Atlantic City’s eight casinos saw an 11 percent bump in September, which also marks the last month the city’s revenue figures will be compared to when 11 casinos were operating in the resort.
Four casinos closed in the city in 2014, but only two of the casinos operated for part of September 2014. Even with their revenue included, the remaining eight casinos saw a 10 percent increase.
According to the state Division of Gaming Enforcement, the city’s casinos won $230.1 million from gamblers in September, an increase of 10.8 percent over September 2014.
In 2014, The Atlantic Club was the first resort casino to close in January. However, the remaining three—Trump Plaza, Revel and Showboat—operated most of the year and their revenue was still counted against 2015’s eight-casino market.
The Showboat closed August 31, 2014 and Revel shut down on Sept. 2, 2014. Trump Plaza was the last to close on Sept. 16, 2014. That means next month’s casino revenue figures will be a straight comparison of the remaining eight casinos.
Revenue in the city was also helped by the calendar as all of Labor Day weekend fell in September. In 2014, Labor Day fell on September 1, meaning most of the weekend was counted in August revenues.
Revenues were also helped by a strong showing by casinos at table games.
“The continuing operators took in approximately 11 percent more than in the same month last year. That’s an increase of more than $22 million,” said Matt Levinson, chairman of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission in a press statement. “Slot revenue was up, table revenue was up, and internet revenue was up. The numbers also reflect the underlying growth in the market that we have been seeing all year.”
The city’s eight casinos have taken in $1.96 billion through this year, an increase of 4.1 percent over the same period last year.
According to the Associated Press, Resorts posted the biggest monthly increase at 31.8 percent, to $15.2 million. The Golden Nugget was up 20.9 percent to $19.6 million, and Caesars was up 19.1 percent to $31 million. The Tropicana was up 15.3 percent to $27 million, and the Borgata was up 13.5 percent to $66.3 million. Harrah’s was up 1.1 percent to $31.6 million.
The Trump Taj Mahal was down 4.6 percent to $16.6 million; and Bally’s was down 4.2 percent to $18.8 million.
Internet gambling took in $12 million in September, an increase of 17.3 percent over September 2014. That’s down slightly from $12.2 million in August.
The online figures, however, show that casino games continue to dominate online play in the state, taking in $10.2 million while online poker play continues to decline. At 1.77 million, online poker actually dropped 21 percent from September 2014.
