Chavdar Vasilev is a journalist covering the casino and sports betting market sectors for CasinoBeats. He joined CasinoBeats in May 2025 and reports on industry-shaping stories across the US and beyond, including legislative debates, market...
Read Full BioAtlantic City casinos concluded their strongest summer in over a decade, generating over $300 million in revenue in August, surpassing even the pre-pandemic highs. In addition, robust in-person revenue, online casinos, and sports betting pushed total gaming revenue to record levels of $642.2 million.
2025 Outpaces Pre-COVID Peaks
According to data from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, Atlantic City casinos collected $311.9 million in casino win (in-person gaming revenue) in August. That marked the first time a casino win exceeded $300 million since August 2012.
The figures also represent a substantial growth from pre-COVID numbers, as the sector reported $286.4 million in August 2019.
The majority of the revenue came from slot machines, at $234.3 million, representing a 5.7% increase over the previous year. Meanwhile, table games generated $77.6 million in revenue, representing a 7.1% increase.
Across the summer period (June through August), Atlantic City’s nine casinos generated $855.1 million, compared to $810.5 million in 2024 – their best summer total in over a decade as well.
The strong summer has helped retail casinos to recover after a slow start to the year. Year-to-date, the sector is now up by 2.8% compared to 2024.
Online Casinos Drive Record Gains
While in-person casinos generated more overall revenue, the iGaming sector also posted another record month. In August, online casinos generated $248.4 million, representing a 25.2% increase from August 2024.
Year-to-date, online casinos have generated approximately $1.88 billion, representing a nearly 23.5% increase over the same period last year. That growth is welcome for the state, as New Jersey recently raised the online gambling tax from 15% to 19.75%.
Meanwhile, sports wagering revenue in August was $81.9 million, a 30.6% year-over-year increase. Despite the strong showing, year-to-date sports wagering revenue of $708.7 million represents a 1% decline.
Downstate New York Looms as Threat
As Atlantic City celebrates its strongest summer in over a decade, the industry is watching a possible competitive storm forming in the north.
New York is preparing to award up to three downstate casino licenses in the New York City area. Eight candidates are competing, with the winners expected to be announced by the end of the year.
Those projects could siphon off a portion of the New York player base that has traditionally fueled Atlantic City’s tourism-driven economy.
Analysts at the Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality and Tourism at Stockton University have previously warned that while revenue is climbing, Atlantic City’s brick-and-mortar casino win has stayed relatively flat in recent years when adjusted for inflation.
The opening of nearby full-scale casinos could cut into that core in-person segment. That holds especially true for day-trippers who may opt for shorter travel times.
Still, most bids, except Resorts World New York City, which promises a 2026 launch, would take at least a few years to go live. That gives Atlantic City some time.
