Opens in a new tab

It’s Jersey, baby, as Garden State in May passed Nevada as sports betting hub

June 29, 2019

Astros Minute Maid Park homerun train seen from atop neighboring Union Station May 2019

I admit it. I'm freaking out with this pre-All Star break slump that the Houston Astros are experiencing.

My only consolation is that my pain is all emotional and psychic, not monetary since I don't bet on sporting events.

I, however, apparently am in the minority. Now that sports gambling is legal, it's going gangbusters in the states where it's been approved.

N.J. bettors take over: That's definitely the case in New Jersey, the state responsible for the Supreme Court ruling back in May 2018 that overturned federal law outlawing sports wagering in most parts of the United States.

The Garden State, in fact, in May surpassed Nevada and its many Las Vegas sports book options, the country's long-standing home of betting on sporting events.

Details on how and why bettors wagered more on spotting events last month in New Jersey than in any other bet-allowing state can be found in this weekend's Saturday Shout Out story from The New York Times: "Move Over, Nevada: New Jersey Is the Sports Betting Capital of the Country."

Apps edge out Vegas, baby: It was close, but a win's a win — unless you have a spread to cover.

New Jersey sports books took in $318.9 million in bets in May, while Nevada took in $317.4 million.

Here's a quick spoiler as to why. Mobile.

While bettors in Sin City stick with the sports books at casinos, the most popular form of sports betting by far in New Jersey is by smartphones.

Las-Vegas-Strip-Sportsbook

Although bettors still must be physically in New Jersey to make a sports wager there, roughly 80 percent of the state's placed sports bets are made on mobile devices, writes Nick Corasaniti in today's newspaper.

Regardless of how made, winning bets are taxable: If you are placing bets on your favorite Major League Baseball team — especially the series this weekend in London between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox — or the U.S. women's national soccer team or an upcoming golf tournament, good luck.

And keep in mind that newly available sports betting is treated the same as all other gambling proceeds. Uncle Sam is due his tax cut on your winnings.

You also might find these items of interest:

Advertisements

 





 

Share:

The More Tax Posts tab at the top of this page will take you to, well, more tax posts. You also can search below for a tax topic. 

Latest Posts
confused office worker
8 workplace benefits questions to ask this enrollment season

October 26, 2026

Millions of U.S. workers are now deciding what workplace benefits, some of which also offer…

Read More
TAX-SAVVY WAYS 
TO WRAP UP 2026

It’s over! With October’s extended filing deadline behind us, it is now time to focus on year-end moves to reduce your 2026 tax bill. 

You’ll find ways to do just that on the Tax Tips page (see the More Tax Posts drop-down menu at the top of the blog), as well as the separate tax tip pages for each month, notably October through December. If you’re on the Tax Tips page, you’ll find a monthly list at the end of this column. If you’re on another blog page, you can head straight to the October tips; at the bottom of that tips page you’ll find links to all the other 11 months’ collections of tax advice.

Not to spoil what you’ll find in that tax advice, but it does cover such things as tax deductions for charitable donations, investment moves that could reduce tax due, and ways to max out your tax-favored retirement savings. 

Finally, as the year winds down, things get hectic. There are lots of other things to occupy our time, like the much more fun upcoming holidays. But don’t lose sight of taxes, since timing is key. To be of use, most tax moves must be made by the end of the tax year. That’s Thursday, Dec. 31, which also is the last business day of the year. 

So that you don’t miss that final tax year deadline, also keep an eye on the countdown clock below. It will keep you on top of just how much time is left to make important, tax-saving moves. (Note: I’m in the Central Time Zone, so adjust accordingly for where you live.)

Credits/Deductions
Disasters
Family
Filing and Paying Taxes
Politics/Laws
Refunds
State Taxes
Tax Brackets/Inflation
Tax Tips
Comments
Leave the first comment