Bovada has voluntarily removed itself from the online gambling industry in New Jersey. But that company has 20 years of experience in delivering virtual gambling options to American citizens, and actually holds legitimate licensing. As an offshore non-US company, Bovada just decided to pull out of New Jersey because of recent efforts by that state to crack down on illegal, unlicensed gambling sites. There are still several legitimate and licensed Atlantic City online casinos that are located and regulated offshore though. According to a poll conducted by analyst Commercial Intelligence, fewer NJ poker players and virtual casino fans are frequenting the unlicensed, illegal sites. After a huge survey back in January, the company followed up with the same pollsters recently. The “Wave 2” findings are significant.
16% of Polled NJ Gamblers Play at Unlicensed Sites
520 Garden State online gamblers were polled so that New Jersey gaming officials could get a better idea of just exactly what is going on in the Atlantic City-based online gambling market in that state. During the first wave of polling, a full 24% of those 520 respondents admitted to playing at illegal gambling sites. Fast forward to the Wave 2 poll, and the data shows that one third of those same online gamblers have stopped playing poker, slots, blackjack and other virtual casino games at unlicensed and unregulated gambling websites. The new numbers show that only 16% of the poll takers gamble at non-NJ, non-US sites which are unlicensed and unregulated. The Atlantic City poker sites and casinos in this guide are all legally licensed and regulated.
NJ DGE Sends Cease & Desist Letters
New Jersey has done a great job in attempting to protect its citizenry from rogue and predatory Internet gambling sites. Not every offshore gambling provider is legitimately licensed and has years of experience catering to US players, like Bovada does. And those are exactly the types of operations the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement is trying to eliminate. The DGE has been working in conjunction with the state Attorney General’s office to send Cease & Desist notifications to affiliates associated with unlicensed sites in the state of New Jersey. Some affiliates of legitimately licensed NJ-sanctioned gambling sites have also been given Cease & Desist letters, because they were promoting both legitimate, New Jersey-based gambling operations and unlicensed offshore operations on the same site.
Legitimate Online Gaming Networks Bow Out of New Jersey
Some legitimately licensed companies are not even arguing with New Jersey or attempting to discuss the matter in any way. New Jersey is ranked in the lower half of US states as regards population. Established poker conglomerates like the Equity Poker Network and the Winning Poker Network, along with Bovada, have substantial reputations and player pools to simply move on. The Merge Gaming Network also decided to leave the New Jersey marketplace, back in January. But New Jersey is still just 1 of 3 states that has decided to run and manage its own state-based online gambling operation. For US citizens not located in New Jersey, Delaware and Nevada, legally licensed and industry recognized offshore sites like Bovada provide a reputable and trustworthy online gambling experience.
2nd NJ Study to Show No Cannibalization of Land-Based Casinos By Online Operations
Some of the data gathered by Commercial Intelligence seems to back up previous studies. Billionaire Sheldon Adelson is one of the most vehement anti-gambling voices in the United States. His argument has always been that online gambling will cannibalize brick-and-mortar gaming revenue. But a previous New Jersey study, along with the most recent CI findings, paint a different picture. In the January phase of this most recent research, CI found that 36% of the 520 New Jersey residents polled had not gambled online before November 21, 2013. That was the date the state launched its first wave of online gambling websites. The most recent number shows that a full 44% which are gambling now had not gambled before. No cannibalization, just brand-new market creation provided by a convenient and regulated platform.