Back in October 2014, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement decided to permit casinos to allow skill-based games in an effort to increase player traffic to Atlantic City’s casinos. The Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa was the first casino to take up the challenge and promote a “Free Throw Shooting Challenge” in the casino’s signature room.

Since this was the first ever skill-based game challenge at a casino, the Borgata was not sure of the response but heavily promoted the event. The challenge was well received as over 1000 participants signed for the event and paid the entry fee of $20 per participant. There was a lot of fun and activity.

Participants were allowed to throw 15 balls in a sixty second time frame and points were awarded for each successful throw. The eventual winner of the competition was thirty seven year old Al Callejas whose father was a basketball coach. Callejas won $10,220 and admitted that this was the first time he had won anything at a casino.

Joe Lupo , the SVP at the Borgata stated that the casino was extremely happy with the response and would definitely consider holding more skill-based tournaments in the near future.