If there was ever a case where subtraction was the formula used to achieve addition, it is in the case of the gambling market of New Jersey. The news hitting the headlines reveals that Stardust Casino will be officially relaunching under the management of Boyd Gaming whereas Pala Casino has closed shop for good.
The Boyd organization which is based in Las Vegas bought Pala Interactive for a whopping $170 million back in November 2022. The new-face Stardust online gambling platform will be run and have its performance reported courtesy of Borgata’s NJ casino license.
What we cover
New Jersey to welcome Stardust casino again
It has been 24 months since the management of FanDuel and Boyd introduced the Stardust brand to the gambling enthusiasts of New Jersey. Well, after lots of restructuring and planning behind the scenes, the online betting platform is scheduled to be launched for the second time. In the meantime, FanDuel will take over the offering of online gambling for the NJ market. It is no surprise that the NJ gaming giant took up Stardust operations to facilitate a smooth transition. This has been happening since the beginning of March without as much as a whisper from stakeholders that casino players are missing out.
This is definitely a complex scenario but business analysts will agree that it is a great move for keeping a brand relevant in the midst of stiff competition. The most important lesson to take home is that standing on the shoulders of giants is the safest way to make a mark in the market you operate in. The online gamblers of the Garden State will be pleased with the fact that Stardust Casino in New Jersey is open for business.
How far with Stardust Pennsylvania?
Even though the NJ market appears to be busy setting up operations for Stardust, the people of Pennsylvania are wondering when the same will be happening for them. Any communication regarding the setting up of a Stardust online studio for the Pennsylvania market is supposed to be given by Boyd. The current portfolio of Boyd comprises over 25 casinos and racinos spread across different states. Among these many establishments that the brand either owns or operates is Valley Forge Casino Resort based in King of Prussia.
The properties under Boyd’s management should have been more were it not for having sold off a 50% share in Borgata to MGM Resorts International, a gambling operator in AC. The deal which cost the new shareholders $590 million was finalized in 2016. The management of MGM must have been attracted to Borgata following reports of its profitability. The best-performing casino establishment in Atlantic City will be celebrating 20 years of business in 2023.
History of Stardust & Boyd
It is impossible to mention the past that Boyd has shared with Stardust without taking note of Sin City Casino’s involvement. Boyd Gaming bought Stardust Resort & Casino in 1985 at a time when it was involved in a legal tussle. The casino stood a different location from what people are currently aware of; north end of Las Vegas Strip between 1958 and 2006. This location is today occupied by Genting Group’s Resorts World of Las Vegas.
Boyd was at some point an operating partner of Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City so the operations of other businesses within that space were familiar news. As for Stardust, the iconic brand was plunged into the online casino pool by FanDuel in 2021. One of the direct effects of this move was that Betfair lost its popularity and this caused a shift in the demand forces in this market. The star of Stardust was for sure destined to shine early considering that the online brand operated and declared performance through a Golden Nugget Atlantic City license.
Las Vegas gambling population considers Stardust as one of the beloved betting destinations in the state; this explains the introduction of a social app of the same name. Interested players can access the app free of charge on Android and iOS smartphones. If you are wondering how the three Boyd casinos made it to the strip, think of it as Stardust magic. While a casino app might be successful in creating a platform for up-selling, a social app allows casinos to make money from actual money bets.
States such as West Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey are the few jurisdictions in the US that have legalized online casinos. Although Uncle Sheldon, a casino mogul, has been lobbying relentlessly for Nevada to adopt online casinos, it is yet to happen.
The future success of Boyd Gaming is anchored on the fact that the brand owns several physical casino establishments in various states. The Stardust app is therefore an opportunity for the company to make more revenue in the near future. One of the key features of this app is a note to its users informing that they will not have access to real money gambling or win real cash from playing the games. It is also important or players to separate their experience in physical casinos from their experience in online gaming platform; success in one does not automatically rub off on the other.
Conclusion
Word on the street has it that Stardust Social Casino is designed to dish out rewards to members of the loyalty club at Boyd Gaming. Players already know that the games are free to play but they are free to buy credits which earn points from playing games on the platform. There are 16 on the app’s database and many of these are recognizable by players. To entice players to play on the social app regularly, players can spin for an opportunity to earn credits. For those who are playing on the app for the first time, gameplay is pretty easy plus there is a tutorial that can be reviewed even before the app is downloaded.
