Atlantic City Casinos Start 2026 Strong with $213 Million In-Person Gaming Revenue
Posted on: February 18, 2026, 08:10h.
Last updated on: February 18, 2026, 08:43h.
- Atlantic City began 2026 where it left off, with positive in-person casino revenue
- The New Jersey casino town experienced its best year in more than a decade in 2025
- Atlantic City is being threatened by casinos coming to New York City
The future of Atlantic City is threatened by casinos coming to New York City. The three multibillion-dollar resorts in Queens and the Bronx are weighing heavily on the East Coast casino capital’s outlook. For now, however, the gaming business down the New Jersey shore remains strong.
The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) reports that the nine Atlantic City casinos won $213.2 million from in-person players in January. That marks a 1.6% improvement on the prior year.
January’s strong start follows 2025, when brick-and-mortar casino win climbed 2.7% year-over-year. The $2.89 billion in gross gaming revenue generated by the nine casinos was the city’s best mark in more than a decade.
2026 Starts Positively
Atlantic City slot machines propelled the January haul, as the physical terminals kept $150.6 million from players, a 3.5% year-over-year gain. Table games weren’t as lucky, as the house kept $62.7 million of the bets made, a 2.9% decline from January 2025.
Hard Rock was the big winner in January, as the Boardwalk property saw its retail win soar 21% to $45.9 million. The resort benefited from its hosting of several prominent events, including Mike Tyson’s “One Man Show” and a concert by Jason Aldean.
Caesars and Bally’s were a surprise, with their gross gaming revenue respectively climbing 8% to $14.8 million and 4% to $10 million. Resorts, up 2% to $11 million, and Ocean, up 1% to $35.5 million, were additionally in the black.
Borgata, the dominant player in Atlantic City, experienced a 6% GGR drop to $56.7 million. Tropicana revenue was 14% lower to $13 million, Golden Nugget was down 4% to $9.8 million, and Harrah’s saw its win slow 3% to $16.6 million.
The January data suggests continued stabilization, most critically for Bally’s, Caesars, and Resorts, all of which experienced year-over-year revenue declines in 2025.
The nine casinos paid $15.7 million in state taxes on their floor gaming revenue.
iGaming Keeps Winning
New Jersey’s gaming industry has never been richer due to online casinos and sports betting. Fresh off the state’s fifth consecutive year where total GGR hit a new high, January further grew statewide play from all verticals.
iGaming revenue from online slots and table games, plus poker rake, totaled $258.9 million, a 17% premium from January 2025. Oddsmakers added $114.2 million, 6.5% lower than a year ago. Nearly all of the sports betting win, $112.3 million, came online. Just $1.9 million was generated inside a physical sportsbook.
New Jersey January 2026 gaming revenue totaled $586.4 million, up 5.9%.
The state benefited from $57.4 million in iGaming taxes and $23.9 million from sportsbooks. The Casino Revenue Fund was allocated more than $77 million in January alone. The Casino Revenue Fund supports programs for senior citizens and residents with disabilities.
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