New Jersey Dethrones Las Vegas as the US Gambling Capital

For many years, Las Vegas was the undisputed gambling capital of the United States. However, New Jersey has now taken over that distinction due to its long history of gaming and recent legislation that has transformed the state's gambling landscape.

In 2011, New Jersey approved a bill allowing betting outside of Atlantic City. This legislation, which was initially vetoed by then-governor Chris Christie, paved the way for online gambling in the state. With the help of a legal opinion from the US Department of Justice and minor amendments to the original legislation, online gambling became legal in New Jersey in 2013.

Since then, New Jersey's gaming industry has seen remarkable success. In September 2021, the state handled $1.01 billion in sports betting, making it the first state in the US to achieve this milestone. Additionally, the total gaming revenue for September 2021 was $453.6 million, a roughly 40% increase from September 2020. The total gaming taxes for September were $46 million.