Sports betting is off and running in New Jersey, with three casinos

ATLANTIC CITY Michael Strahan Color Rush Jersey , N.J. (AP) — and two racetracks taking in $40.6 million in wagers in July, the first full month it was legal.Those figures were part of a report that showed that Hard Rock debuted as Atlantic City’s No. 3 casino in terms of gambling revenue out of the nine casinos in town. Ocean Resort came in last in its first full month of operation.New Jersey won a U.S. Supreme Court case in May clearing the way for all 50 states to offer sports betting if they choose. Since betting began in New Jersey on June 14, more than $57 million in bets has been taken in, and additional companies continue to join a rapidly expanding market.July’s numbers were mainly posted by the Borgata and Ocean Resort casinos, and the Monmouth Park and Meadowlands racetracks. Bally’s casino began taking sports bets on July 30.Since then, Harrah’s and Resorts have started taking sports bets as well, but their revenue will not be reported until mid-September.And Wednesday morning, the Golden Nugget will begin taking in-person sports bets.The Meadowlands, about 6 miles (10 kilometers) from New York City in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where the NFL’s New York Jets and Giants play, took in $1.35 million in July, having started taking bets on July 14. Monmouth Park, which started taking bets June 14, took in $856,280 in July, and has won $3.1 million since mid-June.Joe Asher, CEO of William Hill US, which runs the sports books at Monmouth Park and the Ocean Resort Casino, said he is “thrilled with the early numbers at both Monmouth and Ocean. They are clearly exceeding our expectations of where we thought we would be at this early stage. There’s no doubt the New Jersey sports betting market has a lot of potential.”Jeff Gural, who runs the Meadowlands, where FanDuel operates the sports book, said “it’s not a surprise, but it looks like we’re going to dominate the market. The real test will come when companies get their sports book online, because that’s where most of the customers are expected to come from.”The Borgata took in $562,830 in sports betting in July, and Ocean Resort handled just over $1 million. Bally’s did just under $18,000 in the two days it took sports bets in July.Sports betting generated $325,646 in state taxes in July.The Borgata, Ocean Resort and Bally’s, and the two tracks saw gross sports betting revenue of $3.8 million on those bets.Harrah’s and Resorts casinos began offering sports betting in early August.Including all gambling revenue Kareem Martin Color Rush Jersey , the nine casinos took in $302 million in July, up 12.8 percent from a year ago. But that’s mainly because two newly reopened casinos had their first full month of operation in July, including Hard Rock, the former Trump Taj Mahal. It debuted as Atlantic City’s No. 3 casino out of the nine now operating in terms of revenue, with $32.7 million. It trailed only Tropicana, at $37 million, and perennial leader Borgata, which won $76.6 million in July.Looking more closely at individual casinos, July was actually not a great month. Of the seven casinos that were operating a year ago, only the Golden Nugget showed a year-over-year increase in July, with $29.4 million, an increase of 8.8 percent over July 2017.Harrah’s was down 14.1 percent to $31.4 million and Resorts was down 12.7 percent to $17.8 million. Resorts president Mark Giannantonio said the casino did more business this July than last, but was hurt by some losses at table games.Caesars was down 10.3 percent to $29.3 million; Bally’s was down 9.9 percent to $20.5 million; Tropicana was down 9.8 percent, and Borgata was down 4.4 percent.Ocean Resort, the former Revel casino won $17 million in its first full month, ranking it last among the city’s nine casinos. Casino owner Bruce Deifik noted that July was the first time in its history that it generated a positive cash flow. He reopened the site in January after buying it from Florida developer Glenn Straub, who failed to open it for two years.“To be ninth out of nine in this position, I’m tickled pink,” Deifik said. “This was a property that for two years had a cloud over its head, people thought it was cursed, and no one thought I’d ever get it open.”Internet gambling continued its strong performance in July, up nearly 26 percent from a year ago to $25.8 million. Good morning, New York Giants fans! Let’s get right down to business on your Thanksgiving Week Monday morning.NFC East standingsThe Giants’ victory Sunday gives them a chance — not a good one, but a chance — in an up-for-grabs NFC East. Here are the current standings:Washington Redskins 6-4 (.600)Dallas Cowboys 5-5 (.500)Philadelphia Eagles 4-6 (.400)Giants 3-7 (.300)The Giants are 0-3 in the division, but still have games with each of the teams ahead of them. Beginning, of course, this Sunday in Philadelphia.Eli’s