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Atlantic City casinos began 2026 with modest year-over-year growth, reporting $213.3 million in gross gaming revenue for January, according to figures released by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.
The total marks a 1.6% increase from the $210.1 million generated in January 2025, signaling a steady start during what is traditionally one of the slowest months of the year for the resort town.
January’s results were driven primarily by slot machine revenue, which increased compared with the same month last year. Table games revenue, however, declined year over year, tempering overall gains for the month. Together, the two verticals produced the slight uptick for brick-and-mortar casinos.
While growth was limited, the improvement continues a trend of stabilization for Atlantic City’s in-person gaming sector following several years of post-pandemic recalibration and increased regional competition.
Internet gaming outduels retail market again
In addition to their retail casino floors, Atlantic City operators also saw significant gains from their online casino platforms.
New Jersey online casinos reached $258.9 million in January, a 16.8% increase from $221.6 million in January 2025.
Jane Bokunewicz, faculty director at Stockton University School of Business, described the upper hand the online vertical has:
“For the third consecutive month (and the eighth time since inception) internet gaming gross revenue surpassed brick-and-mortar revenue to claim 48.1% of total revenue share.
“Sportsbooks (online and retail) represented 12.2% of revenue while traditional land-based gaming accounted for just 39.7%.”
January was actually an impressive month considering the winter Atlantic City went through last month. Bokunewicz added:
“Despite a span of brutal cold and severe winter weather across the region, Atlantic City casino operators realized a fairly strong month of brick-and-mortar gaming revenue for January 2026.
“Operators’ total Gross Gaming Revenue for the month also continued a growth trend propelled by internet gaming revenues.”
Business is expected to pick up through the spring months, and hopefully explode during the summer. By that time, retail should overtake online gambling.
Total gaming revenue rises
When combining retail casino and internet gaming revenue, Atlantic City’s casino industry generated $472.2 million in January, reflecting continued overall growth compared with a year ago.
Gross revenue taxes collected from casino and internet gaming operations totaled $86.5 million across all gaming sectors for the month, providing funding for programs such as the Casino Revenue Fund, which supports seniors and people with disabilities in New Jersey.
January’s performance underscores the evolving structure of Atlantic City’s casino market – with steady in-person play complemented by sustained strength in online gaming as operators move further into 2026.
