Looks like a big change for one of the first online gaming and betting operators in New Jersey sports betting.
Starting last Friday, 888sport no longer is accepting or offering sports betting in New Jersey. This comes ahead of the launch by 888 of its Sports Illustrated-branded sportsbook in the state. The 888 name was among the earliest brands for online casinos in the state.
As a personal user of 888, the website has details on its home page that bettors with any remaining balances currently will be able to withdraw any remaining funds and that any open bets will be honored.
“As part of our strategic partnership with Sports Illustrated, we can confirm that we have closed 888sport.com in New Jersey as we prepare for SI Sportsbook’s launch in the market,” John Atkinson, director of business development at 888 Holdings, said in a statement. “Since its launch in Colorado in September, SI Sportsbook’s differentiated wagering experience, which combines 888’s proprietary technology and one of the most influential sports media brands, has been extremely well received, with positive customer feedback from players across the state. We are now focused on launching SI Sportsbook in other states, including New Jersey, and are excited to share more details in the coming weeks and months.”
SI-Branded Sportsbooks in Other States
In June, 888 first announced the launch of a SI-branded betting and gaming website in the United States, through a partnership with the media giant. Last year, 888 announced several multi-year market access agreements in three states: Colorado, Indiana and Iowa.
Those initial agreements were the result of a deal between 888 and Authentic Brands Group (ABG), which acquired SI from Meredith Corporation in 2019 for $110 million.
SI Sportsbook will be fully integrated across SI’s sports content, gaming and media and will be powered by the new 888sports platform. 888 will be able to adapt SI Sportsbook to provide users with a customized experience for national and local audiences.
SI will engage readers and fans by incorporating betting information and insights into SI.com, including odds into content, adding betting widgets that display odds into articles, and offering educational betting tools and free2play games (one-time events and season long) to users.
It will also be using official NFL, NBA, MLB, NASCAR, and Premier League data, which lets the sportsbook offer an enhanced in-play betting market.
Launched in 2018, 888 operated in New Jersey under the 888sport brand.
Another $1B Month in New Jersey
Late last week, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (NJDGE) posted its numbers for November.
The state is coming off a national record handle of $1.3 billion in October. That number dropped slightly to $1.26 billion in November.
However, revenue was up. New Jersey posted $114.8 million, the first state ever to climb above $100 million for a month, in November. In fact, the revenue number more than doubled the figure from the same month in 2020 ($50.6 million).
Parlay bets win percentage (18.3%, $406 million) year-to-date outnumbered three sports and any other sport combined (17%).
Any other sport (5.3%), baseball (4.2%), football (4.1%) and basketball (3.4%) are the other win percentage numbers to date.
