Casino Revenue Atlantic City

Atlantic City is doing everything it can to attract new gamblers right now. It hasn’t been easy, particularly with the intense regulations set in place by New Jersey state officials. This week, reports on AC casino revenue for the month of November were released.

As many predicted, the casinos here saw a major dip in revenue. It’s an unfortunate trend that could continue for months. Today, we’ll talk about exactly how much money the casinos in Atlantic City managed to bring in last month.

• These cases involved employees working for a casino hotel. The gaming regulators of the state were made aware of these cases. An additional 79 individuals tested positive and work within the bars and restaurants of the city. The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City and Harrah’s Resort had the most cases with 34 and 36 respectively.
• Atlantic City’s nine casinos reported $260.86 million in total gaming revenue last month, compared with $288.6 million in November 2019. Statewide, the total amount of sports wagers set a new monthly record with more than $931.6 million in bets placed, the Press of Atlantic City reports.

Let’s get into it!

Throughout 2020, Atlantic City’s casino industry has seen massive revenue drops. Things began to improve as summer progressed, yet seems to be falling apart throughout the fall months. Many felt that November would see a large drop in revenue. Atlantic City Casino Revenue This July 25, 2019 photo shows casino employees bringing inflatable pool toys to Santa at the outdoor pool at the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J. Figures released Aug. 14, 2019 by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement show the casinos took in $323 million, an increase of 7.8% from July 2018. On Monday, New Jersey gambling regulators revealed that the nine Atlantic City casinos generated combined slots-and-table-games revenue of $199m in August, a 30.5% decline from August 2019 but.

New Jersey Officials Warn Of Upcoming Shutdowns

The state of New Jersey was hit extremely hard early on in the pandemic. This was one of the first states to implement intense shutdown measures. As the summer continued, these regulations began to loosen and many businesses opened their doors again.

Infection rates have begun to skyrocket here in recent months. As a result, Governor Phil Murphy announced a new set of regulations throughout the state. It took a major toll on businesses, yet another mass shutdown like the one seen back in March was not ordered.

That could change soon. Cases have continued to climb and state officials are now warning that shutdowns could be just around the corner. Murphy has indicated that this could take place shortly after the holidays.

This will make things extremely difficult for the casinos in Atlantic City. As many are aware, these gambling venues have struggled to bring in players throughout 2020. Another major shutdown could prove to be devastating for this industry.

Unfortunately, this seems more likely than ever. Casino companies in the state are now gearing up to close their doors once again. Hope is that the state finds a way to compensate these casinos for their trouble.

Even without a full shutdown, this industry is hurting. We’re beginning to hear how much money the casinos in Atlantic City brought in during November.

November’s AC Casino Revenue Drops Once Again

Throughout 2020, Atlantic City’s casino industry has seen massive revenue drops. Things began to improve as summer progressed, yet seems to be falling apart throughout the fall months. Many felt that November would see a large drop in revenue.

These predictions ended up being correct. New reports claim that AC casino revenue for the month of November dropped by 10%. The nine casinos in this city managed to bring in $260.86 million last month, down considerably from the $288.6 million in November of 2019.

Jane Bokunewicz, a prominent gaming analyst at Stockton University, offered some insight into what led to this major revenue decline to the media.

“Land-based gaming had gained ground in September and October. But, the start of a ‘second wave’ of COVID-19, followed by N.J. Executive Order 194, which, effective Nov. 12, required indoor food and beverage options to close between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., likely contributed to the decline in November,” she said. “A much-needed holiday bump from Thanksgiving weekend, usually a busy time for casinos, was limited this year by travel restrictions between states and stern warnings about family gatherings.”

It’s not all doom and gloom, though. To the surprise of some, New Jersey’s sports betting revenue saw another monthly handle record at $931.6 million. The state’s online sports betting industry has proven to be hugely lucrative throughout the year.

The online gambling platforms in Atlantic City have helped to bring in some much-needed revenue. Of course, things are still far from perfect here. Many now fear that December could end up being an even worse month than the previous three.

We’ll continue offering updates on AC casino revenue throughout the winter!

Harrah’s Atlantic City is Set to Reopen Poker Tables

As we already mentioned, all of the casinos in Atlantic City have been working hard to bring in players this year. It hasn’t been easy, though, as many casinos have been forced to halt offering their most popular games. That includes Harrah’s Atlantic City, which shut down its live poker games back in March.

New reports claim that Harrah’s Atlantic City is set to begin offering its poker gambling options soon! The World Series of Poker-branded room here will officially begin accepting guests again on December 26. This will make Harrah’s the second casino in Atlantic City to resume its live poker gaming options this year.

This room is expected to remain open every day from noon to 4 am. Some fear that the proposed casino shutdowns by Governor Murphy could throw a wrench in these plans, though.

Officials within Harrah’s are trying to make things as safe as possible. Poker tables will be limited to just eight players. Polycarbonate dividers will also be installed at the tables to separate players.

