New Jersey's regulated gambling market booked $678.1 million in total gaming revenue during July 2026 — an 11.9% jump on the $606.2 million recorded a year earlier — with land-based casinos, online gaming and sports betting all moving higher at the same time.
Key takeaways
- Total July gaming revenue of $678.1 million, up 11.9% year on year.
- Year-to-date revenue stands at $4.20 billion, 6.9% ahead of 2025.
- Atlantic City's nine casinos won $304.2 million — the best July on the floors since 2012.
- Internet gaming set a fresh monthly record at $276.9 million.
- Sports wagering revenue rose 29.7% to $97 million, lifted by World Cup action.
- Fiscal-year 2026 gaming taxes hit a record $925.7 million, up 42.3%.
Every one of the state's three main gambling segments grew compared with July 2025. Atlantic City's nine casino hotels reported $304.2 million in casino win, internet gaming operators produced $276.9 million, and sports wagering gross revenue came in at $97 million. Cumulatively, the market has now generated $4.20 billion so far this year, against $3.92 billion through the first seven months of 2025.
The state's own take rose alongside it. Gross revenue taxes totalled $92.2 million for the month and $592.7 million across January through July. For New Jersey's 2026 fiscal year as a whole, gaming taxes reached a record $925.7 million — a 42.3% increase on the prior fiscal year.
Atlantic City posts its strongest July in 14 years
Revenue from the physical casino floors climbed 7.1% from the $284.1 million logged in July 2025. Year to date, casino win adds up to $1.72 billion, 3.1% ahead of the same stretch last year. Slot machines contributed $226.1 million of the monthly total, up 6.2%, while table games delivered $78.1 million, a 9.5% gain.
"In July, Atlantic City's summer season hit its stride – the casinos achieved their best July casino win since 2012."
— James Plousis, Chair, New Jersey Casino Control Commission
Eight of the nine properties improved on their year-earlier figures. Borgata led the field with $81.6 million in casino win, up 2.1%, while Caesars delivered the sharpest percentage rise, gaining 34.6% to $25.3 million. Bally's was the lone property in reverse, with revenue down 13.7% to $12.2 million.
July was also the first month of 2026 in which the brick-and-mortar floors out-earned the state's online operators.
Online casino sets another monthly record
Even while finishing second to retail for the month, internet gaming kept extending its long-running growth streak. Online casinos and their land-based partners took in $276.9 million — an all-time monthly high and a 12% improvement on the $247.3 million booked in July 2025. Year to date, internet gaming win of $1.87 billion sits 14.5% above the $1.63 billion registered a year ago.
FanDuel, operating under the Golden Nugget licence, topped the online casino table with $61.7 million, up 18.5%. DraftKings, partnered with Resorts, followed on $48.1 million.
The record fits a wider pattern: internet gaming revenue reached $2.91 billion across 2025, 22% more than in 2024, and the first half of 2026 alone accounted for $1.59 billion, with fiscal-year online casino revenue up 15%.
A steeper tax rate on digital play
New Jersey lifted its tax rate on online casino and sports betting revenue to 19.75% on 1 July 2025, replacing the previous 15% levy on internet gaming and 13% on online sports betting. Land-based Atlantic City casino revenue is still taxed at 8%, with retail sportsbook earnings at 8.5%.
In practice, the higher rate means operators now hand over $197,500 in state tax on every $1 million of digital gaming revenue, compared with $150,000 under the old online casino rate. Former Governor Phil Murphy had originally floated 25% before legislators settled on the lower number during budget talks.
Sports betting rebounds on World Cup wagering
According to the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement's report, sports wagering gross revenue reached $97 million in July, a 29.7% increase on the $74.8 million taken in July 2025. The strong month has not undone the softer start to the year, however: year-to-date sports betting revenue of $609.9 million remains 2.7% below the $626.8 million banked over the same period last year.
Online sportsbooks supplied $94.6 million of the monthly figure, and more than $30 million of that came from betting tied to the FIFA World Cup. FanDuel's online book, running through the Meadowlands Racetrack, led on $32.8 million, ahead of DraftKings on $25.6 million. BetFanatics, partnered with Bally's, generated $10.6 million, and BetMGM, partnered with Borgata, took $8.8 million.
Where the tax money goes — and what comes next
Taken together, the three segments carried New Jersey past the $4 billion mark in statewide gaming revenue earlier in the calendar year than ever before.
"Statewide total gaming revenue eclipsed $4 billion faster than in all prior years, contributing over $540 million in gaming tax revenue for critical programs that benefit senior and disabled residents in every county of New Jersey."
— James Plousis, Chair, New Jersey Casino Control Commission
Beyond the $925.7 million in fiscal-year gaming taxes, receipts from parking, hotel activity and forfeited winnings pushed the Casino Revenue Fund to $937.3 million. That fund — fed by the taxes Atlantic City casinos and their online partners pay — bankrolls programmes for eligible senior citizens and people with disabilities, including hearing aid assistance and pharmaceutical aid, with lawmakers deciding the annual allocation.
Atlantic City, meanwhile, keeps its monopoly on land-based casino gambling in New Jersey. A proposal to put slot machines elsewhere in the state before voters did not advance this year. The bigger competitive test lies across the river: three full-scale casinos are moving ahead in New York City, two in Queens and one in the Bronx.
