888casino and 888poker Officially Out of New Jersey Market

888casino and 888poker have officially exited the thriving New Jersey legal gambling market, fulfilling their desire and promise. A top live betting site is also in the process of leaving the U.S. sports betting scene.

Initially expected to cease operations in the Garden State on June 3, the company’s platforms unexpectedly went dark on June 17. Users of the New Jersey online casino platform were unable to make deposits to their accounts 30 days prior to the shutdown, but they were granted an additional two weeks of wagering activity with the 888 brands.

In March, Hard Rock Digital, the legal gambling platform owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, seized the opportunity to acquire the U.S. assets of the rebranded evoke platform (previously known as 888 Holdings), as the latter sought to exit the American legal gambling market.

Please be advised that 888Casino will be closing its operations in New Jersey on June 17. We are excited to announce our partnership with Hard Rock Bet. Deposits will no longer be accepted 30 days before the closure date. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our support team. Sign up today at Hardrock.bet/casino. Thank you for your continued support.

The story

888 Holdings, now known as evoke, underwent a name change during a shift in focus towards America. The company has faced challenges on American soil, leading to the decision to sell its U.S assets to Hard Rock Digital.

The first blow came with the end of a crucial partnership with Sports Illustrated, a legendary American sports institution that unexpectedly announced its decision to shut down entirely. evoke had a strong connection to the Sports Illustrated brand in multiple American states, and with its downfall, 888 Holdings’ presence in the American market also suffered.

The 888casino brand was only operating in the New Jersey market, while evoke had a presence in other U.S. markets through partnerships with SI Casino and Underscoreg.

Strategic review

SI’s decline, along with other factors, prompted a “strategic review” in March of the company’s entire business-to-customer operations in America. This evaluation ultimately led to the decision to significantly scale back its presence in the United States.

The review resulted in Evoke entering into a sales agreement with Hard Rock Digital for the 888 products in New Jersey and across the United States.

Since the Seminoles have already introduced their Hard Rock brand in the New Jersey market, 888casino and 888poker are now considered redundant and will be rebranded as Hard Rock Bet in the Garden State.

evoke not totally out on the North American market

Even though it has closed its online casinos and sportsbooks in the U.S., evoke will maintain a foothold in the American market with its updated Poker 8 platform.

Evoke is the provider of technical software and expertise for the widely recognized World Series of Poker (WSOP) online platform in various regions, including New Jersey.

The company has just introduced a “generational upgrade” that will enable online poker players in New Jersey, Michigan, and Nevada to compete against each other. With this upgrade, player pools from all three states will be merged, increasing the availability of cash games, tournaments, and prize pools.

The upcoming upgrade will include improved graphics, enhanced gameplay on all mobile devices, and increased functionality for site users. Additionally, Poker 8 users can look forward to a revamped Player Account Management System.