Evolution Gaming, Fanatics Sportsbook Fined in New Jersey for Regulatory Shortcomings
Posted on: August 19, 2025, 09:25h.
Last updated on: August 19, 2025, 09:49h.
- Evolution Gaming has been fined in New Jersey
- Evolution dealt cards incorrectly and didn’t uphold New Jersey’s roulette minimums
- Fanatics Sportsbook was also fined
Evolution Gaming and Fanatics Sportsbook have been fined in New Jersey for regulatory failures.
The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) reveals that Evolution New Jersey, LLC, doing business as Evolution, has agreed to a $12K penalty to resolve regulatory shortcomings at two of its live dealer studios in Atlantic City.
The DGE reports that Evolution was noncompliant with New Jersey’s iGaming regulations during four incidents between June 2021 and September 2023. The company self-reported the mishaps.
Evolution Regulatory Accidents
According to the DGE summary, in June 2021, an Evolution dealer at the Hard Rock studio dealt incorrect blackjack cards when they failed to deal themselves a card during the initial round.
In January 2023, an Evolution table game displayed incorrect felt, with the wording reading “Dealer Must Stand on 17” instead of the proper wording of “Dealer Must Hit Soft 17.” A soft 17 is when the dealer has a hand worth 17 that includes an ace, which can be played as a 1 or an 11.
In March 2023, multiple Evolution dealers running online roulette failed to spin the pit fast enough for the ball to make the required four revolutions around the wheel before falling into a slot. And in September 2023, an Evolution dealer dealt more than 400 rounds of blackjack with a deck of cards that was short five cards.
The failures of Evolution’s dealers and managerial staff to ensure proper dealing of table games resulted in numerous violations,” said New Jersey DGE Interim Director Mary Jo Flaherty.
Flaherty assumed the interim director role after longtime DGE Director David Rebuck retired last year, having led the state gaming agency for nearly 13 years.
Evolution is the leader in live-dealer games for iGaming platforms. In Atlantic City, the interactive gaming supplier operates live-table game studios within Hard Rock, Ocean Casino, and Tropicana. Its live dealers and interactive games are distributed across the iGaming platforms of DraftKings, Fanatics, Golden Nugget, BetMGM, Caesars Palace, BetRivers, and bet365.
Evolution is planning a $75 million live-dealer studio campus in Atlantic City to replace its in-casino operations. The facility is targeting 2301 Fairmont Avenue.
Fanatics Fined, Too
In related DGE news, the state gaming regulator fined FBG Enterprises Opco, LLC, doing business as Fanatics Betting and Gaming, $55K for “various violations of the Sports Wagering Act.
The director’s announcement did not specify the sports betting infractions committed by the Fanatics Sportsbook. Fanatics runs a retail sportsbook at Ocean Casino Resort and is licensed to take online wagers through a partnership with Bally’s.
Online Gaming Leader
New Jersey, one of only seven states with legal iGaming and sports betting, leads the nation in online gaming revenue.
In 2024, New Jersey’s iGaming revenue totaled $2.38 billion. Oddsmakers pulled in over $1 billion for a combined internet haul of about $3.4 billion.
Pennsylvania was next, with iGaming win at $2.18 billion and online sports bets generating almost $500 million. Michigan was third, with iGaming and online sports betting totaling $1.93 billion.
The other states with legal online casinos and sportsbooks include Connecticut, Delaware, Rhode Island, and West Virginia.
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