Atlantic City Casino Struggles Continue, as iGaming Outpaces Brick-and-Mortar
Posted on: March 17, 2025, 08:25h.
Last updated on: March 17, 2025, 10:34h.
- In-person Atlantic City revenue struggled in February
- iGaming again outpaced in-person play
- NYC threatens the long-term stability of AC
Casinos in Atlantic City struggled in February as in-person gross gaming revenue (GGR) contracted 4%.
In 2024, the nine casinos down the New Jersey shore won 1.1% less money from gamblers than they did in 2023. Though January was a strong start to 2025, with GGR from retail operations rising almost 3%, February returned to troubling trends as physical play dropped 3.8% compared with February 2024.
Last month, in-person slots won $152.1 million, a year-over-year decrease of 4.3%. Felt win was down 2.5% to $51.3 million.
The approximate in-person GGR of $203.4 million trailed iGaming revenue for a second consecutive month. Online slots and interactive tables, including poker rake, meanwhile, totaled almost $207.8 million. The iGaming haul was 14% higher than a year ago.
A less busy month for in-person patrons opened the door to more internet gaming activity and the opportunity for online casino operations to pass brick-and-mortar for a second consecutive month with a 14% increase over February 2024,” explained Jane Bokunewicz, the director of Stockton University’s Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality and Tourism.
Bokunewicz blamed the weather for poor in-person play. February delivered bouts of brutal cold in Atlantic City, with two winter storms dropping roughly eight inches of snow on the beach town.
Oddsmakers kept about $73.6 million of the $988.9 million wagered, a year-over-year increase of 9%. All but $39.3 million was bet online.
When everything was tallied, New Jersey GGR from casinos, iGaming, and sports gambling totaled $484.8 million in February 2025. That’s a 5% year-over-year premium. Year-to-date, GGR climbed north of $1 billion for a 1.8% gain.
Atlantic City 2025
Since five Atlantic City casinos closed between 2014 and 2016, it seems that every successive year has become critical to the future of the casino town.
After years of determining if the market has right-sized itself, Atlantic City’s casinos suffered through the economic devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Even so, each casino reported a gross operating profit through three quarters of 2024, the most recently reported quarter. When full-year profits are disclosed, 2024 will likely be the first year since before the pandemic that all properties were in the black.
Many concerns and challenges remain, however, with all eyes set north to New York where three full-scale casino licenses with slots, live dealer games, and sports betting privileges will be awarded in the coming months. New York is a major feeder market for Atlantic City.
Multibillion-dollar integrated resort casinos from the likes of MGM Resorts, Las Vegas Sands, Caesars, and Hard Rock greatly threaten Atlantic City’s long-term outlook. While MGM, Caesars, and Hard Rock are invested in Atlantic City, downstate New York is considered the greatest untapped gaming market opportunity in the US in decades.
Through the first two months of 2025, in-person Atlantic City casino GGR is down 0.7%, or a difference of almost $2.8 million. However, compared with pre-COVID 2019, the first two months represent a 10.5% gain or an increase of about $39.5 million. Much of that GGR increase has gone to offset higher overhead costs for goods and increased labor amid a competitive market for strong employees.
Responsible Gaming Month
James Plousis, chair of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, is encouraging gamblers to play responsibly, as March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month in New Jersey.
“This time each year, we pause to acknowledge that some people develop problems with gambling or are at risk for addiction,” Plousis said in prepared remarks. “Education and treatment programs are available. If you or anyone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.”
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Last Comments ( 41 )
Let's get candid. Atlantic City is Awesome but the room rate on the weekend is ridiculous. Lower those room rates & watch the revenue increase. Haven't they learned anything from LAS VEGAS?
Atlantic City before COVID has decent blackjack tabes. Go to the trop now pay out for BJ is 6:5. They cram the tables. Minimal side bets. They intentionally shut tabes down to cram them so as to decrease a player's chances of winning. You can not win at blackjack in AC. Maybe if they stopped being so stingy with the gaming tables they would attract established and pro gamblers but they make sure you lose and they do not want you to win. They do not give out comps like dinner tickets anymore nor any worthy giveaways except for some cheap Chinese plastic breakable shit. Your Lucy if Caesers has the BJ table active that has the 21$3 side bets with perfect pairs. Boeotia sucks.the best one is the ocean but I have to write a letter to the vice Prez to be permitted to gamble there. PArx is the casino to go to. A lot of tabes, no cramming. Queen of hearts and match the dealer side bets. Fuck AC. And they wonder why casinos are turning back into a ghost town establishments with minima gamblers.
