Atlantic City casino gambling revenue from tables and slots increased nearly 15% in January compared to a year prior, signaling a solid start to the new year.
Online gambling revenue set another monthly record and the total amount gambled on sports is a new all-time high in New Jersey.
Collectively, year-over-year total gambling revenue increased more than 15% last month, according to data released Wednesday by the state Division of Gaming Enforcement.
NJ Land-based casino gambling revenue was $183.6 million in January, up 14.8% from the same month in 2021.
Online gambling revenue was $137.8 million.
Sports gamblers in NJ legally wagered more than $1.348 billion, the highest monthly total ever for the state.
Total gambling revenue reported by Atlantic City casino licensees in January was $340.1 million, up 15.1% year-over-year.
Two sides to Atlantic City casino gambling revenue data
All of that is the positive of January’s revenue reports.
The flip side of the story is a continuation of 2021. Last year, the majority of Atlantic City’s nine casinos reported less in-person revenue than pre-pandemic.
The amount of money gambled on the floors of Atlantic City casinos in January 2022 was down as well. State reports show those figures declining more than 5.2% from 2019 and 10.4% from 2020.
Seven AC casinos reported less in-person gambling revenue last month than January 2020 or January 2019.
Over the last year, only Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City and Ocean Casino Resort are generating more revenue from land-based gambling.
Here is a property breakdown of January 2022:
| Casino | Table & Other | Poker | Slot Machines | Total Gaming Win |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bally's | $3,045,482 | $ - | $5,738,134 | $8,783,616 |
| Borgata | $13,317,917 | $1,113,587 | $33,964,993 | $48,396,497 |
| Caesars | $6,016,276 | $ - | $9,984,334 | $16,000,610 |
| Golden Nugget | $2,110,628 | $ - | $8,300,505 | $10,411,133 |
| Hard Rock | $12,274,012 | $ - | $22,458,669 | $34,732,681 |
| Harrah's | $3,818,009 | $256,460 | $13,313,565 | $17,388,034 |
| Ocean Casino | $7,233,158 | $ - | $16,908,571 | $24,141,729 |
| Resorts | $1,785,495 | $- | $7,464,248 | $9,249,743 |
| Tropicana | $3,474,765 | $136,961 | $10,925,998 | $14,537,724 |
| Total | $53,075,742 | $1,507,008 | $129,059,017 | $183,641,767 |
Will Spring showers bring AC gambling flowers?
Annual in-person gambling revenue decreased 5% in 2021 compared to 2019. The percentage decline would have been in the double digits if not for Hard Rock and Ocean significantly outperforming their 2019 campaigns.
And, looming variables — namely a likely indoor smoking ban and New York City casinos — could slow an already sluggish brick-and-mortar recovery.
Nonetheless, state regulators see the bright side in January’s revenue reports.
“It is encouraging to see Atlantic City’s recent positive momentum continue in the winter
months,” said NJ Casino Control Commission Chairman James Plousis. “The casinos’ recent performance provides cause for even more optimism as the spring season approaches.”
