On Monday, August 6, 2018, New Jersey became the first state in the country to allow statewide legal online and mobile sportsbooks.
New Jersey allowed DraftKings, Inc., a daily fantasy sports company, to become the first company to launch the DraftKings Sportsbook app, an app for Android and iOS where people in the state can place legal bets on sports on the go. DraftKings Sportsbook also launched a desktop client for personal computers.
“I am excited to begin this new chapter in our story by officially launching what I believe to be the most innovative, mobile sports betting product in the U.S.,” said DraftKings CEO and co-founder Jason Robins in a press release by the company.
“We have put immense thought and significant resources behind the development of DraftKings Sportsbook, and I’m confident that sports fans in New Jersey will enjoy using it to make the experience of watching the games even more interesting and thrilling.”
On Wednesday, August 1, 2018, DraftKings became the first company in the state allowed to offer legal online and mobile sports betting services after received approval and a license from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.
Following the approval, the DraftKings Sportsbook app was permitted to have a soft-launch, invitation-only period where people in New Jersey could go to the company’s website and try out the new technology.
The soft-launch period was a necessary requirement from the state of New Jersey to ensure the app only allowed people to place bets if they were in New Jersey state lines.
In the company’s press release, DraftKings also stated the launch of online and mobile sportsbooks in New Jersey is only the first step and plan to create online and mobile sports betting services in each state as they become legal.
Earlier this year, the daily fantasy company announced it had entered into an agreement with Lago Resort & Casino, found in Waterloo, New York and should New York legalize online and mobile sportsbook, both companies would be ready to release their co-created sports betting service for the people of New York.
DraftKings is not the only company who sought and got approval to provide an online and mobile sportsbook.
MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment both announced plans for online and mobile sportsbook apps last week.
MGM is expected to launch their online sportsbooks sometime this week at Atlantic City’s Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa along with their mobile sportsbook app, playMGM.
Caesars is predicting the Caesars Casino & Sports app, their own mobile sportsbook app, to be ready to go before the start of football season.