Borgata Casino & Resorts became the first casino in Atlantic City to take wagers on sports on June 14, 2018 the day sports betting became legal and the whole NJ sportsbook industry instantly more attractive for US bettors. The temporary land-based sportsbook operates under the name Borgata Race & Sports Book and is located in the former racebook. The bookie is currently working on opening their permanent facility, a project that will cost a pretty penny. In August 2018, Borgata (via playMGM) took their first mobile sports bets on Android phones, being the second sportsbook app to launch since the online sports betting legalization.
Sports Betting Lines
Borgata was for a while the only place in AC to take bets both on sports and horse racing. And it was their golden time. However, now that more bookies offer horse racing betting, it is no longer such an unique feature. So the bookie introduced some excotic horse race bets. Don’t hesitate to check them out. You can also find a pretty good variety of sports to bet on. It includes football, baseball, soccer, hockey, basketball, boxing, tennis and many other. Special events are also available here. Some of them are the World Cup, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. For those who might fancy a bet before the beginning of the season, there are bets one can make on the winner of next year’s NFL, NBA, and NHL titles. Borgata though cannot take wagers on NJ college teams in any sports.
Bonuses
Borgata, as part of the MGM Resorts rewards program will most likely offer plenty of bonuses but for now there’s a lack of them. It’s fair to expect that similar to the casino rewards, as well as seasonal and long-term promos will be integrated into the sportsbook platform. Most likely the bookie will be offering a welcome bonus to their new players. Of course, in order to receive it you’ll need to complete the registration and receive a verified account. A first deposit or free bet bonus will also most probably be available. If you signed with a playMGM sports account you can place your first bet risk free or bet $25 or more to receive a match up to $100 in cash.
Deposit & Payout
Borgata’s deposit and withdrawal will most likely be similar to what playMGM offers now. There are Visa and Mastercard, online banking transfer, PayNearMe, e-check, Neteller, check by mail and of course, cash at Borgata Cage for instant cash of winnings. If you encounter difficulties there is a customer service available 24/7. In order to write to support use email support@playMGMsports.com or call (609)248-9531.
Mobile Betting & Site Usability
Borgata’s online sportsbook platform is still under construction and there’s not much to say except the fact that it is expected to be launched by the end of 2019. On the race and sports book page of the current website you can find betting guides for football, basketball, baseball, hockey, MMA & boxing. They contain a lot of helpful information for newbies. Borgata already launched the playMGM sports betting app. It slightly differs from the Nevada edition. However, still includes a wide range of local and international sports and betting options. The app is available for Android and iOS and is quite easy-to-use. You’ll have the Menu in the top left corner and below the button that shows the list of sports you can wager on.
Conclusion
Borgata, as expected from a top-grossing casino in AC was the first to step into the sportsbook universe of gambling. It is thanks to this kind of industry pioneers that we have a chance to wager on sports the day it’s officially permitted. The transition to sportsbook was much easier for Borgata since they’ve already operated horse racing and had MGM Resorts (with more than 25 years of sports betting experience in Nevada) as a role model in sportsbook operation. However, the bookie gives way to their competitors, now that there’s each time more and more of them up and running on their own online platforms. The temporary sportsbook is still better than nothing, but it is rather small and seats are usually reserved by players who bet on horses. The bookie though is expected to open its expanded sportsbook in summer 2019, an $11 million project that will sure bring Borgata to the next level.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Land-based sportsbook
- Trustworthy parent company
- Great app
- Exotic horse race bets
Cons
- No online sportsbook platform
- No bets on NJ college teams
- Lack of bonuses