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Introduction to New Jersey Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020

For those not familiar with Brian Christopher and “Vegas Low Roller,” they're guerrilla videographers who film slots in action, sometimes as much as 12 minutes at a time, at a wide range of casinos not confined to Las Vegas. They're pretty brazen and have compiled, on separate YouTube channels, literally hundreds of slot machine video clips. The Casino in Cherokee, NC. No gaming tables, only slots, and they have the gall to call it a 'Casino'? Slot machines are the most lucrative for any casino. At least at some of the gaming tables the patrons (still play at a statistical disadvantage to the house) but have much better odds in their favor.

New Jersey slot machine casino gambling consists of nine casinos in Atlantic City. None of the three racetracks or off-track betting (OTB) facilities offer physical slot machines. However, New Jersey has legalized online slots for real-money gambling.

The New Jersey gaming commission has established a minimum payout limit for slots machines in Atlantic City. Monthly return statistics are publicly available.

This post continues my weekly State-By-State Slot Machine Casino Gambling Series, an online resource dedicated to guiding slot machine casino gambler to success. Now in its third year, each weekly post reviews slots gambling in a single U.S. state, territory, or federal district.

Keep Reading … or Watch Instead!

Or … Listen Instead

Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in New Jersey*

The minimum legal gambling age in New Jersey depends upon the gambling activity:

Land-Based Casinos: 21
Poker Rooms: 21
Bingo: 18
Lottery: 18
Pari-Mutuel Wagering: 18

Historically, New Jersey’s Atlantic City established legalized gaming on the eastern side of the United States from Nevada. Voters legalized casino gambling in Atlantic City in 1976. The New Jersey Casino Control Act became state law in 1977. The first casino in New Jersey, the Resorts International Casino, opened in Atlantic City in 1978.

During their peak in 2006, when they were the only commercial casinos in the eastern U.S., Atlantic City casinos were an economic boon. Afterward, the many casinos and racinos throughout the eastern states, along with the Great Recession, hugely reduced the profitability of Atlantic City casinos. Since the reopening of two casinos in mid-2018, Atlantic City casinos have seen a significant upturn in profitability.

*The purpose of this section is to inform the public of state gambling laws and how the laws might apply to various forms of gaming. It is not legal advice.

Slot Machine Private Ownership in New Jersey

It is legal to own a slot machine privately in New Jersey if manufactured before 1941.

Gaming Control Board in New Jersey

The State of New Jersey Casino Control Commission regulates online and Atlantic City casino gambling alongside the state’s Division of Gaming Enforcement. The Commission is an independent agency while the Division is an arm of the New Jersey’s Attorney General’s Office.

New Jersey’s gaming regulations promoting a safe and robust gaming industry are publicly available from the Casino Control Commission. However, the Division of Gaming Enforcement announces Atlantic City jackpots of $50,000 or more won each year in Atlantic City, including sharing such useful jackpot information as:

Date
Casino
Jackpot amount
Slot machine denomination, manufacturer, and game theme

Casinos in New Jersey

There are nine commercial casinos in New Jersey.

The largest casino in New Jersey is Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa with 3,000 gaming machines.

The second-largest casino is Resorts Casino Hotel with 2,500 gaming machines.

Commercial Casinos in New Jersey

New Jersey has nine casinos in Atlantic City including:

The Wild Wild West Casino is officially a portion of Bally’s Atlantic City, often considered by the public to be a separate casino.

Tribal Casinos in New Jersey

New Jersey has no federally-recognized American Indian Tribes. Therefore, the state does not have any tribal casinos.

Other Gambling Establishments

As an alternative to enjoying New Jersey slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby state. Bordering New Jersey is:

North: New York Slots
East and South: Atlantic Ocean
South and West: Delaware Bat
West: Pennsylvania Slots

Each of the links above will take you to my blog for that neighboring U.S. state to New Jersey.

Online slots for real-money gambling is a real alternative for New Jersey, but only if you are physically located within the state. The state offers a verified list with links of state-approved Internet Gaming Sites.

If an online gaming site is not on this list, it’s not approved to offer internet gaming in the State of New Jersey.

Our New Jersey Slots Facebook Group

Are you interested in sharing and learning with other slots enthusiasts in New Jersey? If so, join our new New Jersey slots community on Facebook. All you’ll need is a Facebook profile to join this closed Facebook Group freely.

There, you’ll be able to privately share your slots experiences as well as chat with players about slots gambling in New Jersey. Join us!

Payout Returns in New Jersey

New Jersey gaming regulations require all slot machines have a minimum theoretical payout of at least 83%.

The Division of Gaming Enforcement makes New Jersey gaming Financial and Statistical Information publicly available with monthly and quarterly gross revenue reports. The monthly gross revenue reports are most useful with regards to return statistics.

