Golden Nugget Atlantic City Looks to Merge Online and Land-Based Gambling

Posted on: March 27, 2018, 03:00h. 

Last updated on: March 27, 2018, 04:16h.

Golden Nugget Atlantic City is looking to further extend its online gambling prowess in New Jersey by launching a new roulette game that seamlessly joins internet players with gamblers on the brick-and-mortar casino floor.

Golden Nugget Atlantic City online gambling
There’s a new “eye in the sky” at the Golden Nugget Atlantic City. (Image: Golden Nugget Atlantic City)

This week, GoldenNuggetCasino.com launched “Live Casino Floor Roulette” where a video feed of a designated roulette table on the casino floor in Atlantic City is streamed live to gamblers playing online.

The innovative format differs from other live dealer games, which are streamed from a studio, not the actual gaming floor. Live Casino Floor Roulette allows online gamblers to play from anywhere in New Jersey.

In a press release, Golden Nugget Atlantic City said the added benefit is that internet customers can place bets alongside physical gamblers at the casino, which leads to a “more authentic live casino feel.”

The Landry’s-owned Marina District casino launched online live dealer games in 2013, and remains the only licensed internet operator offering such formats to New Jersey internet patrons. Landry’s is the dining, hospitality, and gaming corporation privately controlled by billionaire Tilman Fertitta.

Gaining Market Share

Online gambling is playing a critical role in the financial recovery of Atlantic City. 2017 was the town’s second consecutive annual gross gaming revenue (GGR) gain after enduring nine years of declines and five casino closures.

While total GGR increased 1.5 percent in 2016 and 2.2 percent in 2017, internet gaming soared 32.1 percent and 25 percent during the same two years. Online operations are up another 17 percent through the first two months of 2018.

When it comes to the online game, Golden Nugget is winning. In 2017, the casino’s internet operations won $68.57 million, or about 30 percent of Atlantic City’s total $245.6 million iGaming take.

Golden Nugget is only increasing its market share. In January and February 2018, GoldenNuggetCasino.com won $15.18 million, or 34.5 percent of the $43.95 million online pot.

Golden Nugget is nearly 53 percent ahead of its 2017 pace in terms of internet gaming win through February, despite its land-based revenue falling four percent. As for total gaming (internet and land-based), Golden Nugget has kept $48.5 million, an 8.7 percent premium on last year.

Live Online

Golden Nugget’s Live Casino Floor Roulette debuted on March 21. The online casino also added new live dealer tables, and expanded certain gaming hours.

In addition to the live roulette floor casino table, the online platform has five live dealer blackjack tables, one baccarat, one roulette, one multi-view roulette, and one casino hold’em table.

Golden Nugget says of its new roulette game, “Immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of the casino floor,” but a drawback is that online players cannot interact with the dealer on the casino floor, nor the other patrons physically at the table.

That differs from the more traditional live dealer games, which allow the online gambler to interact with the studio dealer.