Ever since the emergence of the first online casino in the mid-90s, the gambling industry has never remained the same again. Plus, the widespread adoption of the internet has made access to gambling products more convenient – you don’t have to leave your house to participate. And just like it is with many other regions, New Jersey’s gambling scene has also been affected by these challenges. So, what exactly does gambling look like in this state?
It’s no coincidence that New Jersey continues to experience rapid expansion in the gambling sector. Especially now that there is a conducive environment that supports tech innovations, the gambling market share will only continue to grow. In this article, you will get to learn some amazing facts about this sector in New Jersey.
The Power of the Internet
Among the many reasons why online gambling continues to grow in NJ is the state’s commitment to encouraging the spread of the internet. For example, just in May this year (2024), US Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-Wyckoff, confirmed the receipt of a $50 million federal grant that would help wire several towns in Sussex and Passaic with fibre optic cables. This was in line with NJ’s ‘Internet for All’ initiative that seeks to see the entire state connected.
With such developments in place, NJ casino apps and mobile sites are set to benefit more, particularly because internet speeds will be enhanced. If you keep a close watch on recent trends within this industry, you must have noticed that games with immersive graphics and HD visuals are coming to the surface. The only challenge with such games is that you need faster internet speeds to enjoy a seamless experience. You don’t want your game lagging, especially during tight moments during your gameplay.
As a result of such internet advancements, New Jersey saw the iGaming revenue reach almost $2 billion in 2023. Online slots took the lead with a revenue of about $1.89bn – a 15.9% jump from the previous year, while peer-to-peer poker hit $28.9m.
The Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
The magic of AI in any online business lies in its ability to offer personalized experiences. Just imagine visiting an online casino, and the first thing you get is recommendations of game titles that perfectly align with your preferences. This already removes the hassle of finding a game you might want to engage in, saving time for your gameplay. In fact, according to Forrester, 77% of customers were more likely to choose, recommend and even spend more at brands that offered personalized services and experiences.
In traditional casinos, getting deeper insights about your customers is quite an uphill task. But now, with the rise of online platforms, this challenge has been eliminated. As players interact with your platform, you can get more helpful information about their playstyles and preferences, such as preferred themes and so on. Using AI, you can crunch such enormous amounts of data into meaningful insights that can help refine your user engagement strategies.
Features like AI-powered chatbots are becoming more popular in NJ’s gambling industry. The world has become fast-paced, and no one wants to wait for ages before they can receive help if they encounter any challenge during the gameplay. That’s where AI chatbots come in – they offer instant support by responding to queries and other related issues in real time. Master of Code Global reported that online enterprises that integrated these features reported a 67% increase in sales.
Immersive Technologies
Consider, for instance, putting on a VR headset and exploring your favorite game in a virtual Atlantic City. Now, such an experience is not something to look forward to in the future; you can actually enjoy it in today’s NJ. While VR gives you an entirely virtual environment to immerse yourself, AR just ‘augments reality’ by adding graphics and sounds to an existing world.
If you remember the Pokémon GO game of 2016, then AR is not a new thing. You had to make your way through an augmented reality world using your mobile device, catch Pokémon, fight other players and finish other tasks. In the gambling industry, more and more providers have been turning to VR and AR as the number of players preferring such experiences increases.
New Jersey will continue to benefit as the broader US VR and AR market is expected to grow by 8.53% in the next five years. This includes the gambling market within the state. Plus, as these spaces are virtual, you can play from anywhere, as long as your internet connection is reliable and you have a VR headset.
As you can see, the gambling industry in New Jersey has experienced nothing short of progress since 1977, when Gov. Brendan T. Byrne ascended to the Casino Control Act. From internet expansions that have made gambling more accessible to tech innovations like VR and AR, the gameplay has only become more fun. Looking ahead, you’ll likely see more high-tech advancements that will continue transforming how we engage with gambling products.