Further, the Division offers Monthly Gross Gaming Revenues with casino win statistics. These monthly statistics provide a Win% which, in New Jersey, is the amount won by the casino instead of the more usual amount won by the player. Player Win% is 100% minus the Casino Win% provided in these monthly reports.

Harrah's Slot Machines For Sale

For March 2020, the number of slot machines and overall player win percentage at each of the nine casinos in Atlantic City was:

Bally’s (1,775 slot machines): 100% minus 8.2% equals 91.8%
Borgata (2,864 slot machines): 92.0%
Caesars (1,888 slot machines): 91.4%
Golden Nugget (1,417 slot machines): 91.2%
Hard Rock (2,167 slot machines): 90.4%
Harrah’s (2,036 slot machines): 91.7%
Ocean (1,758 slot machines): 90.0%
Resorts (1,436 slot machines): 90.4%
Tropicana (2,357 slot machines): 90.5%

For March 2020, the highest return for players went to the Borgata at 92.0% followed closely by Bally’s at 91.8% and Harrah’s at 91.7%.

The lowest return went to Ocean at 90.0% closely followed by Hard Rock and Resorts at 90.4%.

Summary of New Jersey Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020

New Jersey slot machine casino gambling consists of nine casinos in Atlantic City as well as internet gaming choices for individuals physically located within the borders of New Jersey.

The theoretical payout minimum limit for slot machines is 83%. Monthly return statistics are publicly available for each casino.

Annual Progress in New Jersey Slot Machine Casino Gambling

Over the last year, there has been little change to the slots gaming industry in New Jersey outside of the significant issues related to the global pandemic.

Hotel

One clear difference between Harrah’s Cherokee and Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River is the hotel. Harrah’s Cherokee offers three hotel towers. All are taller and larger than the single seven-story hotel building at Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River. The rooms at Cherokee Valley River are all newer. However, the Creek tower at the original Cherokee property is still modern compared to the Soco and Mountain towers.

The scenery viewable from the hotel towers is also much different between the two properties. The Cherokee resort has development around it. Most rooms do not have picturesque views. However, the two pedestrian bridges cross a beautiful mountain creek. With that said, the scenery around Harrah’s Cherokee is still better than most casinos offer. Some premium rooms have spectacular views.

Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River has no development of any kind within view except for parking lots associated with the hotel and casino. The scenery around Murphy, NC doesn’t compete with Cherokee. However, the view from the hotel is better from most rooms.

Dining

Harrah’s Cherokee easily wins the dining category. Guests will find Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Brio, two cafes and a food court that consists of Johnny Rockets, Dunkin Donuts, Earl of Sandwich and pizza by the slice.

The only dining at Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River is in a small food court. This offers Nathan’s Famous, Arthur Treacher’s Fish and Chips, Papa John’s Pizza, Panda Express and Earl of Sandwich. There are no restaurants at Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River that offer sit-down service. I recommend eating at Rib Country a few miles west of the casino in Murphy.

My wife and I dined at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse and Brio. Ruth’s Chris comped one of our steaks because it was of extremely low quality. It was so tough it couldn’t be cut with a steak knife. The steak they didn’t take off the check was only marginally better. Brio also didn’t compare to ones in other locations.

Amenities

Harrah’s Cherokee wins the amenities comparison. It isn’t even close. Cherokee has a poker room on its second floor. It has a spa and convention center. There’s also a bowling alley and concert venue at Harrah’s Cherokee.

The Harrah’s Cherokee Valley property offers no amenities. The only thing to do there is gamble, unless you consider a fast food court to be an amenity.

Diamond Lounge

Both properties offer a Diamond Lounge. The rules at each are identical. They are open from 3pm to 10pm on weeknights and until midnight on weekends. A small buffet is offered at both that includes a salad bar, deserts and one hot dish.

Diamond customers may only eat one time per night. The casinos keep track of this by issuing dining tickets.

Seven Stars players have a private seating area and entrance at Harrah’s Cherokee. Neither has dedicated bathrooms, though each have one right outside the entrance.

Gambling

The most obvious difference between the two casinos is the size. Harrah’s Cherokee is substantially larger. It includes more table games than its sister property in Murphy. This does not mean just the number of available tables. Harrah’s Cherokee offers Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Pai Gow Poker, Big Wheel and double deck blackjack that is not available at Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River.

The high limit blackjack rules are better in Murphy. Players will find $50 shoe games in Murphy that stand on all 17s. This game requires $100 at Cherokee.

Should You Pick Harrah’s Cherokee or Cherokee Valley River?

There are reasons to visit both properties. If your only goal is to gamble, Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River will achieve that. There are enough machines to find action and during the week it is often quite dead. Even the most popular machines should be available.

If your goal is to have a resort experience, Harrah’s Cherokee is the only option. This is especially true if you have children along for the trip. There is nothing for non-gamblers to do at Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River.

Ninmash