This led to a renaissance where fantasy sports operators like DraftKings and FanDuel started offering actual sports betting, and they even launched their own online casinos. We’re here to ask why New Jersey, of all places, was the first to pursue online gambling.

Why New Jersey Chose Online Gambling

In 2011, New Jersey held a referendum to allow sports betting and other forms of gambling in the state. 64% voted in favour, but they were still restricted by the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA), which outlawed sports betting (with Nevada being a notable exception).

As for why, many were sold on the idea as a way to rejuvenate Atlantic City and generate additional tax revenue for local government. New Jersey won the argument in 2018, allowing sportsbooks and casinos to launch online businesses. This led to several popular online casinos in NJ, all competing against one another by offering deposit matches, free spins and other promotions to get bettors excited.

The Luck of the Irish

It’s no secret that a lot of Irish cultural symbols have become the calling card of the global iGaming industry. From four-leaf clovers to the Leprechaun and his pot of gold over the rainbow, Irish symbols are common in online slots. When they hit the internet, slots quickly developed to have stronger thematic, narrative ties to cultural items. Of them all, Irish slots remain one of the biggest slot categories, no matter where you’re playing online.

There are layers to why the “luck of the Irish” became a thing. It started with the fairies of Celtic mythology, who usually interacted with humans through negotiation and trickery. Practices developed to stay on the good side of those fairies, and we called them good luck charms. The phrase itself originated during the American gold rush, said when Irish immigrants would strike gold. One of the first big winners of the gold rush was Irish-American Samuel Brannan.

The Irish in New Jersey

So, where does New Jersey factor into this? When the Irish first made their way to America, they often pooled into tight-knit communities along the eastern seaboard. Boston is the best example of this, a city that still celebrates its Irish heritage hundreds of years later. New Jersey also welcomed a lot of Irish settlers. Today, their Irish-American descendants can be found in the Irish Riviera, in Monmouth and Ocean counties.

Irish labourers also helped build and name the city that put New Jersey on the map – Atlantic City. Irishman Richard Boyse Osborne was the city’s civil engineer, and once the foundations were laid, a bustling Irish community established its first boardwalk hotel businesses. Prohibition turned the place into a political stronghold run by the Irish, in both legitimate and illegitimate ways, by figures like Nucky Johnson.

All of these cultural and demographic factors laid fertile ground for a state that would overturn longstanding legislation and reinvigorate America’s online entertainment landscape. When that gambling referendum was held in 2011, the Irish Riviera voted yes more than any other constituency. The final push against PASPA was also led by Governor Phil Murphy, whose political career has repeatedly emphasized his Irish heritage. When the time came to take a chance on a new kind of entertainment, New Jersey was the first in line, and it may not have happened if it weren’t for the luck of the Irish.

Hailing from the Emerald Isle, generations of Irish people have shaped New Jersey and our nation – with humility, faith, generosity, and warmth. This #IrishAmericanHeritageMonth, and every month, I'm proud to be Irish. ☘️ pic.twitter.com/j9vk0LTwRt

— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) March 2, 2021