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The Atlantic City casino market posted modest growth in March but continued to trail New Jersey’s surging iGaming vertical.
According to the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE), the city’s nine casino hotels generated $236.7 million in revenue for the month. That represents a 2.5% increase from the $230.9 million reported in March 2025, and a 16.7% increase from February.
While the year-over-year gain signals steady in-person demand, it was not enough to keep pace with iGaming. New Jersey online casinos produced $272.1 million in March, marking the seventh consecutive month that internet gaming has outperformed retail.
Retail growth remains steady but limited
Through the first quarter of 2026, Atlantic City properties have shown incremental progress.
Year-to-date revenue reached $652.9 million, up 1.3% compared to the same period last year. The gains reflect a stable but slower-growing segment of the market, especially when compared to double-digit increases on the iGaming side.
Retail slot machines and table games continue to anchor Atlantic City’s performance, supported by consistent visitation and weekend traffic. However, those gains have not matched the pace of online expansion.
iGaming continues to widen the gap
The gap between online and retail gaming has become a defining trend in New Jersey.
March’s results extend a streak that began in late 2025, with New Jersey online casino revenue now topping retail earnings in each of the last seven months. The consistency of that trend highlights the growing preference for digital gaming options among players.
At the same time, Atlantic City’s casinos remain a critical part of the state’s gaming ecosystem, contributing significant revenue, employment, and tourism.
Jane Bokunewicz, faculty director at Stockton University School of Business, commented on the strategies Atlantic City needs to focus on to continue its relevancy.
“To succeed with brick-and-mortar operations, it will become increasingly necessary for Atlantic City’s casino resorts to ‘lean in’ to their on-property assets to make the in-person experience sufficiently enticing and distinctive to attract patrons in this competitive market.”
Seasonal shift could favor casinos
Despite the recent stretch, the balance between retail and online gaming may not remain tilted for long.
Atlantic City casinos typically benefit from a seasonal boost in the summer months, driven by tourism, events, and increased foot traffic along the Jersey Shore. That influx of visitors has historically helped retail revenue reclaim the top spot during peak season.
If those patterns hold, brick-and-mortar casinos could regain the monthly revenue lead later this year.
Bokunewicz is predicting it to happen:
“We should see some year-over-year growth in brick-and-mortar during the peak summer tourism season.”
Slow and steady
For now, March underscores the evolving dynamics of New Jersey’s gaming market.
iGaming continues to set the pace, while Atlantic City casinos maintain steady – if slower – growth. As the industry heads into the summer, the next few months will determine whether seasonal demand can shift momentum back toward retail.
