Atlantic City Thrives: July Records Growth in In-person Revenue

Atlantic City is on a roll! The month of July witnessed the third straight month of year-over-year growth in in-person gross gaming revenue (GGR), showcasing a resurgence even as other significant markets like Las Vegas face challenges.

Highlights from July

• Overall gaming revenue increased: The total GGR at the nine casinos reached $284.1 million, up 4.3% compared to July 2024.
• Table games doing well: Revenue from table games saw a robust 10% rise, bringing in $71.3 million.
• Slots are popular: Slot machine revenue hit $212.8 million, a nearly 3% increase.
• Investment pays off: Over the past four years, over $1.1 billion has been invested into enhancing casino facilities.

According to the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, these numbers indicate a thriving local casino scene. James Plousis, chair of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, stated, “Atlantic City’s solid summer season continued in July. The investments made have helped Atlantic City remodel itself into a vibrant destination offering a dazzling array of gaming, leisure, dining, and entertainment options that suit various tastes.”

Year-to-Date Success

As of now, the in-person casino win has increased by 2.2% year-to-date, with a total of over $1.66 billion collected across all casinos. This figures strongly highlight in-person patron spending, which benefits local economies through additional revenue from food, beverages, accommodations, and entertainment offerings—something that digital gaming fails to replicate.

Comparison with iGaming

Interestingly, July also marked a significant milestone where the in-person revenue of casinos surpassed online gaming revenue, which achieved a record high of $247.3 million. The combined gaming revenue, including sports betting, exceeded $606.2 million, up 11% from the previous year. New Jersey’s total GGR for July surpassed $600 million for only the second time in history.

Citywide Improvements: All Casinos Benefit

Impressively, in-person growth is not only confined to familiar names like Borgata, Hard Rock, or Ocean. Even establishments like Bally’s posted a rare gain (6% to $14.1 million). Harrah’s saw a steady increase to $20.4 million, while Resorts also improved by 8.5%, reaching $16.8 million in GGR.

Borgata remains the leader with $79.9 million, while the Hard Rock clocked in at $55.1 million, a minimal increase of less than 1%. Ocean experienced an 18% spike, bringing their revenue to $43.1 million, amid strong table game performances.

What’s Next for Atlantic City?

As July ends, it will be intriguing to see how Atlantic City maintains this momentum. Two casinos—Caesars and Tropicana—saw slight declines of 6% and 1%, respectively. This suggests that for every step forward, there may be challenges awaiting ahead.

Conclusion

The growth of Atlantic City’s gaming revenue heralds a bright future for the local economy. With an ongoing commitment to improvement and investment, the city has positioned itself as a key player in the gaming market. The resilience shown despite external competition is commendable, and stakeholders remain optimistic about continuing this upward trajectory.

In summary, July has been a promising month for Atlantic City, showcasing strong in-person revenue growth across various casinos, reflecting the vitality of this market and the positive reception of investments made to elevate the gaming experience for visitors.