Gross profits for the state’s nine casinos were nearly $594 million in 2019, before dropping to $117 million in 2020, according to data released by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.

The words – “partner” and “partnership” – remain crucial in Atlantic City as the state and city work in tandem to lure in businesses beyond gambling. Those efforts are evident with Stockton's new, 413-bed dorm in the city’s Chelsea neighborhood, which includes the $230 million “AC Gateway” anchored by SJI headquarters and the university's campus.

“There aren’t many industries that have rebounded with such high velocity post-pandemic to record revenue numbers. Online casino and sports betting have seen a meteoric rise over the last eight months,” Vice President of U.S. Business at the Gambling.com Group Max Bichsel said in a statement. “New Jersey is the model for the 45 or so states that haven’t legalized online gaming yet.”

It’s been a full quarter since New Jersey’s brick and mortar gaming parlors were allowed to reopen for business. And with cold weather on the way, Atlantic City’s casinos continue to face operational uncertainty.