DraftKings has become the first operator in New Jersey to accept legal sports betting online, after being provided a waiver by the state’s Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) to begin a soft launch on Wednesday. The condition is that the company can offer betting via invite-only.

The terms laid out by the DGE require that DraftKings must have restricted hours of operation and only a certain number of customers. Players in New Jersey must download an app via Android or iOS device and wait to be invited by the brand before betting. To offer sports betting, DraftKings has partnered with the Resorts Atlantic City Casino, and the two will open a physical sportsbook onsite in the future.

Kambi mobile platform

Kambi provides the mobile platform for DraftKings’ new sportsbook. The two companies signed a deal less than two months ago. The application uses the crowned-D logo of the DraftKings brand along with the traditional green and black color scheme. With the app, bettors will be able to take part in i-play and access cash-out features that have been used in Europe’s mobile betting market for over a decade.

Kambi CEO Kristian Nylen said: “Today marks the start of an exciting new chapter for Kambi, creating history with our partner DraftKings by processing the first online wager outside of Nevada following the repeal of PASPA.

“To be the first, and so far, the only, sports betting supplier to receive a transactional waiver to operate online in New Jersey only strengthens our position as the secure and quality choice for operators seeking a sportsbook partner.”

Online sports betting window opens

In May, sports betting became a reality across the United States when the US Supreme Court struck down a federal law that banned the activity in most of the country. The decision allowed individual states to legalize sports betting. In New Jersey, operators began taking wagers in June via their land-based venues after Governor Phil Murphy signed a state law for the new industry. Land-based venues offering services currently in the state include the Borgata, Oceans Resort, Bally’s, and Harrah’s.

The new sports betting law placed a 30-day waiting period for online and mobile betting, to provide regulators with time to begin the process of licensing. The waiting period has passed, and operators are waiting to gain approval from the DGE to get started with online/mobile offerings. The DraftKings’ soft launch this week is one of the final steps in the certification process.

For now, DraftKings will be offering invites to players who sign up to take part in sports betting. The company has yet to disclose how many users will be allowed to place bets during the soft launch, but it did reveal that they expect to be offering statewide services in a few days.

The sportsbook application from DraftKings is offered via Android and Apple devices, varying from the daily fantasy sports product of the company. While the app may be different, customers of DraftKings can use both from the same online gaming account. DraftKings will be using the activity of their customers in fantasy contests to tailor what they see via the sports betting application, providing a more customized experience for their members.

With the DraftKings sports betting option, customers will only be able to place wagers while physically within the borders of New Jersey. However, an account can be opened and deposited or withdrawn from via any location. Third-party geo-location technology is used to enforce the state boundary restrictions.