Atlantic City casino revenue from in-person gambling increased slightly in December compared to two years ago but was still down for the year.
However, extraordinary gains from online and sports betting pushed 2021’s total gambling revenue above $4 billion for the first time since 2008.
According to data released Friday by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, Atlantic City casinos reported $211.8 million from table games and slots in December. Only three of the nine casinos reported higher in-person gambling revenues last month compared to December 2019, resulting in an industry increase of 1.6%.
| Casino | Table & Other | Poker | Slot Machines | Total Gaming Win |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bally's | $4,816,469 | $ - | $6,350,976 | $ 11,167,445 |
| Borgata | $14,265,158 | $1,268,251 | $38,772,263 | $54,305,672 |
| Caesars | $6,147,809 | $ - | $12,893,059 | $19,040,868 |
| Golden Nugget | $1,624,682 | $ - | $9,001,936 | $10,626,618 |
| Hard Rock | $11,661,471 | $ - | $23,873,004 | $35,534,475 |
| Harrah's | $5,874,613 | $288,175 | $17,647,927 | $23,810,715 |
| Ocean Casino | $7,602,745 | $ - | $18,896,432 | $26,499,177 |
| Resorts | $2,827,650 | $- | $8,686,433 | $11,514,083 |
| Tropicana | $4,799,754 | $168,433 | $14,353,188 | $19,321,375 |
| Total | $59,620,351 | $1,724,859 | $150,475,218 | $211,820,428 |
Atlantic City casino revenue down in 2021 vs. 2019 for all but two
For the year, land-based Atlantic City casino revenue was down 4.9% compared to 2019.
NJ Casino Control Commission Chairman James Plousis put a different perspective on the annual number, noting casinos generated 95% of pre-COVID levels.
“These results are a remarkable achievement for Atlantic City in light of the lingering
pandemic,” Plousis said.
The $2.5 billion in revenue from tables and slots last year was marginally higher than in 2018. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City and Ocean Casino Resort opened in June 2018.
Of AC’s nine casinos, only Hard Rock and Ocean posted annual revenue increases in 2021 over 2019 from in-person gambling.
Here’s a quick look at 2021 vs. 2019:
- Ballys: -21%
- Borgata: -15%
- Caesars: -13%
- Golden Nugget: -26%
- Hard Rock: +33%
- Harrah’s Resort: -15%
- Ocean: +42%
- Resorts: -6%
- Tropicana: -16%
Online, sports gambling continue to rise
Online gambling in New Jersey generated $133.2 million in December.
For the entire year, NJ online gambling exceeded $1.36 billion. That is an increase of 41% from last year’s previous all-time high of $970 million.
Sports betting revenue reported by the nine AC casinos and their online partners was $24.5 million. In 2021, Atlantic City casino revenue from sports betting was $305 million, a year-over-year increase of 83%.
Total gaming revenue — the sum of land-based, online and sports betting — in December was $369.5 million. For the year, total gaming revenue reported by Atlantic City casinos was $4.23 billion, 28% higher than in 2019.
The last time annual Atlantic City casino revenue hit levels that high was 2008’s $4.5 billion. There were 12 Atlantic City casinos that year and neither online gambling nor sports betting was available.
AP Photo/Wayne Parry
