Atlantic City Casinos Maintain Winning Streak, Though September Marked a Cooldown
Not only did Atlantic City's temperatures drop last month, but the casinos' gross gaming revenue (GGR) also decreased after a busy summer.
The nine casinos along the beach won little more than $230.7 million on their physical gaming floors last month, according to information released on Friday by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE). In September 2024, the retail GGR figure increased by 0.1%.
The September figure was significantly impacted by a 1.8% decrease in slot machine volume, despite a nearly 6% increase in table game winnings to $60.5 million. Despite this, Atlantic City's brick-and-mortar GGR winning streak now stands at five months thanks to the 0.1% rise.
In-person GGR increased by 10.9% in May, 6.1% in June, 4.3% in July, and 6.1% in August. The winning run followed Atlantic City's casino revenue drops in February (-3.8%), March (-3.7%), and April (-2.7%) compared to the previous year.
Atlantic City casino income has increased by 2.5%, or roughly $53.3 million, through the first three quarters of 2025.
Inconsistent Outcomes for Operators
Even while Atlantic City's retail casino sector is doing well overall, not all nine of the properties are seeing an increase in play. In fact, through September, five casinos recorded a decline in in-person GGR.
In 2025, the only establishments with increased legacy revenue were Borgata, Hard Rock, Ocean, and Harrah's. Nonetheless, online gaming is still growing, giving casinos additional income that more than makes up for reductions in physical casinos.
The September iGaming GGR was $243.1 million, up $35 million from September 2024 and up nearly 17% year over year. The overall September GGR for the New Jersey gambling industry was more than $563.6 million, including $89.8 million from online and retail sports betting, as well as funds that racetracks and casinos shared with their sportsbook partners. Compared to a year earlier, that is 1% higher.
"Atlantic City continued to benefit from the strength of online gaming in September. Statewide internet gaming win helped total gaming revenue grow one percent compared to last September, with total gaming revenue reaching its highest level for September in over a decade,” said James Plousis, chair of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission.
“Monthly internet gaming win has exceeded $230 million for seven consecutive months for the first time. During the initial nine months of this year, internet gaming win grew nearly 23% and eclipsed $2.1 billion faster than any prior year,” Plousis added.
In 2025, sports betting is still low in New Jersey. Over the course of the nine months, bettors have staked $8.6 billion, which is around $549.5 million less than they did between January and September of 2024.
Shoulder Season Starts
After a much-needed busy summer, Atlantic City is placing a large wager on sustaining its rally. The shoulder season began in September and continued into the fall and winter.
September casino revenue "flattened," but it "remained consistent," according to Plousis. He believes that the destination is well-positioned for sustained operational success thanks to recent and ongoing investments at the nine locations.
