The gaming industry in New Jersey can trace its roots back to casino gambling in Atlantic City. The famous Atlantic City Boardwalk was the first locale outside of Nevada to offer casino gambling. This dates back to 1978 when Resorts Casino Hotel first opened.
These days, New Jersey is better known as the sports betting capital of the legal US industry. While New York is presenting a serious challenge to that title, the Garden State continues to post major sports betting handles each and every month.
Legal online sports betting through mobile sportsbook apps accounts for more than 90% of New Jersey’s betting volume. However, the attraction of betting on sporting events at retail sportsbooks continues to grow.
Retail books in Atlantic City casinos and New Jersey horse racing tracks remains a viable piece of the Garden State’s overall sports betting industry. A new player in town is looking to capitalize on that attraction.
Jump toThe Gallery Bar, Book & Games Opens at Ocean Casino and Resort
As part of a $75 million investment in upgrading the amenities at Atlantic City’s Ocean Casino and Resort, a new retail sportsbook was a major part of the plan. While this is one of the newest casino properties in this coastal South Jersey town, the competition to attract East Coast players remains fierce.
The Gallery Bar, Book & Games occupies 12,000 square feet of space as part of the casino’s recent renovation. Located in a prime position on the property, retail sports betting is viewed as a valuable addition to the overall lineup of gaming options.
The cost of this project alone was close to $5 million. Property features include a 100-foot elevated bar with a total of 59 seats. The sportsbook is lined with 140 feet of LED screens for watching the games.
Taking things up a notch higher, the VIP experience includes the Balcony Bar. This entertainment area sits above the main bar and it is connected below by a 17-foot staircase.
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Tying together the entire gaming experience, the sports betting area is surrounded by 12 high-end slots as well as tables for playing Blackjack and Roulette.
Ocean Casino and Resort partnered with USBookmaking to operate the sportsbook at Gallery Bar, Book & Games. Based in Las Vegas, USBookmaking is a premier sports betting services provider specializing in sportsbook management.
Bill Callahan is the General Manager for Ocean Casino and Resort. His comments on the property’s latest attraction included:
“Ocean is dedicated to being the premier gaming destination in the Atlantic City market. This new venue will enhance the guest experience by providing an unbeatable atmosphere right in the heart of the casino floor.”
Other Added Amenities at Ocean Casino and Resort
A major part of the property’s ongoing renovation was the expansion of guest services. This includes the addition of 500 hotel rooms and suites through a 12 story addition.
The casino gaming floor has been expanded with 250 new slot machines. New entertainment and dining options have also been added.
In 2021, Ocean Casino and Resort ranked third in gross gaming revenue among Atlantic City’s nine casinos.