We’ve seen AC casino revenue plummet in recent months. Things could continue to get worse throughout early 2021. That isn’t stopping casino operators like Harrah’s from trying to bring in new players right now.

Are you surprised to see casino revenue drop again in Atlantic City? When do you expect things to turn around here? Let us know in the comments section below!

The lights are still on inside Atlantic City casinos.

However, casino operators and state government officials around the country continue to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of good options for mitigation seems to dwindle with each passing day. New Jersey casinos are by no means an exception to this new rule.

Although Atlantic City properties remain open with restrictions, it’s uncertain how much longer that will be the case. Relevant trends in the Garden State are going in the wrong direction.

The latest on Atlantic City casinos and COVID-19

NJ Gov. Phil Murphy has been upfront with his constituents on a daily basis about the worsening numbers in the state.

NEW JERSEY #COVID19 UPDATE:
➡️4,320 new positive cases
➡️293,744 cumulative total cases
➡️34 new confirmed deaths
➡️14,877 total deaths

The second wave is here. We MUST flatten this curve together. Wear a mask. Social distance. Wash your hands.https://t.co/JW1q8awGh7pic.twitter.com/konGYeQWK8

— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) November 19, 2020

On Tuesday, Murphy signed a new executive order that lowered gathering limits for both indoor and outdoor venues. As of Nov. 23, New Jerseyians may only gather in groups of up to 10 indoors. For outdoor gatherings, the limit is 150 people. In both cases, the state expects proper social distancing and wearing of face masks.

Atlantic City Casino Revenue August 2020

As Atlantic City casinos are a significant source of tax revenue for the state and fuel the economy in the area, Murphy naturally had to address their fate. His main position is that data shows the casinos have been acting responsibly throughout the pandemic.

“We believe, based on the evidence that we have, that they’ve been able to responsibly manage their casino floors,” Murphy said during a briefing with other state officials on Wednesday. “Whether it’s through (personal protective equipment), whether it’s through dividers, capacity management, temperature checks, review of symptoms checks with people who go onto the floor, which is happening in all the casinos … there is not any evidence that there is either bad management of the floor or that there is a big outbreak coming from participating on the floor.”

Murphy did not elaborate on what evidence he drew that conclusion from. The most likely candidate is contact tracing for positive cases, which identifies the sources of transmission if done correctly.

The question is whether casinos can maintain their current status if trends continue to worsen. Casino operators seem determined to do all they can to maintain the reputation they have earned.

Casino industry not curtailing business

So far, none of the AC casinos have announced any major plans to further reduce their hours or offerings. A statement from the Casino Association of New Jersey mentions one adjustment, however:

“The Casino Association of New Jersey (CANJ) understands the administration’s concerns, and that is why the industry has taken extraordinary measures to safely welcome back thousands of hardworking employees and valued guests, while also helping to minimize the exposure of Atlantic City casino property guests, our employees and our local community to the COVID-19 virus.

“We will continue to work to give our guests the exciting experience they have come to expect from our first-class properties:

• Casino floor and gaming operations will remain open, uninterrupted, 24/7.
• Indoor dining outlets will remain open, closing between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. ET, effective this Thursday, Nov. 12.

“As we see a rise in cases across New Jersey, we are focused on the health and safety of our employees, guests and fellow residents and will continue to work with AtlantiCare, our regional health care provider, as well as local and state officials, to refine and update our protocols as local and state mandates evolve. We remain dedicated to complying with, or exceeding, local or state-imposed mandates, restrictions and occupancy limits to try to maintain a healthy environment.”

Casino closings in other states

Despite those best efforts, Murphy’s hesitancy to close casinos for a second time this year may soon make him an outlier. Earlier today, Rivers Casino in neighboring Philadelphia closed.

The well-being of our Team Members, guests & the community is our top priority. We will be temporarily closed effective Fri, Nov. 20, to follow @PHLPublicHealth’s order to close public venues. We appreciate your support!
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Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. pic.twitter.com/HEPtOdWvXg

Atlantic City Casino Revenue December 2019

— Rivers Casino Philadelphia (@riverscasinophl) November 19, 2020

The City of Philadelphia announced “Safer at Home” restrictions that will be in place through Jan. 1, 2021. The list also includes:

Casino Revenue Atlantic City Casino Hotel

• Indoor dining
• Theaters and museums
• Libraries
• Gyms and indoor exercise classes

For now, Rivers Philadelphia is the only Keystone State casino impacted. The other gaming halls are outside the city limits.

Other states are taking a similar approach. In Michigan, all three Detroit casinos are closed for three weeks. Illinois has ordered casinos within its borders to close, too.

Additionally, Massachusetts has limited hours for its casinos.

Casino Revenue Atlantic City Hall

As of now, Atlantic City casinos are still open for gambling.

Casino Revenue Atlantic City September 2018

Murphy might take smaller steps, like shutting down indoor dining, before closing AC casinos altogether. If there’s not a marked improvement in COVID-19 numbers soon, he may have few other choices.