Casinos and racetracks in New Jersey logged the second-highest gaming revenue in history for August, taking in $531 million, an increase of nearly 13 percent over August 2022, according to statistics released by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.
The revenue numbers include in-person win at Atlantic City casinos, revenue from retail and online sportsbooks, and online gaming at New Jersey’s internet sites.
According to the report, in-person gambling done on the premises of Atlantic City’s nine casinos was up 2.3 percent from a year ago to $280.2 million, but down from the $286 million reported in 2019. Retail casino win is significant because online and sports betting revenues must be shared with partners such as sportsbooks and tech platforms, with up to 70 percent of the earnings going to these entities.
Only three casinos, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, and Ocean Casino Resort, won more last month from in-person gamblers than they did in pre-pandemic August 2019.
“Atlantic City’s total gaming revenue in August exceeded $500 million for only the second time in history, and it is on pace for a very strong year,” James Plousis, chairman of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, said in a statement. “The casino hotels reported their second-highest total gaming revenue since inception and their highest result in 18 years.”
In terms of combined revenue, Borgata won nearly $118 million in August, down 2.3 percent from a year ago; Hard Rock won over $59 million, up nearly 10 percent; Golden Nugget Atlantic City won $54 million, up 21.5 percent; and Ocean won $44.6 million, up 11.7 percent.
Bally’s Atlantic City won $23.3 million, up 15.4 percent; Tropicana Atlantic City won $33 million, down nearly 6 percent; Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City won $24.5 million, down 2.5 percent; Caesars Atlantic City won $22 million, down less than 1 percent; and Resorts Casino Hotel won $17.6 million, down 5.6 percent.
The casinos and tracks took in $725 million worth of sports bets in August. Of that, $96 million was kept as revenue after paying off winning bets and other expenses.
The Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, near New York City, had $25.7 million in sports betting revenue; Freehold Raceway had $2.2 million and Monmouth Park in Oceanport, near the Jersey Shore, had $1.3 million.
