Struggling Atlantic City continues its hardship; casino revenue drops nearly 3% in April.
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Posted on: May 17, 2025, 9:32 AM.
Last updated on: May 17, 2025, 9:32 AM.
Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinORead MoreGambling Industry News, Insights, and Gossip* Troubles persist for Atlantic City casinos* iGaming is the shining light amidst struggles
Despite the scorching sun closer, the nine casinos of Atlantic City are still feeling the chill of this year. In-person gaming revenue continues to trail behind last year's numbers.
Last Friday, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement reported that brick-and-mortar revenues amounted to roughly $211 million. This represented a meager 2.7% dip from April 2024, translating to an almost significant $6 million loss.
Monthly Breakdown:Table games saw a grim loss of almost $9.3 million, with dealers keeping less than $48.8 million of players' bets. In stark contrast, slot revenue saw a modest 2.1% increase to $162.2 million.
Year-to-date, the combined revenue of Atlantic City casinos is 2% lower than it was at the same time last year, meaning casinos took in $17.5 million less from brick-and-mortar gamblers from January to April 2024.
Battle Beyond the Bricks
It's not only the brick-and-mortar casinos that are grappling; the entire commercial gaming industry in New Jersey is facing hardship. Sportsbooks are generating less revenue for casinos and their third-party operators as many Garden State bettors are holding their bets back.
In 2024, New Jersey sports bettors placed approximately $5.2 billion in bets from January through April. In 2025, total bets for the same period amounted to $4.2 billion.
Possible Causes:It's unclear if the reduction in sports bets originates from gamblers migrating back to unregulated offshore platforms, economic pressures, or the effects of responsible gaming messaging.
Sportsbooks won $90.5 million from sports bettors in April, marking a 15% drop, or approximately $15.7 million. Year-to-date, the sportsbooks' winnings have dipped 18%, with a total win of $357.6 million, which is $76.6 million less than this time in 2024.
iGaming's Unstoppable Force
The glimmer of hope lies in Atlantic City's plethora of online casinos, which continue to thrive.
iGaming win, inclusive of online slots, table games, and poker rake, totaled an impressive $235.2 million, a leap of 25%. Online casino revenues alone amounted to a $47.2 million increase. Year-to-date, iGaming revenue stands at over $908.4 million, up by a robust 21%, or almost $157.7 million.
Summer Time Fiesta
As summer approaches, Atlantic City's beaches are bustling once more, and the casino town is hopeful for an improved summer season compared to last year.
According to James Plousis, head of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, one of the draws for tourists will be the dedicated, top-notch service provided by the numerous casino workers.
Plousis told Casino.org, "Tourists who visit Atlantic City receive first-class service from dedicated workers in the casino hotels... The enthusiasm of that celebration was remarkable and it foreshadows a promising summer season."
With New York City still deciding on the location of three multibillion-dollar casinos set to open soon, the upcoming summers are of critical importance to Atlantic City establishing its capacity to compete with the forthcoming properties that could keep some Atlantic City regulars closer to home.
- In Atlantic City, the internet casino industry is the only sector showing resilience amidst the ongoing struggles of nine casinos.
- The reported gaming revenue for last Friday in Atlantic City amounted to about $211 million, representing a 2.7% decrease from April 2024.
- The decline in brick-and-mortar gaming revenue resulted in an almost significant $6 million loss compared to the previous year.
- Table games witnessed a disheartening loss of nearly $9.3 million, with dealers receiving less than $48.8 million from players' bets.
- Conversely, slot revenue saw a modest 2.1% increase to $162.2 million.
- Year-to-date, the combined revenue of Atlantic City casinos is 2% lower than it was at the same time in 2024, resulting in a loss of $17.5 million from January to April 2024.
- The entire commercial gaming industry in New Jersey is experiencing hardship, and sports betting is generating less revenue for casinos and third-party operators.
- In 2024, New Jersey sports bettors placed approximately $5.2 billion in bets from January through April. In 2025, total bets dropped to $4.2 billion for the same period.
- The decline in sports betting may be due to gamblers returning to unregulated offshore platforms, economic pressures, or the effects of responsible gaming messaging.
- In April, sportsbooks only won $90.5 million from sports bettors, marking a 15% drop, or approximately $15.7 million compared to the same month in 2024.
- Year-to-date, the sportsbooks' winnings have fallen 18%, with a total win of $357.6 million, which is $76.6 million less than this time in 2024.
- The hope for Atlantic City lies in its thriving online casinos, as iGaming continues to show robust growth.
- iGaming win, inclusive of online slots, table games, and poker rake, totaled an impressive $235.2 million, representing a 25% increase.
- Online casino revenues alone amounted to a $47.2 million increase, and year-to-date, iGaming revenue stands at over $908.4 million, up by a robust 21%, or almost $157.7 million.
- As summer nears, Atlantic City is hopeful for an improved summer season compared to last year, and with New York City still deciding on the location of three multibillion-dollar casinos, the upcoming summers are of critical importance to the city's efforts to compete with these upcoming properties that could encourage some Atlantic City regulars to stay closer to home, with sports betting, lotteries, and casino-and-gambling trends continuing to evolve, including sports, football, baseball, hockey, golf, sports-betting on racing, weather, tennis, mixed-martial-arts, weather-forecasting, and more, in Las Vegas, online, and beyond.
