The gambling industry in New Jersey continues to dominate the headlines, with major developments occurring on an almost daily basis.
With revenues on the rise and new operators eager to join the party these are exciting times for the sector and the buzz seems set to continue for the foreseeable future. Read on as we look at the latest news.
Google lifts advert ban
Google’s decision to allow advertisements from online casino operators in four states is great news for New Jersey.
The Garden State will join Delaware, Nevada and Pennsylvania in being allowed to promote gambling services via the world’s most popular search engine.
It was initially anticipated that the ban would be lifted sometime during 2020, but Google has confirmed it has revised the timeline.
Although Google Ad Manager will remain unavailable to the industry, other platforms such as YouTube and Google Display Network will be open.
“Advertisers will need to meet minimum creative requirements and must hold state licenses where required to promote their products in targeted states,” Google new policy reads.
“If advertisers operate in a state where no license is required, they must hold a state license in at least one other state.”
In addition to being a great development for New Jersey, Google themselves will profit greatly from the lifting of the ban.
The company currently controls more than a third of the online advertising sector, placing it significantly ahead of its main competitors.
Online advertisements were worth over $115 billion to Google in 2018 and its change in position regarding casino ads will undoubtedly help to drive that figure up in the future.
New Jersey casino operators fined
Regulators in New Jersey remain committed to providing consumers with a safe and secure experience when they visit online casino sites.
That ethos was highlighted perfectly with the news that five casino operators in the state had been collectively fined $150,000 for breaching regulations.
These included offering games that the Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) had not approved and failing to provide information needed to support player registration processes.
There were also issues around operators allowing customers who had self-excluded themselves to place bets and losses of sensitive personal and playing history data.
With the market continuing to grow, the DGE has made it clear that its compliance protocols must be stringently adhered to by all operators.
This stance gives players peace of mind that the industry is operating to the highest standards in every aspect of their businesses.
State benefiting from tax income rise
A major factor in allowing online gambling in a jurisdiction is the impact it can have on tax revenues within that region.
More than $3 billion was placed in sports wagers alone during the first year the practice was allowed in New Jersey, providing the state with a significant spike in tax income.
The majority of the money is channelled towards various social programs, with an emphasis on improving care services for developmentally disabled people.
Many facilities in New Jersey have struggled to offer an adequate level of service, an issue that local authorities are eager to address.
Some care operators have been stripped of their licenses by New Jersey’s Department of Human Services, something they say is necessary if they are to make the most out of tax revenues being generated by the gambling industry.
Tom Hester, a departmental spokesman, said: “The Department demands the best from group homes. Our top priority is always the health and safety of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.”
More work is needed to get care services to the level they need to be, but it is clear that the gambling tax revenues are helping to speed up the process.