This is what the gambling corporations want. They take away all the perks or overcharge the players for them. They also keep the numbers of employees at our below base minimum that is needed for service and don't keep up with repairs in the building. So this and more is chasing the players away. The corporations know what they are doing. They have been slowly pushing the players online. Where they make much much more money off the players. It's a shame.
Allow poker-slots ar Freehold....Meadowlands....Monmouth....everybody in Central Jersey and above is gambling in Pa.
Since MGM bought Borgata, my winning has stopped. Wheel of Fortune machine prices are out of control. You have to bet at least $7 a spin to get the wheel. FanDuel is constantly giving free bonuses to customers like me. I’d go to A.C. for summer vacations instead, and not anymore than that (and I live just 2 hours away).
Atlantic City ain't what it used to be. You could win some and the casino would take some. You could go home with some profit; Not so much any more. You lose plenty money in a short amount of time. Not to speak of the awful and sneaky reduction in benefits such as free play, complimentary room offers and gifts. No hand pays. Who needs it! No fun at all!
The Casinos reduced the bus traffic Harrahs, Ceasars, Tropicana cut incoming busses by 50% that in itself reduced in person gaming by 50 % per trip ,
We have been coming g to this night mare for years of ly because we have family in the area. The beggar bums and filth are everywhere a d corrupt mayor etc. We go to vegas and enjoy then go this sh@t hooe city and it's amazing what a disaster! Sad situation. Could be a beautiful and profitable place but that liberal east/west coast mentality keeps it down.
Yes I must say none of the casinos are like they used to be everything's gotten high does anybody ever win? I live in Ohio now and to me there's nothing like Atlantic City and the boardwalk Ohio need to on through their way of gaining it's a great one everything tied there too I never see people win .
My wife and I were regular visitors to Atlantic City for many decades. We are Resorts premium guest. But we have not been to AC in several months. Last time we were there the boardwalk was absolutely horrible. The amount of homeless people under the boardwalk and the beggars asking for money is crazy. The boardwalk is no longer fun to walk because you’re constantly being harassed for money. It also smells absolutely disgusting. Other than Hard Rock casino the entertainment is not what it used to be. For me the biggest reason for the downfall of the casinos is surely online gaming but the boardwalk being unsafe is very big. You can’t just walk to other casinos or take a stroll.
Hate the Golden Nugget terrible place small The look is so out dated I would never go there again Hard Rock Ocean Ceasars Harrah's are the best n Borgata the others are awful.My favorite is Ocean n Hard Rock.
No Air Show in 2024 or 2025. No concerts on the beach. They have to crack down more on the beggars and the awful skunk smell everywhere. I still love AC in spite of all the negativity. We just don't walk the boards at night.
The Tropicana was the best years ago now it's falling apart and Roach infested. They can't even give rooms away. What do you expect. Invest some money in the town and first thing is to get rid if the corrupt mayor. He won't give out permits unless you give him a payoff.
I do go. But big surprise, I LOSE time after time. Im a mid level wager. I waste $1000 a visit and Im done in an hour. 2 if I'm lucky. Why waste the time and gas money when i just don't feel lucky. Expose myself to smoking and people hacking and sneezing everywhere. I could spread that out online at home if i feel like it. And honestly, the money seems to last longer and i have even been able to cash out a profit. Change the RTP at the brick and mortar if your TRULY want bodies back in AC. Keep your cheap Temu giveaways and give me CASH instead.
Everything is too expensive in AC. Was at Golden Nugget last night. Paid $20 for a small cheeseburger and $5.50 for a Diet Coke. Hard Rock, even more expensive. But, this is expected when you’re paying union staff $23 an hour plus another 50% of benefits on top. It’s just not practical to come to gamble in AC. I hope NYC casinos shut down at least two bottom feeding casinos in AC (maybe Ballys and a CET property). Respectfully, Don