Home Atlantic City casinos’ profits plunge in 2024 as more players turn to online gambling

Atlantic City casinos’ profits plunge in 2024 as more players turn to online gambling

Profits dived at Atlantic City’s casinos in 2024, dropping more than 9% compared to the year before, according to numbers released Monday (Apr. 8) by New Jersey’s gambling regulators.

Filings with New Jersey’s Division of Gaming Enforcement show that Atlantic City’s casino operators pulled in $768.9 million in net revenue during the fourth quarter of 2024. However, their gross operating profit dropped to $132.5 million, a 10.8% slide compared to the same time in 2023.

For the full year of 2024, the city’s casinos brought in $3.31 billion in net revenue, a slight decline of 0.5% from the year before. But the bigger concern is profit. Gross operating profit fell to $709.1 million, showcasing a 9.2% drop compared to 2023.

Out of all nine casinos in Atlantic City, only Caesars and Hard Rock managed to grow their operating profits last year. However, every casino still turned a profit in 2024. They just didn’t make as much as they did the year before. Caesars saw an increase of 11%, while Hard Rock rose by 8%.

Bally’s took the hardest hit, with its gross operating profit plunging by 77%. Resorts Casino also saw a steep decline of 44%, followed by Golden Nugget, which was down 40%.

Why are Atlantic City casinos struggling?

It’s just the latest sign that Atlantic City’s casinos are still feeling the squeeze, from tough economic conditions to changing consumer habits in the post-COVID world. More gambling is happening online these days, which means the revenue from online bets has to be split with third-party partners. The casinos do not get to keep the full pot like they do with in-person play.

In an interview with The Press of Atlantic City, Mark Giannantonio, president of the Casino Association of New Jersey and head of Resorts Casino Hotel, acknowledged the tough road the industry is facing right now.

He said: “Clearly the results are extremely disappointing, but not unexpected,” he said. “These are challenging times, but we believe, working collaboratively with state and local stakeholders, we could start to see a turnaround and transform Atlantic City once again into a leading beachfront resort destination.”

The occupancy rate in casino hotels was 66%, a decrease of 0.9 percentage points from the same period in 2023.

Featured image: Canva

About ReadWrite’s Editorial Process

The ReadWrite Editorial policy involves closely monitoring the gambling and blockchain industries for major developments, new product and brand launches, game releases and other newsworthy events. Editors assign relevant stories to in-house staff writers with expertise in each particular topic area. Before publication, articles go through a rigorous round of editing for accuracy, clarity, and to ensure adherence to ReadWrite's style guidelines.

Suswati Basu
Tech journalist

Suswati Basu is a multilingual, award-winning editor and the founder of the intersectional literature channel, How To Be Books. She was shortlisted for the Guardian Mary Stott Prize and longlisted for the Guardian International Development Journalism Award. With 18 years of experience in the media industry, Suswati has held significant roles such as head of audience and deputy editor for NationalWorld news, digital editor for Channel 4 News and ITV News. She has also contributed to the Guardian and received training at the BBC As an audience, trends, and SEO specialist, she has participated in panel events alongside Google. Her…

Get the biggest iGaming headlines of the day delivered to your inbox

    By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe anytime.

    Gambling News

    Explore the latest in online gambling with our curated updates. We cut through the noise to deliver concise, relevant insights, keeping you informed about the ever-changing world of iGaming and its most important trends.

    In-Depth Strategy Guides

    Elevate your game with tailored strategies for sports betting, table games, slots, and poker. Learn how to maximize bonuses, refine your tactics, and boost your chances to beat the house.

    Unbiased Expert Reviews

    Honest and transparent reviews of sportsbooks, casinos and poker rooms crafted through industry expertise and in-depth analysis. Delve into intricacies, get the best bonus deals, and stay ahead with our trustworthy guides.