Atlantic City's casino industry experienced a modest setback in June, marking only the second time this year that monthly revenue fell below the previous year's performance. The nine casinos collectively generated $257.3 million in total gaming revenue, representing a 0.7% decline from the $259.0 million recorded in June 2025.
Despite the year-over-year dip, June's results still ranked as the second-strongest month of 2026 for our local gaming establishments, trailing only May's $265.6 million haul.
Winners and Losers Among Local Casinos
The performance across Atlantic City's casino landscape varied considerably, according to data from the New Jersey Department of Gaming Enforcement. While some properties posted impressive gains, others saw revenue decline.
Harrah's Atlantic City led the growth pack with a 15.7% revenue increase, climbing from $17.1 million in June 2025 to $19.8 million last month. Tropicana Casino & Resort also showed strong momentum with an 8.5% jump to $19.7 million, while Caesars Atlantic City grew 8.1% to reach $22.1 million.
On the other end of the spectrum, Golden Nugget experienced the steepest decline at 10.3%, dropping to $10.4 million. Resorts Casino Hotel fell 9.1% to $13.2 million, and Bally's Atlantic City decreased 7.7% to $10.2 million.
The market leader, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, saw its revenue slip 5.9% to $72.2 million, though it remained far ahead of its nearest competitor. Hard Rock Atlantic City posted a modest 0.9% gain to $46.2 million, while Ocean Casino Resort held essentially flat with a negligible 0.2% decrease to $43.5 million.
Online Gaming Continues Dominance
The ongoing shift toward digital gaming became even more apparent in June. New Jersey's online casinos generated $271.0 million in revenue, marking the third time in four months that the iGaming sector surpassed the $270 million threshold.
This means online platforms outpaced our physical Atlantic City casinos by nearly $14 million in June alone. Looking at the first half of 2026, the gap has widened considerably — online casinos have accumulated $1.59 billion in revenue compared to $1.41 billion for Atlantic City's brick-and-mortar establishments, a difference of $181.8 million.
Year-to-Date Picture Remains Positive
While June's numbers disappointed slightly, our community's casinos are still performing well overall in 2026. Through the first six months of the year, Atlantic City has generated $1.41 billion in gaming revenue — $31.7 million more than the same period in 2025, representing a healthy 2.3% increase.
April proved particularly strong with an 11.7% year-over-year surge, while March delivered a solid 2.5% gain. January also contributed with a 1.6% increase. Only February and June posted declines compared to 2025.
Critical Summer Months Ahead
The next two months will prove crucial for determining whether Atlantic City can maintain its year-over-year advantage. July and August traditionally represent peak season for our resort city, and 2025 set a high bar — last July brought in $284.1 million, followed by an even more impressive $311.9 million in August.
If this summer's performance falls significantly short of those benchmarks, Atlantic City's casinos could find themselves trailing last year's pace despite the strong start to 2026. With the busy summer tourism season now in full swing, all eyes will be on whether our local gaming industry can replicate — or exceed — last year's peak-season success.
About the Author
Peter Killeen
A 25-year radio news veteran, Peter covers South Jersey for NewsTalk 1400 & 92.3 WOND radio. Known for his concise and impactful delivery, he ensures listeners and readers stay informed without unnecessary filler.
