As state reopens, NJ casinos win record-breaking $345M in June

New Jersey’s nine casinos won a record-breaking $345 million in June, the first month that COVID-19 restrictions were mostly lifted for in more than a year, according to state gaming regulators on July 19.

According to the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, casino winnings last month were more than four times what they were in June of last year – $91 million – when Atlantic City’s gambling palaces had to shutter their brick and mortar sites amid the pandemic, which pummeled casino revenue and devastated the surrounding hotel, entertainment, leisure, restaurant and retail sectors that make up the local economy.

During those months, the gaming industry relied solely on mobile and online gambling. Most of those restrictions were lifted at the end of May of this year, including mask requirements, and capacity restrictions for casinos, retail, entertainment, restaurants, and events, conferences and conventions.

With the reopenings, summer tourism surges and post-COVID pent-up demand, the casinos are spending hundreds of millions of dollars on new dining, hotel, gambling and entertainment amenities.

“I’ve seen first-hand that visitation to Atlantic City is on the rise, tourists are happy to be coming back, and the summer season is off to a positive start,” reads a statement from James Plousis, who heads the state’s Casino Control Commission.

He noted that the past three months blew past what the casinos drew in during 2019, which itself was a record-breaker year for the state’s casino and tourism industries.

The experience

“Casino patrons don’t have to visit the casino in-person in order to gamble, the fact that they are visiting suggests they are getting more out of the experience than gambling alone,” said Jane Bokunewicz, who heads the Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality and Tourism at Stockton University.

Online and mobile gaming, according to state data, has begun to slow down, but it’s nonetheless grown since last year, suggesting “the market has not yet reached its full potential,” according to Bokunewicz.

The casinos won $107 million online last June, compared to nearly $85 million in June 2020. This year, the casinos won a combined $214.5 million at brick and mortar sites, winning nothing last June when the establishments were closed.

Sports betting brought in $24 million this June, compared to $6 million last year. All told, patrons wagered nearly $767 million this June, compared to $165 million last year.

Borgata, which was the last Atlantic City casino to reopen, won $97.8 million in June, followed by Hard Rock which took home $41.6 million.

“We are encouraged by this momentum, which speaks to the comfort of visitors returning to the Jersey Shore this summer to enjoy premier gaming, hospitality and entertainment,” said Joe Lupo, president of Hard Rock Atlantic City.

Tropicana took home $27.5 million in June, Ocean Casino Resort took home $26.7 million, Harrah’s took home $21.3 million, Caesars took home $20 million, Resorts Casino Hotel took home nearly $14 million, Golden Nugget took home nearly $12.3 million and Bally’s made $11.6 million.