry.

Taxation: 9.25% effective rate, including gross revenue tax (8%) and mandatory contribution to the Casino Redevelopment Agency (1.25%)

Currently, there are 11 casinos in Atlantic City: the Atlantic City Hilton, Tropicana, Trump Plaza, Caesars Atlantic City, Bally's Atlantic City, Resorts, Trump Taj Mahal, Showboat, Harrah's Atlantic City, Trump Marina, and the Borgata

For detailed statistical information about Atlantic City's casino industry since its inception, see the Atlantic City Casino Statistics pages.

Lottery

Development: The New Jersey Lottery was approved by referendum in 1969. The 81.5% majority in favor of the lottery is one of the largest in New Jersey history. The first ticket was sold on December 16, 1970. The legislation that created the New Jersey Lottery also established a Commission of seven, non-salaried, bipartisan members, appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the State Senate. Commission terms are five years.

Beneficiaries: Since its inception, nearly four decades ago, the Lottery has dedicated over $17.2 billion to programs that benefit millions of New Jersey residents. Educational opportunity programs, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, the School Nutrition Program, and the Marie Katzenbach School for the Deaf are just a few of the organizations and programs whose constituencies benefit from Lottery proceeds.

Racing

The New Jersey Racing Commission is responsible for regulating the safety and integrity of the horse racing industry through the conduct of investigations, prosecutions and via regular monitoring. The Division of the New Jersey Racing Commission has jurisdiction over New Jersey's thoroughbred and standardbred permit holders and the authority to regulate racing at the state's four racetracks

For more information:

New Jersey Lottery 

New Jersey Racing Commission

New Jersey Casino Control Commission

All revenue information is in thousands; add 000 for totals.

For more detailed Atlantic City casino information, see our Atlantic City Casino Statistics pages.

Atlantic City Gaming Revenue
Statistics for Casino, Slot, and Table Win, 1978-2010

Total sales reflects all money wagered on the lottery in the fiscal year in question. Total revenue is total sales plus interest earned on the lottery fund balance, forfeited prizes, and miscellaneous revenue sources . Prize allocation is the total amount of money set aside to be paid back to winners. Net Revenue (before operating expenses) is the total revenue minus vendor and retailer commissions and prize payouts. Prize percentages are taken from the total revenues.Contributions are transfers for state aid to education and state institutions.

1969: New Jersey voters approve lottery

1970: New Jersey Lottery operations commence

1972: 5 Digit Daily Game begins

1975 : Pick-It, the nation's 1st online game begins

1975: 7-11-21, first instant lottery game begins

1976: Voters approve casino gaming in New Jersey by referendum

1977: 1st televised lottery draw

1977: Pick-4 introduced

1978: Resorts International, first casino in Atlantic City, opens (May 26)

1979: Caesars Boardwalk Regency opens (June 26)

1980: Brighton (Sands) opens (August 13)

1980: Harrah's Marina opens (November 23)

1980: Golden Nugget opens (December 12)

1981: Playboy opens (April 14)

1981: Claridge opens (Juyl 23)

1981: Tropicana opens (November 26)

1984: Harrah's at Trump Plaza opens (May 26)

1984: Playboy is renamed Elsinore's Atlantis

1985: Trump Castle opens (June 19)

1987: Showboat opens (April 2)

1987: Golden Nugget sold, renamed Bally's Grand

1987: Tropicana renamed TropWorld

1989: Elsinore's Atlantis closes (May 22)

1990: Trump Taj Mahal opens (April 4)

1990: Harrah's Marina renamed Harrah's Atlantic City

1993: Poker and simulcasting introduced into Atlantic City casinos

1994: Keno iintroduced into Atlantic City casinos

1995: TropWorld renamed Tropicana

1996: Bally's Grand renamed Atlantic City Hilton

1996: Trump's Castle renamed Trump Marina

1999: New Jersey Lottery joins the Multi-State Lottery Association, begins participating in "Big Game"

2000: Bally's Park Place renamed Bally's Atlantic City

2001: Park Place Entertainment acquires the Claridge

2003: Borgata opens (July 3)

2003: Claridge folded into Bally's Atlantic City

2005: Caesars (formerly Park Place) Entertainment sells Atlantic City Hilton to Colony Capital, LLC

2005: Harrah's Entertainment acquires Caesars Entertainment

2006: Sands closes (November 11)

Atlantic City, New Jersey Gaming Statistics

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