When Atlantic City’s casinos shut down in mid-March 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the gaming industry all but completely stopped.

The only part of the industry still operational was online gaming.

With gamblers stuck at home, many of them decided to pick up their smartphones and tablets and take up online gaming, giving casino operators a desperately needed revenue boost.

While brick-and-mortar casino revenue dropped by nearly 44% to $1.5 billion in 2020 compared to 2019, internet gaming revenue increased by 101% to $970.3 million in 2020 compared to 2019.

The success of internet gaming over the past year and the revenue lifeline it provided to casino owners and the state has made some wonder whether it will cut into brick-and-mortar revenue in the long term as the COVID-19 pandemic wanes.