Jesse Kurtz says New Jersey should reconsider how online casino promotions work as internet gaming revenue continues to outpace Atlantic City's traditional casino floors.
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — As New Jersey's online gambling industry continues to generate record-setting revenue, Atlantic City Councilman Jesse Kurtz is raising a question he believes state lawmakers and casino executives need to confront: How much of that online success is actually benefiting Atlantic City?
During an interview on Talking with Anne on News Talk 1400 & 92.3 WOND, the Sixth Ward councilman called for changes to New Jersey's internet gambling regulations that would encourage online players to visit Atlantic City's casinos in person.
Kurtz said the growing gap between online gambling revenue and traditional casino-floor performance should be a warning sign for the resort's broader economy.
"The in-person gaming experience is, it's eroding," Kurtz told host Anne Baker.
He argued that Atlantic City's hotels, restaurants, shops and other businesses depend on visitors coming into town—not simply placing bets through mobile devices.
"There has to be some type of change in the casino regulations to steer some of this gambling energy that's happening online from people that are not physically in Atlantic City to channel that into the town to keep that flow of people that's so important for our overall economy," he said.
Online Gambling Outpaces Casino Floors
Kurtz's comments came one day after the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement released its September 2026 revenue report.
The figures illustrate the widening difference between the two major segments of New Jersey's casino industry.
Atlantic City's nine casinos reported $227.8 million in revenue from their physical casino floors during September, a 1.3% decline compared with September 2025.
Meanwhile, internet gaming revenue reached $274.8 million, an increase of 13% from the same month last year.
That means online casino gaming generated approximately $47 million more in September revenue than the combined casino floors of Atlantic City's nine properties.
The broader gaming industry remained profitable. Total reported gaming revenue, including sports wagering, reached $579.6 million for the month, an increase of 2.8%.
The longer-term figures also offer an important qualification: Atlantic City's casino-floor revenue was up 1.4% through the first nine months of 2026, despite September's decline.
Nevertheless, Kurtz believes the continued growth of online gambling presents a challenge that cannot be ignored.
He argues that the city needs more of the industry's economic activity to translate into visitors spending money locally.
A Call to Change Casino Promotions
Kurtz said the original purpose of casino gambling in New Jersey should remain central to discussions about how the industry is regulated.
Casino gambling was authorized in Atlantic City as part of an effort to revitalize the resort and generate economic benefits for the surrounding community.
The councilman believes that purpose is being weakened when players can receive extensive gambling promotions without ever visiting the city.
"When it comes to casino gambling, we have to remember that this is a highly regulated industry that does have a public interest component," Kurtz said.
"It's not like opening a pizza shop or a clothing boutique."
Kurtz said he would like to see lawmakers and regulators reconsider how online casino incentives are structured.
"The whole mechanism of how online gambling is regulated needs to be adapted so that way it's not so easy to just give out the free play, give out the free play online, and keep people out of town," he said.
He suggested that certain promotional benefits could be connected to visiting a physical casino.
Under the approach he described, players might be encouraged to come to Atlantic City to qualify for particular bonuses, tournaments or complimentary benefits.
Kurtz said he wants the system structured so that casino operators have stronger incentives to bring their online customers into town.
"The bottom line is it's affected in such a way that they have to drive players into town for specific bonuses, for specific tournament play, to enjoy certain ratios of comps, etc.," he said.
The councilman did not announce proposed legislation, specify which incentives should be restricted or identify a particular regulatory amendment.
His remarks represent a call for policy changes rather than a measure currently moving through the Legislature.
What Happens to Businesses Outside the Casinos?
For Kurtz, the concern extends beyond the gaming industry's financial statements.
When visitors come to Atlantic City, they may also spend money at restaurants, stores, bars, entertainment venues and other businesses.
Online gambling, by contrast, can take place anywhere in New Jersey without requiring a trip to the resort.
Kurtz believes that distinction has significant implications for the city's economy.