record-setting dayEli Manning went 17-of-18 for 231 yards, two touchdowns and a 155.8 passer rating on Sunday. Manning’s 94.4 completion percentage is a Giants record in a game with at least 10 attempts. The last NFL quarterback with a percentage that high with at least 10 attempts was Miami’s Ryan Tannehill on Oct. 25, 2015, when he was 18-for-19 vs. Houston. Manning’s previous best completion percentage was 87.1 (27-of-31) at Miami on Dec. 14, 2015. His second-highest was the 86.2 (25-of-29) he posted in the victory in Houston on Sept. 23.Michael Thomas was ready for onside kickGiants’ defensive back Michael Thomas has long been one of the league’s best special teams players. Sunday he correctly diagnosed and then recovered an onside kick with 2:22 to play and the Giants clinging to a three-point lead.“We have a bunch of veterans who have been premier special teams players for their different teams. So once we saw the formation, we pretty much knew where they were trying to go with the ball with how they were lined up with two guys on either side of the kicker bunched in Robert Thomas Color Rush Jersey , so once we saw it, we were prepared,” Thomas said. “We saw the ball kicked at the tee, saw the ball kicked and went up and made a play.”The six-year veteran didn’t listen to the inner voice that was telling him to get down once he corralled the ball, though he knew he should have.“Obviously the rule is to get down, but if they didn’t tackle me, I was going to the crib,” Thomas said.Some leftover statistical notesTampa Bay’s 510 yards was the highest total for a Giants opponent since the Saints gained 608 yards in their 52-49 victory in New Orleans three years ago.Tampa Bay’s 31 first downs was the highest total for a Giants opponent since the Saints had 35 on Nov. 1, 2015.The second Giants’ touchdown drive covered 95 yards and took 12 plays and 6:36 to complete. It was the Giants’ longest drive since a 96-yarder at Miami on Dec. 14, 2015.Odell Beckham Jr.’s touchdown reception was the 43rd of his career, tying Frank Gifford for fourth on the Giants’ career list.Around the Inter-GoogleSaquon, Eli, Odell: All the Giants' dreams on display vs. BucsWhat the New York Giants put together in Sunday’s 38-35 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was more than the first home win of the season, the first time this season the MefLife Stadium faithful got to stay entertained and exit satisfied.Saquon Barkley gives electric peek at how Giants run the tableNew York Giants running back Saquon Barkley was the best player on the MetLife Stadium field, a player who made life so much easier on an eerily efficient Eli Manning, and on Odell Beckham Jr., a player who will make Life After Eli Manning so much easier.NY Giants back in playoff hunt after beating Bucs ... seriouslyThe Giants may have a 3-7 record, they've won two straight while the NFC East is in disarray. And that means the postseason is not out of the questionGiants' Evan Engram makes 2 big catches in win, but why isn't he playing more? | NJ.comEvan Engram may no longer be a focal point of the Giants' passing attack, but the tight end is making the most of his opportunities over the past two weeks, even as he's seen his playing time dip.Odell Beckham mocks Warren Sapp with TD dance: 'I heard Warren was talking bad about me' | NJ.comOdell Beckham's touchdown dance in Giants' win against the Buccaneers wasn't an homage to Warren Sapp. Or was it?Giants offensive line reached its breaking point during bye: 'We were fed up' | NJ.comGiants averaged 7 yards per carry on first downs vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a 38-35 win on Sunday, November 18, 2018 (11/18/18). Rookie running back Saquon Barkley was great, but offensive line deserves credit for turnaround.Giants' win over Buccaneers breaks months of futility at homeWith Sunday's 38-35 victory over the Buccaneers, the Giants finally won their first home game of the season and broke a streak that goes back to the 2017 finale against the Redskins.Dont fret, Washington - Anything is possible in the chaotic NFC East NFL 2018Ten games of the 2018 season are in the books, yet we still have no clue how the NFC East is going to shake out.Giants report card: Pat Shurmur’s play-call tweak is workingEver since the bye week, Pat Shurmur is calling more running plays and the Giants are winning. Seems like a good plan. The Giants winning (and scoring more than 30 points) when Manning attempts only 18 passes? Wild.Odell Beckham's Giants goal to win out is looking less funny“The goal is to win every game,” Odell Beckham Jr. said after catching team-highs of four passes and 74 yards along with a touchdown. “Six games left, it’s really only crazy until you do it.” The schedule is manageable, with just two games left against teams over .500. Those happen to be at home against the Bears on Dec. 2 and a Dec. 9 clash with the Redskins in Washington.