Atlantic City casinos ride momentum as revenues keep climbing
Writer: Mariana Hernández
February 2025 — Atlantic City has long been known for its presence in the casino industry as the main gambling center on the East Coast. The influence of this industry goes beyond job creation in the tourism and entertainment sector. Its effect can be seen in the region’s growth and revitalization as a world-class destination for visitors and investors looking to do business in the area.
“South Jersey needs a strong casino industry to continue thriving. It is the backbone of the South Jersey economy,” said Christina Renna, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey in an interview with Invest:.
According to The Casino Association of New Jersey, the casino industry has created more jobs and revenue than any other industry in the Atlantic City over the last 40 years. This achievement extends beyond industry into the community as the nine members of the association have funded over $1 billion to a diverse variety of non-casino development projects and take part in the Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit Program in Atlantic City. Those members include Borgata, Harrah’s, Tropicana, Caesars, Bally’s, Resorts, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock, and Ocean Casino Resort.
The casino industry also plays a prominent role in New Jersey’s workforce. Each year the brick-and-mortal casinos pay over $500 million in wages, not including tips to the employees of these entertainment businesses. In 2024, Sweden-based Evolution, a market leader in iGaming, filed plans in Atlantic City to build a $75 million live dealer casino games campus.
“Evolution is building a facility that will create around 1,000 jobs,” Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small told Invest:. “The city also has an in-house workforce development program in collaboration with partners and stakeholders, ensuring residents have access to career opportunities beyond city employment.”
Last month, the Division of Gaming Enforcement published an added monthly gross revenue exceeding $210 million for Atlantic City casinos. Despite a post-holiday seasonal drop by 6.74%, the industry recorded a year-to-year increase of 2.5% in all total casino wins across the nine establishments.
The online gaming sector has increased its revenues dramatically in the last year as well. Monthly internet gaming gross revenue across all online sites increased by 17% compared to last year. The online sites total wins in January were 5.5% higher than the city’s brick-and-mortar casinos during the same period, primarily due to sports betting.Growing demand for online services has led the state to add laws and regulations to this gambling framework, which is a new opportunity for players and operators alike. Key laws have been included in the Casino Control Act and the Gaming Enforcement Act to enhance players’ protection. The proposed amendments say that operators must obtain licenses from the Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE), as well as sports wagering licenses. Requirements have been modernized and clarified since November 2024.
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