Atlantic City casinos have earned a total of $345.7 million in June, setting a new record for the gross gambling revenue (GGR). The record-breaking casino earnings come as a direct result of lifting the COVID-19 restriction.
Compared to June 2020, this is almost four times the amount, which makes sense considering that casinos were closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. More relevant year-to-year comparisons will be made in the following weeks since casinos were reopened in July 2020.
Total monthly revenue for June, which includes sports betting, amounts to $393 million.
It’s a significant increase compared to June 2019 gross gambling revenue of $278 million from casinos and sports betting at racetracks. June is the start of the summer season, which is the most profitable time for Atlantic City casinos, and therefore an important metric for the New Jersey gambling industry.
According to a report from Jane Bokunewicz, faculty director of the Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality, and Tourism, “Atlantic City Casino’s June 2021 total Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) did
not disappoint, coming off a near-record single-month high in May 2021 of $337.2 million to set a new single-month total gross gaming revenue record. […] 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.”
Borgata Casino earned $97.7 million, Hard Rock Casino $41.6m, and Tropicana $27.4m.
Other big earners include Ocean ($26.6m), Harrah’s ($21.3m), Caesars ($20.3m), Resorts ($13.9m), Golden Nugget ($12.2m), and Bally’s with $11.6 million.
Popular online-based venues like Resorts Digital, Golden Nugget Online, and Caesars Interactive NJ won $35.5 million, $27.6 million, and $9.3 million, respectively.
Sports betting was a popular choice for NJ gamblers, as they made $766 million worth of sports bets during the month. The betting establishments have made $71.2 million in profit from it.
Even internet gambling profits increased by 26% compared to 2020, earning casinos $107 million.
President of Hard Rock Atlantic City, Joe Lupo, was very optimistic about the new developments, saying: “We are encouraged by this momentum, which speaks to the comfort of visitors returning to the Jersey Shore this summer to enjoy premiere gaming, hospitality and entertainment.”
After overcoming the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, the gambling industry is definitely taking a turn for the better in 2021. While the best online casinos remain a popular spot for gambling enthusiasts, more and more of them are returning to brick-and-mortar venues as well.
