New state regulations that take effect next month will allow Atlantic City casinos to offer fantasy sports tournaments.

Customers will be able to select sports players to create their own dream team. They would pay an entry fee and collect winnings at the casino cage if their team outperforms other participants.

Roger Gros is the publisher of Global Gaming Business Magazine, an industry trade publication.  He does not think the fantasy tournaments will have a big impact on the casinos.

 “It’s basically the same king of thing you can do online with any kind of organization. Once people realize that they’re going to say oh this isn’t really sports betting and why do I need to go to Atlantic City? I think the main focus here is to really get under the skin of the sports leagues that are trying to keep sports betting out of New Jersey.”

Gross says the fantasy contests will allow casinos to collect names and email addresses for their databases as they prepare for Internet wagering.

Bill Pascrell III is a lobbyist for the Interactive Media and Entertainment Gaming Association. He says the casinos will be able to take advantage of a big interest in fantasy teams while the state continues its legal battle to get sports wagering.

“Casinos will be able to market to a new demographic of folks that will benefit all the other ancillary activities, hotel rooms, concerts, bars, restaurants, gift shops.”