GAMBLING
N.J. online casinos
New Jersey, the most-populous state to legalize online gambling, said casinos took in $8.37 million in the first six weeks of play in a debut marked by technical glitches and payment problems.
Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, owned by Boyd Gaming Corp. and MGM Resorts International, and Caesars Entertainment Corp. led with $3.75 million and $2.38 million respectively, the Division of Gaming Enforcement said.
New Jersey became the third state to allow gambling online when betting started Nov. 21. To help existing casinos, where revenue has fallen for seven years, the state required online operators to locate their computer hardware in an Atlantic City property. The research firm H2 Gambling Capital predicts U.S. Internet betting could become a $7.4 billion business by 2017.
The New Jersey betting total reflects results through 2013 year-end. About 126,000 accounts were opened through Dec. 31, with the number now at about 150,000, officials said. Play is limited to people over age 21 who are in the state.
— Christopher Palmeri, Bloomberg News