Saquon Barkley of the New York Giants carries the ball as Damarious Randall of the Cleveland Browns defends in the first quarter during their preseason game on Aug. 9, 2018 at MetLife Stadium. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
DraftKings launched the first mobile sportsbook in New Jersey on Aug. 1, making Thursday night’s Browns-Giants preseason game the first NFL game in which fans could place bets from inside the stadium.
New Jersey, Delaware, and Mississippi have joined Nevada in offering sports betting since the Supreme Court ruled to strike down PASPA, the federal law that prohibited the practice. So far, New Jersey is the only new state to permit online wagering, and only DraftKings’ sportsbook is operational. MGM Resorts chairman Jim Murren said on July 31 that its Borgata casino would be offering mobile betting soon through the PlayMGM app, but its website still says “coming soon” and “it won’t be long now.”
ESPN reported that there were no restrictions on DraftKings mobile betting within MetLife Stadium, where the Browns defeated the Giants 20-10. In-play wagers were accepted until late in the fourth quarter.
FanDuel operates a sportsbook at Meadowlands Racetrack, which is in the same entertainment complex as MetLife Stadium, but mobile wagering is not yet operational. FanDuel relayed to ESPN that the nearby Browns-Giants game accounted for 30 percent of its football handle on the night, triple the percentage intake at a Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook.
SportTechie Takeaway
Mid-game and in-stadium betting will soon be commonplace in New Jersey and, within a few years, in many U.S. states. The Thursday night game in East Rutherford, N.J., is historic as the first such endeavor and notable for the apparent lack of any glitches.
