Atlantic City Casino Workers Walk to Support Suicide Prevention, Fundraising Surpasses $1 Million
Posted on: September 9, 2025, 09:54h.
Last updated on: September 9, 2025, 10:06h.
- Atlantic City casino workers walked to support suicide prevention on September 6
- The casinos have helped raise more than $1 million since 2020
- Suicide because of a gambling addiction is rare
Atlantic City casino workers once again came together to support suicide prevention with their annual “Out of the Darkness Community Walk.”
Since 2020, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City has been a presenting sponsor of the Out of the Darkness Atlantic-Cape Community Walk. The city’s other casino resorts have regularly signed on as co-presenting sponsors, and as sponsors, too.
That was again the case in 2025, as Borgata was a co-sponsor of the walk that raises money for the prevention of suicide. Resorts, Golden Nugget, Ocean, Caesars, Harrah’s, Tropicana, and gaming manufacturer IGT were also sponsors.
Each year, our casinos unite to shine a light on an issue that touches far too many lives. Our ongoing commitment to suicide prevention is about more than just raising funds. It’s about fostering connection, awareness, and support for those who need it most,” said Mark Giannantonio, president of Resorts and the Casino Association of New Jersey.
Last Saturday, September 6, walkers from all nine Atlantic City casinos participated. The walk departed Hard Rock along the Boardwalk, turned around at the inlet, and ended back at Hard Rock. The Casino Association of New Jersey says about 750 casino employees took part in the two-mile walk.
Suicide Prevention
Since Hard Rock began sponsoring the Out of the Darkness Community Walk, and most other casinos signed on, the event has raised more than $1 million to date. Last weekend’s walk, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) says, raised about $239K.
The top fundraising team was Team Hard Rock with more than $70K. Michael Sampson, general manager at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, accounted for $34,520.
“The collective effort of every Atlantic City casino to participate in the Out of the Darkness Community Walk this year underscores our industry’s commitment to this vital cause,” said Sampson. “We are proud to support the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and its important work in suicide prevention and mental health awareness.”
The AFSP says just $100 brings its educational program, “It’s Real: Teens and Mental Health,” to a local high school. $250 can recruit and train advocates on suicide-related public policy, $1,000 provides funds for youth suicide prevention outreach and programming, and $2,000 can host an ASFP Research Connection event.
The AFRP says 83 cents of every dollar donated goes to the nonprofit’s four focus areas — research, education, support, and advocacy.
Problem Gambling Suicide
The AFRP reports that more than 49K Americans died by suicide in 2023, making it the 11th leading cause of death nationwide and the second leading cause of death for people aged 10 to 34.
While the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) says suicide linked to gambling addiction is rare, there have been cases. The national responsible gaming nonprofit said in 2021 that “one in five people who have severe gambling problems will attempt suicide.”
The NCPG also says military veterans who develop gambling addictions are “twice as likely to attempt suicide as compared to veterans who do not have a gambling addiction.”
“Forty percent of veterans seeking problem gambling treatment report suicide attempts,” the NCPG said in 2019.
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