"Until that happens, we're going to slowly and steadily lose the in-person gaming experience, and in turn, we're going to lose a growing number of people that come to our town and sustain not just the casinos, but the small businesses around them," he said.
His warning reflects a broader debate about whether internet gambling complements Atlantic City's casino industry or competes with its traditional business model.
However, the September revenue figures alone do not establish that online gambling is causing fewer people to visit Atlantic City.
Casino-floor revenue can also be affected by weather, the calendar, consumer spending, competition, entertainment schedules and other factors.
Determining whether online promotions are reducing casino visitation would require additional evidence about player behavior and travel patterns.
Entertainment Could Be Part of the Answer
During the interview, Baker recalled Atlantic City's history of attracting major boxing matches, concerts and other entertainment events that brought visitors to the resort.
Kurtz agreed that entertainment remains an important tool for attracting people.
"I think that's one of the strong ways forward," he said.
He noted that some of the city's most successful casinos continue to attract major performers and events.
But he also acknowledged that the relationship between entertainment spending and casino profitability is complicated.
"You could kind of argue whether that's a chicken-or-egg effect," he said.
"Well, the casino does well because they bring in these top-notch acts, but at the same time, you can't bring in the top-notch acts unless you have a strong revenue stream coming in from your players."
Kurtz suggested that Atlantic City should periodically bring together community and industry leaders to develop new ideas for citywide entertainment.
He pointed to the resort's history of beach concerts, major sporting events and other attractions.
The councilman also praised the city's electronic music beach concert this summer for drawing an audience that might not otherwise have visited Atlantic City.
"It was a group of people that don't normally come to town," he said.
He suggested that if Atlantic City hosts fewer large-scale events, it may need to focus more strategically on attracting audiences with particular interests.
"I think it's very important to pick more niche markets," Kurtz said.
The Debate Over Casino Regulation
Kurtz's proposals would likely raise questions for casino operators, internet gambling companies and state regulators.
Online gaming has become a major source of revenue for New Jersey's casino industry, and promotional offers are part of how operators compete for customers.
Changes designed to encourage in-person visits could affect that competitive environment.
Any proposal would need to consider whether the anticipated benefits for Atlantic City businesses would outweigh possible effects on online gaming revenue and the taxes it generates.
The councilman's comments also come as the region prepares for additional casino competition from New York.
Kurtz did not provide an estimate of how many online gamblers might travel to Atlantic City if promotional rules were changed.
Nor did he identify a specific study demonstrating that the approach would increase visitation.
Still, he believes the current system deserves scrutiny.
A Question About Atlantic City's Future
For decades, Atlantic City's casino industry has been closely tied to the resort's identity and economic development.
But the rapid expansion of online gaming has changed how customers interact with casino operators.
A player no longer needs to travel to the Boardwalk to gamble through a New Jersey-licensed internet casino.
Kurtz believes that shift makes it more important—not less—to revisit the relationship between casino revenue and the community that hosts the state's physical casinos.
He said casino operators should remember the public purpose behind the industry's authorization in Atlantic City.
"What they've gotten away with from online gambling is atrocious," Kurtz said, expressing his frustration with the current promotional structure.
His proposed solution is to make visiting Atlantic City a more meaningful part of the rewards offered to online customers.
Whether casino executives or state lawmakers embrace that idea remains to be seen.
But with internet gaming continuing to grow faster than the traditional casino-floor business, Kurtz is calling for a renewed discussion about how Atlantic City can share more directly in that success.
Jesse Kurtz made his comments during an October 20 interview with Anne Baker on Talking with Anne on News Talk 1400 & 92.3 WOND. Gaming revenue figures are from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement's September 2026 report.
About the Author
Scott Stephens
Scott has been an on-air personality, producer and newscaster for 30+ years. He has been a mainstay in the South Jersey Community and on the air across many different area stations. Scott can currently be heard on Kool 98.3 and News Talk 1400 & 92.3 WOND.
