Summer can’t arrive quickly enough for the nine casinos in Atlantic City, as on-site gaming remains behind 2024. 

On Friday, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement disclosed that the gross gaming revenue (GGR) from physical casinos, which is the money retained by casinos from slot machines and table games, totaled $211 million. This indicated a decrease of 2.7% from April 2024, amounting to nearly $5.9 million. 

Table games declined over the month, with dealers retaining under $48.8 million of players’ wagers, marking a year-over-year decrease of about $9.3 million. Slot revenue increased by 2.1% to reach $162.2 million. 

In the first four months of 2025, revenue from Atlantic City casinos is down 2% compared to the same period last year. From January to April 2024, casinos gained an additional $17.5 million from retail gamblers. 

Oddsmakers Facing Challenges, As Well 

Traditional casino gambling is not the struggling segment within New Jersey’s commercial gaming market, which ranks as the second wealthiest in the nation, just behind Nevada. Oddsmakers are producing significantly lower income for the casinos and their external operators, as numerous bettors in the Garden State have reduced their wagers. 

In 2024, sports bettors in New Jersey wagered nearly $5.2 billion between January and April. In 2025, the total wagers over the four-month period reached $4.2 billion. 

Possible reasons could be that bettors are becoming discontent with sportsbooks' unfavorable odds relative to offshore sites and are returning to unregulated options, economic and inflationary factors have limited their betting, or effective responsible gaming campaigns are making an impact. 

In April, sportsbooks earned $90.5 million from sports bettors, which is a 15% decrease, equating to $15.7 million. Year to date, bookmakers' earnings have decreased by 18% to $357.6 million. Books gained $76.6 million more by this time in 2024. 

Unyielding iGaming 

Atlantic City and sportsbooks struggle, yet the state's numerous online casinos keep thriving. 

iGaming revenue, which includes online slots, table games, and poker rake, reached $235.2 million, an increase of 25%. The online casino's GGR increased by $47.2 million. Year to date, iGaming revenue exceeds $908.4 million, an increase of 21%, or more than $157.7 million. 

Warm Weather Period 

Atlantic City’s peak season is summer, with a large number of tourists coming from Philadelphia, North Jersey, and New York. The casino town expects 2025 to surpass 2024, as beach restoration efforts at the northern end of the Boardwalk have created plenty of room for sunbathing. 

James Plousis, the leader of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, notes that the casinos' thousands of employees offering outstanding service is another attraction for visitors to Atlantic City.

"Tourists who visit Atlantic City receive first-class service from dedicated workers in the casino hotels,” Plousis told Casino.org. “Last week, I attended the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority’s ‘Host Awards,’ which acknowledged team members who provide exemplary service and outstanding hospitality. The enthusiasm of that celebration was remarkable and it foreshadows a promising summer season.”

As New York prepares to make a decision on the locations for three multibillion-dollar casinos featuring slot machines, live dealer table games, and sports betting, the upcoming two or three summers are vital for Atlantic City to demonstrate its competitiveness against the new properties that will certainly draw some Atlantic City visitors nearer to home.