New Jersey’s gaming industry continued its upward trajectory in March 2026, fueled by a massive surge in online betting and a resilient performance from brick-and-mortar casinos despite a harsh winter. According to data released April 16, by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE), total gaming revenue hit $596.4 million for the month, a 9.2% increase over the previous year.
The figures highlight a shifting landscape for the Garden State, where digital platforms are increasingly becoming the dominant force in the market.
The industry saw growth across all major sectors, with internet gaming and sports wagering leading the charge:
| Revenue Stream | March 2026 Revenue | Change vs. March 2025 |
| Internet Gaming Win | $272.1 Million | +11.6% |
| Casino Win (In-Person) | $236.7 Million | +2.5% |
| Sports Wagering Revenue | $87.6 Million | +22.8% |
| Total Gaming Revenue | $596.4 Million | +9.2% |
Year-to-date, the state has already generated $1.70 billion in total gaming revenue, marking a 7.5% increase over the first quarter of 2025. This growth has funneled $84.7 million in tax revenue to the state for March alone.
While the nine Atlantic City casino hotels saw a modest increase in in-person “Casino Win,” the real story remains the digital divide. March 2026 marks the seventh consecutive month that internet gaming revenue has outperformed traditional brick-and-mortar channels.
Jane Bokunewicz, faculty director of the Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality and Tourism (LIGHT) at Stockton University, noted that the trend is becoming a permanent fixture of the New Jersey market.
“Despite one of the worst winters in recent years, first quarter 2026 brick-and-mortar casino gross gaming revenue (GGR) surprisingly increased over the same period in 2025,” Bokunewicz said. “Even so, internet gaming exceeded traditional gaming channels for total first quarter GGR and represented nearly half of total GGR for the period.”
Bokunewicz attributed the strength of online play to its accessibility during the “shoulder season” when the Jersey Shore is less of a draw.
“The convenience of gaming via online channels, especially when weather is not at its best, is likely to continue resulting in growth for internet gaming operations and flat brick-and-mortar performance in the shoulder and off seasons,” she explained.
As New Jersey prepares for the summer tourism season, the industry faces looming competition from the potential opening of downstate New York casinos. Bokunewicz believes Atlantic City must lean into its physical strengths to stay competitive.
“To succeed with brick-and-mortar operations, it will become increasingly necessary for Atlantic City’s casino resorts to ‘lean in’ to their on-property assets to make the in-person experience sufficiently enticing and distinctive to attract patrons in this competitive market,” she concluded.
With $1.70 billion in the books for Q1, all eyes now turn to the boardwalk to see if the warmer weather can help brick-and-mortar venues reclaim their crown from the digital apps.
