Hard Rock casino testing sports betting in New Jersey

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — Atlantic City’s Hard Rock casino has begun offering sports betting just over a week before the Super Bowl.

The casino received permission late Friday from state gambling regulators to begin so-called “soft-play” testing of equipment and systems, and did so Saturday.

Casino president Joe Lupo says Hard Rock plans an announcement within the next few days regarding in-person sports betting at the casino.

Hard Rock hopes to have online and in-person sports betting available before the Feb. 3 Super Bowl.

It is likely to be the last Atlantic City casino to join the sports book race.

Hard Rock will be the eighth of the city’s nine casinos to offer sports betting. Caesars does not have it, but its customers are served by the sports book at neighboring sister property Bally’s.