Atlantic City rally persists, casino earnings surge by another 6%
Atlantic City's casinos are experiencing moderate growth in 2025, with key trends and factors contributing to this rise. Through the first half of the year, revenue from physical slots and table games at Atlantic City’s nine casinos increased by nearly 2%, equivalent to about $23.6 million more than the prior year.
The growth is driven by several factors. Steady growth in physical casino gaming, despite some month-to-month fluctuations, is one of the primary contributors. Another significant factor is the booming iGaming (online casino) sector, which posted $230.7 million in revenue for June 2025, a 23.5% year-on-year increase.
Casino resorts have also invested heavily in entertainment and amenities. For instance, Resorts Atlantic City recently expanded the LandShark Beach Bar, incorporating music, dining, and beachfront experiences, aiming to drive higher visitation and spending.
Leading properties like Borgata and Ocean Casino Resort have shown strong performance, with Borgata leading with $76.7 million in casino revenue (up 19.4% year-over-year), and Ocean Casino Resort demonstrating substantial revenue gains among Atlantic City casinos.
While June 2025 saw a slight dip compared to May, this is not considered alarming given historical trends where May occasionally outperforms June. The New Jersey gambling industry as a whole reported $581.6 million in total gaming revenue for June 2025, up 18.4% from the previous year, with land-based gaming, online casinos, and sports betting all contributing strongly to growth.
The resurgence of Atlantic City is not limited to casinos. Tens of millions of dollars have been invested in casino and hotel upgrades, new resort amenities, and the restoration and widening of the city's beach. The return of the Atlantic City airshow (Soar and Shore Festival) has also been reintroduced, attracting well-educated, affluent families.
The growth in Atlantic City is crucial for the overall health of New Jersey, with money from the Casino Revenue Fund largely supporting senior citizens and people with disabilities. Oddsmakers' hold surged 53% to $91.8 million in June 2025, signaling a positive outlook for the city’s “renaissance” in gaming and hospitality.
Despite Bally's casino seeing a 12% decline in in-person gaming revenue, holding just a 4.5% market share of the Atlantic City retail gaming industry, the city as a whole is experiencing a comeback in terms of in-person play. This steady but measured growth bodes well for the future of Atlantic City's casinos and the city as a whole.
- The golden nugget of growth in Atlantic City's casinos in 2025 is partly due to hard rock base of physical casino gaming.
- The Gulfstream Grand Resort (GGR), one of the key players in Atlantic City, has also seen a rise in gaming revenue.
- Tropicana Atlantic City, a popular casino resort, has reported steady growth in its casino revenue in 2025.
- Caesars Atlantic City, another renowned casino, is part of the overall steady growth in gaming revenue in the city.
- Harrah's Resort Atlantic City, a well-known property, has contributed to the increasing gaming revenue in the city.
- The igaming sector, with Bally's casino included, is posting impressive numbers, boosting the overall gaming revenue in New Jersey.
- Resorts Atlantic City, with its expanded LandShark Beach Bar, aims to drive higher visitation and spending in Atlantic City.
- Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa and Ocean Casino Resort have shown strong performances, contributing significantly to the city's gaming revenue.
- Despite some month-to-month fluctuations, physical casino gaming in Atlantic City is experiencing a steady rise in 2025.
- The resurgence of Atlantic City is affecting other industries too, like the igaming market, sports betting, and even the airshow industry (Soar and Shore Festival).
- Policy and legislation related to casino and gambling in New Jersey have played a role in this improved casino culture in Atlantic City.
- The growth of Atlantic City's casinos in 2025 is essential for the migration of new residents and tourists to the city.
- War-and-conflicts, crime-and-justice, and general-news topics have taken a backseat to the positive stories about the casino industry and the city's growth.
- Car accidents and fires have decreased due to the increased safety measures put in place by the city's casinos, promoting responsible gambling.
- Politics has played a part in establishing a responsible sports-betting environment in Atlantic City, driving its sports betting revenue.
- Casino personalities and their strategies have had a significant impact on the trends in casino-and-gambling, especially in the Atlantic City market.
- The growth in Atlantic City's casinos in 2025 is reminiscent of the trends in Las Vegas, marking a new era in the casino-gaming industry.
