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New Jersey First to Reach Unfathomable $1 Billion Monthly Handle Mark

Dave Bonderoff

Last Updated: October 24, 2021 11:54 AM EDT • 2 min 20 sec read.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 18: Betting lines are displayed at the Race & Sports SuperBook at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, which features new screens on its entire 240-by-20 foot, 4,488-square-foot HD video layout, after the property opened for the first time since being closed in mid-March because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on June 18, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hotel-casinos throughout the state were allowed to open on June 4 as part of a phased reopening of the economy with social distancing guidelines and other restrictions in place. The Westgate, which first opened as the International in 1969, had planned to reopen with designated non-smoking, mask-required table games over half of its casino floor, as well as designated mask-required elevators. On Wednesday, citing updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Nevada Gaming Control Board issued an industry notice updating its health and safety policy. It dictates that all players at table and card games must wear face coverings if there is no barrier between the dealer and each player. The policy applies to spectators or anyone else within six feet of a game. Also, properties must offer face masks or cloth coverings to guests as they enter the casino or have dedicated signage alerting patrons that they are available. Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Ethan Miller / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Legal sports betting in New Jersey continues to soar with the state reporting a record $1 billion in revenue for September.

The U.S. legal sports betting industry is officially on fire! Already, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan have reported record monthly handles for their respective industries. Their news seems to pale in comparison to Monday, Oct. 18's report that one of America's top jurisdictions surpassed a magical $1 billion handle mark for one month.

The state of New Jersey, otherwise known as the "King of the Bet-Friendly States" is out with its September figures. Not only are they a record for the state, but also a high-water mark for other jurisdictions to shoot for in order to be in the Garden State's class. Jersey's assault on a $1 billion monthly handle was expected sometime in 2021 - not sure if many expected it in September when just over three weeks of NFL football were on the slate.

Deep dive into New Jersey numbers

New Jersey sportsbooks took in an almost unfathomable $1.011 billion in September and made the Garden State the first to reach the impressive milestone. It is a 52.1 percent increase from August's handle of $664.7 million and a year-over-year spike of 35.1 percent from September 2020's $748.6 million.

The previous national and state record for sports betting handle came from New Jersey in December 2020 when $996.3 million was taken in.

Revenues for the New Jersey legal sports betting scene also experienced an impressive month-to-month increase. New Jersey sportsbooks made $82.4 million in September, which represents a 58.5 percent spike from $52 million in August profits. It's also an 82.9 percent jump from the $45.1 million in September 2020.

Revenues fell just short of the $82.6 million reported in January 2021.

A whopping $10.2 million in tax contributions were made by New Jersey sportsbooks to state and local coffers in September.

New Jersey's September handle drivers

New Jersey has boasted one of the most impressive mobile sports betting markets in the country since its launch. September was no different. Over $918 million of the overall $1.011 billion, or 90.8 percent, was taken in by the state's mobile apps.

The $918.4 million fell just short of the mobile handle record for not only New Jersey, but also the national sports betting scene. That record came in December, when $929.3 million was reported.

Not surprisingly, it was football that was the most bet on sport in September ... by far. New Jersey sportsbooks reported $400.8 million in football bets - $42.8 million in revenue! Parlays accounted for $216.1 million, baseball was responsible for $185.2 million in bets, and "other" sports came fourth with $175.9 million in wagers.

New Jersey going forward

New Jersey's status as the most successful legal sports betting jurisdiction in the U.S. is far from being in danger. Its September handle will likely come in about $300-$400 million more than any other state. The next highest state record is Nevada's $659.9 million in October 2020, nearly $350 million behind what New Jersey just accomplished

For the first nine months of 2021, the Garden State has eclipsed the $7 billion mark in bets taken in. The state now owns the 13 highest monthly handles ever recorded in the U.S. legal sports betting industry.

The arrow keeps pointing way up on the New Jersey legal sports betting scene. September was unbelievable; October brings the NBA and NHL onto betting menus and November, December, and January have traditionally been the strongest betting months for New Jersey sportsbooks.

Expect more records to fall for New Jersey’s sports betting scene and for the Garden State to continue setting the exceptionally high bar going forward.

SEE ALSO: Michigan sees huge spike in September activity

Written By:
Dave Bonderoff
Dave Bonderoff and betting go hand-in-hand. Both are characterized by "odds". Dave fancies himself as one of the most dedicated sports and pop-culture junkies around, to the chagrin of his family and friends. Following sports for 50 years and writing about it for 20, Dave hasn't found a sport yet that can't contribute to 2-3 straight hours of couch time. That search remains ongoing. As a good old Canadian boy, hockey is in Dave’s heart, as is curling sadly. But evolution is a real thing and that’s why football, baseball, and just about every sport on the planet has become a passion. Dave isn’t afraid to kill some time obsessing over politics or the far-too-frequent awards shows the consume the airwaves.