N.J. casinos to take fantasy team bets

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – Peyton Manning’s touchdown passes, Adrian Peterson’s first downs and Darrelle Revis’ interceptions could combine to make someone rich this fall.

New Jersey is allowing casinos in Atlantic City to offer fantasy sports betting in a pilot program that will be announced Monday.

The state Division of Gaming Enforcement has told casinos it will allow them to accept entry fees from gamblers and pay out winnings from the casino cash cages.

Regulations will be spelled out Monday, but an online gambling association says it expects that players will be allowed to draft a pool of athletes, follow their performances and compete against other fantasy teams. Those with the best statistical totals will win cash.

“This gives players the option to deposit money and then play daily fantasy games, where they pick three or five Major League Baseball or National Football League or National Basketball Association players and build an aggregate roster just for that one day,” said Joe Brennan, president of the Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association, an online gambling trade association.

It remains to be seen whether the fantasy bets could be made online or would have to be made in person at the casinos. Several websites already offer such betting, including fanduel.com and draftday.com.