New Jersey’s gaming industry recorded $585.6 million in total gaming revenue for June 2026, marking a 0.7% increase compared to the same period last year. While the state’s total revenue continues an upward trajectory—up 6.0% year-to-date—the month’s results highlighted a divergence between steady physical casino performance, surging internet gaming, and a dip in sports wagering revenue.
Performance breakdown
- Internet Gaming: This sector remains the primary engine of growth, reporting $271.0 million in win for June, a 17.5% increase year-over-year. Year-to-date, internet gaming has reached $1.59 billion, growing 15.0% compared to the same period in 2025.
- Casino Hotels: Physical casinos generated $257.3 million in June, a slight year-over-year decrease of 0.7%. Despite this minor monthly dip, the year-to-date figures remain positive, showing a 2.3% increase over 2025.
- Sports Wagering: This category saw the most significant volatility, with gross revenue falling 37.7% to $57.3 million compared to June 2025.
Despite the sharp decline in sports wagering revenue, industry experts point out that the drop was not due to a lack of fan engagement. In fact, the total amount wagered—or “handle”—increased by 16.0% year-over-year.
Brian Tyrrell, faculty director of the Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality and Tourism (LIGHT) at Stockton University, explained that the revenue shortfall was driven by a lower win percentage for sportsbooks, likely due to “luckier” patrons.
“Deceptively, this was not due to a decline in handle, but rather a decline in win percentage,” Tyrrell noted. “This result was perhaps due to wagering on local favorites, the New York Knicks, who turned in an unexpected performance completing a successful NBA championship campaign in the first half of June.”
While gross gaming revenues are trending upward, experts are cautious about the impact on operators’ bottom lines. Rising market pressures, including inflation, wage increases, and shifting tax rates, continue to challenge net operating profits.
“While gross gaming revenues are generally trending upward, this is not an assurance that net revenues and gross operating profits will follow the same trend,” Tyrrell added. Further insight into these fiscal impacts is expected on Aug. 24 when the state releases net gaming revenue figures for the second quarter.
