Hard Rock Atlantic City’s hotel and gambling floor weren’t the only grand openings this past Thursday.
Hard Rock also quietly launched its real-money online casino, the result of online gambling operator Gaming Innovation Group (GiG) earning a provisional license from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement. The license will tide GiG over until it gets its first full-fledged US operating license.
GiG CEO Robin Reed said in a press release that this was a fantastic way to break into the US market.
“We are delighted to now be going live with Hard Rock in New Jersey, a first step in our mutually ambitious plans to take market share in the regulated online gambling market in the US,” Reed said.
A temporary license to get things rolling
According to the GiG press release, the company’s license is essentially a transitional approval. It allows them to launch Hard Rock online casino while the company awaits a full NJ online gambling license.
“GiG has, as part of the standard licence application process by the DGE, received what is called a transactional waiver which certifies that the GIG Core platform is compliant with the rules and regulations of the DGE,” the GiG press release said.
In the meantime, GiG will be working with the DGE to finalize its regulatory compliance, at which point GiG will earn a full-fledged license, the Casino Service Industry Enterprise License.
What games are up at Hard Rock online casino?
The current iteration of Hard Rock online casino features slots and table games, as well as ongoing slots tournaments. Table games include blackjack, baccarat, roulette, and a couple of other options.
Slots options include 25 different games, some of which will be fairly familiar to players at NJ gambling sites. Divine Fortune, Emoji Planet, and Starburst are just a few of the recognizable online slots.
Hard Rock online casino became the 24th online casino or poker site in the state.
The breakdown of NJ online casinos and poker sites is as follows:
- Borgata: 6 online casinos, 4 poker sites
- Caesars: 4 online casinos, 2 poker sites
- Golden Nugget: 2 online casinos
- Resorts: 2 online casinos, 1 poker site
- Tropicana: 2 online casinos
- Hard Rock: 1 online casino
This past May, New Jersey online casinos earned $24.3 million, the second-best month in NJ online gambling history.
GiG-Hard Rock deal goes back five months
The partnership between GiG and Hard Rock Atlantic City emerged in February. At the time, Reed said the partnership provided GiG many benefits, not the least of which is a collaboration with a powerful global brand.
“Hard Rock has ambitious plans to become a global leader in iGaming, and we are proud to have been selected to help them,” said Reed. “We get to partner with one of the world’s best-known brands to make a standout new online casino. It is really an exciting time at GiG.”
And with Thursday’s launch, GiG and Hard Rock are on the move in New Jersey at last.