Atlantic City is thriving again. After 15 months of difficulties due to mandatory closure and operating restrictions, the City’s nine casinos generate revenue matching July 2019.
Atlantic City land-based casinos generated $276.9 million gross gaming revenue (GGR) in July this year. That is equivalent to a 0.07 percent decline from 2019 revenue when the casinos won $277.1 million.
Since the start of COVID-19, Atlantic casinos have never come close to 2019 revenue. Internet casinos won $118.6 million, a 35.7 percent upside from July 2020.
Sportsbooks won $55 million from 4578 million wagered, equivalent to 86 percent year over year. In total, New Jersey’s gaming industry made more than $450 million GGR which is 70.4 percent better than July 2020.
New Jersey’s iGaming and online sportsbooks started thriving as a result of COVID-19. When Atlantic City casinos were closed in mid-March 2020, interactive gaming platforms started blooming with new players.
Concerns are rising that a good number of gamblers who once played at Atlantic City casinos before the pandemic may remain online permanently. New Jersey brick-and-mortar casinos revenue has dropped by nine percent from that of June 2019.
However, plenty of optimism remains that Atlantic City’s actual casinos will return to the pre-pandemic market level even with a robust online play. That optimism is boosted by the City’s resilience and confidence in the recovery of the tourism and gaming sector.
Smoking is back in Atlantic City gaming floors, and tourism is picking. August seems promising as an estimated 38, 000 people have already arrived in town for a three-day outdoor Phish concert.
