Borgata Collects First Ever New Jersey Online License

Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa has announced it will launch the first online casino in the US state of New Jersey. The casino, owned by Boyd Gaming and MGM Resorts, has said it has received the first of New Jersey’s new online gambling licenses, putting it in poll position to launch an online offering later this year.

This means that the first American internet casino is right on track for a November 26th launch. This is despite New Jersey only being the 3rd US state to legalize online gambling. Despite that, they surged past Nevada and Delaware, in part due to the formers legislative problems, and in part due to their rush to get online after poor performances from Atlantic City’s many casinos.

Under American gambling laws, individual states are left to legislate their own online gambling offerings. Delaware launched a Facebook version of their casino, and casino bosses in the state have suggested this will be used as a marketing tool for the land-based casinos, rather than as a money making tool. Meanwhile, Nevada has online poker, but plans for casinos were put on hold after an error in the law.

The Borgata will be partnering with a major player in the online casino world, as they look to make the transition as smooth as possible. As such, bwin have been bought on board, fuelling speculation that the giant could be bought by Google. That would throw a spanner in the works for the US casino scene, but it remains to be seen how much truth exists in that rumor.

Other operators to apply for New Jersey licenses are Caesars Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Tropicana Casino & Resort, and The Golden Nugget. With licenses restricted to operators of land based casinos in the state, the Atlantic City strip will be jostling for position online as well as on the road.