Just in time for Oscars betting and March Madness betting, Golden Nugget joined the race of online sports betting.
That’s right. Golden Nugget’s online sportsbook is now live. The NJ sports betting platform is integrated with the NJ online casino.
Golden Nugget online sportsbook bypassed the big announcement in favor of a quieter launch. BetAmerica, which also operates under the Golden Nugget license, did the same on Feb. 2. SBTech powers both platforms, with Scientific Games assisting at the Golden Nugget.
Golden Nugget also has a permanent retail sportsbook at its Atlantic City casino.
For those keeping tabs, this brings the NJ online sportsbook total to 13.
Thomas Winter, SVP and general manager of Golden Nugget Online Gaming, commented in a press release:
“We are very pleased to bring sports betting to our online and mobile casino patrons. We have worked with our partners Scientific Games and SBTech to bring the best that an online casino and sportsbook can offer to New Jersey players. The website and apps look really nice, early feedback from patrons is extremely positive and we look forward to adding more innovative features to make the player’s experience even more exciting and rewarding in the coming months.”
No NBA betting but plenty of bets at Golden Nugget
Golden Nugget Sportsbook joins the market with a full slate of betting options. Traditional bets such as moneyline, over/under (total) and point spread bets are listed along with in-game betting.
The site also features SBTech’s “Match Tracker,” which highlights the current game in real time.
Here are the available sports at Golden Nugget:
- Football
- Basketball (other than NBA)
- Ice hockey
- Baseball
- Soccer
- Tennis
- Boxing
- Mixed martial arts
- Golf
- Motor racing
- Cycling
- Cricket
- Rugby
- Aussie rules football
One thing Golden Nugget sports betting customers will not find is odds on NBA games. This includes everything from point spreads to futures on who will win the NBA Finals.
The restriction is in place as a result of Tilman Fertitta owning both the Golden Nugget and the NBA’s Houston Rockets.
NJ online casino + sportsbook = a strong combo
The advantage of adding the mobile online sportsbook to the previously existing casino app means customers have access to a shared wallet.
More importantly, the Golden Nugget has a well-established customer base.
Golden Nugget continues to be the top dog among Atlantic City casino operators in NJ online gambling.
In terms of online casino revenue, Golden Nugget once again claimed the top spot in January. The company earned $12,180,039 in January — a 66.9 percent increase from the previous period and a new record for NJ gambling sites.
Like the casino platform, which includes live dealer games, new sportsbook customers can take advantage of welcome offers. The current one is a $50 risk-free bet.
And the Oscar goes to …
Speaking of the previously mentioned Oscars, the 91st Academy Awards are taking place Sunday night, and New Jersey is the only state where Oscars betting is legal.
Golden Nugget Sportsbook is one of a select few offering odds on more than just the six main categories (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress).
Resorts, PointsBet NJ and 888 Sportsbook along with the Golden Nugget Sportsbook have posted odds for all 24 categories, too. PlayMGM NJ Sportsbook has wagers available on 23 of the Oscars.
Like the other sportsbooks, Golden Nugget lists Roma as the clear favorite in the Best Picture category at -400. It means the bettor needs to bet $400 to win $100. Vice, on the other hand, is the biggest long shot at +10,000.
Best Original Song is one of the categories only a select group of sportsbooks are offering. “Shallow,” from A Star is Born, is a heavy favorite at -3,350.
A full rundown on the Oscars odds can be found by clicking on the “Specials” icon at the Golden Nugget NJ sportsbook app.
Add the upcoming March Madness betting to the equation, and Golden Nugget Sportsbook is launching during a prime sports betting season.
Who’s next in NJ online sports betting?
Yes, NJ online sports betting is at 13 sites so far, but this is not the end. Sports betting fans can expect a few more to launch in 2019.
Just before the 2019 Super Bowl, Hard Rock, Resorts and BetAmerica joined the market.
Meadowlands Racetrack announced a partnership agreement with CG Technology, but the Nevada-based company still needs to be approved for a license by the NJ Division of Gaming Enforcement.
Bet365 plans to launch in 2019 as well, and Kindred (Unibet) will be joining the market at some point this year, too. Both use the Hard Rock license to operate in NJ.
Bottom line: We are not done yet, New Jersey.