On the East Coast, New Jersey has long been known as a hub for games of chance, especially thanks to Atlantic City. Millions of participants play monthly in countless forms, including lotteries, casinos, sports betting, and bingo.
Besides the entertainment aspect, these games also play a significant role in the state’s economy.
Here, we’ll examine the most popular games of chance enjoyed by both locals and tourists in New Jersey, including playing rates, spending habits, and demographic shares.
Top 6 Most Popular Games of Luck in New Jersey
Lottery
The New Jersey Lottery remains the state’s favorite pastime activity. Due to the large jackpots and frequent drawings, Powerball, Mega Millions, and Pick-6 are the games most frequently played by over a million participants each month.
Scratch-off tickets come in second, as their particular popularity generates $2.2 billion every year through sales. Approximate monthly attendance is over 3 million citizens. The lottery appeals to a broad demographic, with players ranging from middle-aged individuals dreaming of life-changing wins to young adults playing instant scratch-offs.
Online Casino Games
Having grown exponentially since their legalization in 2013 and with over 1,000 games to play through, including classics like slots, blackjack, roulette, and poker, keeping the websites of the operators busy 24/7.
Monthly traffic exceeds an estimated 2 million players. Among them, slots are the most popular due to their simplicity and eye-candy designs. The age demographic is a little younger, with millennials and Gen Z opting for mobile-friendly websites for the simple convenience, but also the allure of bonuses like the ones bet365 games offer.
Sports Betting
Legalized a bit later in 2018, sports betting has taken the lead among gamblers in New Jersey. Sports betting generated $60 million in revenue in June 2024 alone. Football (NFL), basketball (NBA), and baseball (MLB) are the three most bet sports. Estimated monthly participation is 1.5 million bettors. Sports betting is most appealing to men aged 25-45 who are avid sports fans.
Bingo
Like in the rest of the world, Bingo remains popular with older demographics, particularly retirees aged 55 and above. Although less lucrative than other games, bingo halls and sites see steady play from around 500,000 players per month. However, it’s not just the game; its social aspect appeals to seniors.
Brick-and-Mortar Casinos
Garden-variety casino games like blackjack, poker, and roulette continue to be very popular, drawing thousands of tourists to Atlantic City casinos each month. While web site traffic is increasing, land-based casinos continue to attract over 400,000 monthly players hungry for live action and company. They are primarily tourists and local residents aged 35-60 who appreciate the thrill of live play.
Spending Habits
New Jersey residents spend significant sums on games of chance each month, per game they rank something like this:
Lottery: Approximately $180 million in monthly ticket sales.
Online Casinos: Average monthly per-player expenditure is $100-$150.
Sports Betting: About $700 million monthly player betting across locations.
Bingo: Average monthly per-player expenditure is $20-$50.
Physical Casinos: Players spend approximately $300 million monthly on table games and slots.
Demographic Insights
New Jersey gambling demographics vary by game type, following the previous list, it looks like this:
Lottery: Appeals broadly between age groups but with greater inclusion of middle-aged adults.
Online Casinos: Younger groups, as it’s available on portable devices.
Sports Betting: Adult males aged between 25 and 45 primarily.
Bingo: Older groups aged 55+.
Physical Casinos: Visitors and locals aged between 35-60.
Comparison to Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania provides a good comparative benchmark because of its comparable population base (some 13 million vs. New Jersey’s just shy of 9 million) and vicinity. Both states possess healthy gambling markets:
Pennsylvania’s lottery business is marginally larger at $4 billion a year versus New Jersey’s $3 billion. Meanwhile, the sports betting revenue compares to New Jersey’s but enjoys slightly less monthly activity because it has fewer sportsbooks.
Online casino play is similar in both states, yet Pennsylvania boasts more brick-and-mortar casino sites than New Jersey, showing a preference for more traditional entertainment.
It’s undeniable that millions play monthly across various formats. The gambling industry in the state continues to expand as online sites increase access via legal compliance and appeal to younger generations with easy access to high-speed internet connections.
In relation to Pennsylvania, New Jersey stands independently as a leader in gaming revenues on the East Coast, even with a more limited population base. With the changing times, these games will remain the core of entertainment and economic activity in the Garden State.