Boyd Gaming Acquires New Jersey Online Operator Resorts Digital

Boyd Gaming’s interactive division has purchased Resorts Digital, the online gambling arm of Atlantic City’s Resorts casino, for an undisclosed amount, Wayne Perry of The Associated Press reported Monday.

Boyd Interactive, part of Las Vegas-based Boyd Gaming, received ResortsCasino.com and MoheganSunCasino.com in the deal

The deal, finalized on Sept. 1, was originally confirmed to The AP by Resorts president Mark Giannantonio. However, the acquisition price wasn’t disclosed by either side.

“We are confident that this transaction will propel Resorts Digital’s proven success over the past decade to a new level through the scale of Boyd Interactive and its market-leading platform,” Giannantonio said in a statement.

Boyd Interactive now owns iGaming sites ResortsCasino.com and MoheganSunCasino.com, along with one unused sports betting skin. Resorts Digital will continue to work under its current sports betting and iGaming licenses in New Jersey.

Despite the acquisition, Resorts will also keep working with partners DraftKings, ESPN BET, and PokerStars. Boyd Gaming owns 5% of FanDuel, the prominent Flutter Entertainment sports betting giant. The sportsbook competes with DraftKings and ESPN BET.

“New Jersey has long been one of the nation’s leading iGaming states. … We look forward to further growing our presence in that state’s online gaming market in partnership with Resorts Casino in Atlantic City,” Boyd Gaming said in a statement.

Resorts Digital won over $573 million through the first eight months of 2024, while the physical Resorts casino reported just $109 million

Resorts Digital will continue to promote the online casino sites inside the Atlantic City property. The digital platform anticipates its online betting sites will lead customers to the brick-and-mortar casino.

Additionally, Resorts Digital has outperformed the physical Resorts casino for years. The digital arm has accepted five times the amount of money from gamblers over the first eight months of this year as the physical casino did.

Over that period, Resorts Digital won over $573 million, compared to $109 million for the physical Resorts casino, according to the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.

Resorts Digital posted a gross operating profit of $9.6 million in the first half of this year. That’s a 5.6% increase from the same period a year ago.

By comparison, the physical Resorts casino had a gross operating profit of $355,000 in the first half of this year, down almost 89% from a year earlier.

This purchase is part of Boyd Gaming’s strategy of building a profitable regional iGaming business. Boyd used to be half-owner of Atlantic City’s Borgata casino before selling its interest to MGM Resorts International.