New Jersey is approaching 150,000 online gambling accounts for the state’s 14 active gambling web sites showing steady growth since the sites went live in November.
Figures released by the state Division of Gaming Enforcement last week show that 148,487 accounts had been created. Online players can open multiple accounts through the different websites.
The state will issue its first report internet gambling later this month.
Seven casinos are offering online gambling—the Golden Nugget Atlantic City; the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa; the Tropicana Casino and Resort; Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino; the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort; Caesars Atlantic City and Bally’s Atlantic City.
Since online gambling went live in November, there have been several technical issues that have hampered play.
Many banks and credit card issuers have refused to process online gambling transactions. State officials have said they are contacting various commercial entities to work out problems, but players have reported numerous problems in opening accounts.
There have also been problems with geolocation programs, which often shut out players close to the state’s borders. Players must be physically located in New Jersey to gamble.
And there also seems to be a problem with mysterious disconnects where players are simply kicked out of the system, even during tournament play, and forced to sign back in.
According to analysts monitoring internet chat rooms, Caesars Entertainment and its online partner 888 Poker have especially had disconnect problems.
Yet through it all, the number of accounts continues to grow each week.
