Atlantic City’s iconic gaming industry experienced a complex March in 2026, as overall gross gaming revenue (GGR) for the market posted a modest 2.5% increase year-over-year, yet this positive trend was not uniformly distributed among its nine operational casinos. While the statewide gaming ecosystem, bolstered significantly by robust online casino and sports betting segments, continued its impressive growth trajectory, the traditional brick-and-mortar casino floor painted a more nuanced picture of competitive pressures and varying operational successes. The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (NJDGE) reported that while the aggregate GGR reflected a healthy market expansion, only a select few of Atlantic City’s land-based establishments managed to capture a larger share of in-person play compared to the previous year. This divergence highlights the ongoing evolution of the gaming landscape, where digital platforms increasingly complement, and in some cases, overshadow, the performance of physical venues.
March 2026 Performance Snapshot: A Mixed Fortunes Report
The latest figures released on April 17, 2026, by the NJDGE, indicate that Atlantic City’s slot machines and table games collectively generated $236.6 million in revenue during March 2026. This represents an increase of nearly $5.8 million compared to March 2025, a positive indicator for the broader market. However, a deeper dive into individual casino performance reveals a "tale of two tiers." Only three of the city’s nine casinos – Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, Caesars Atlantic City, and Ocean Casino Resort – reported an uptick in their in-person gaming revenue. Conversely, six other prominent establishments – Bally’s Atlantic City, Golden Nugget Atlantic City, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City, Resorts Casino Hotel, and Tropicana Atlantic City – experienced declines in their traditional retail gaming operations during the same period.
James Plousis, chair of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission (NJCCC), commented on these results, stating, "Atlantic City’s in-person casino win achieved its second-best March figure since 2013, with mixed results among the operators. First quarter casino win was stable, recording its third-best result in 13 years." Plousis’s assessment underscores the market’s overall resilience and recovery since the challenging period of casino closures and economic shifts experienced in the mid-2010s, yet also acknowledges the inherent volatility and intensified competition within the current environment.
Dominance and Decline: An In-Depth Look at Land-Based Operations
The Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, an MGM Resorts International property, once again solidified its position as the unequivocal market leader. In March 2026, Borgata reported an impressive retail GGR of $67.2 million, marking a substantial 15.1% year-over-year increase. This robust performance is often attributed to Borgata’s premium brand reputation, extensive amenities, high-quality entertainment offerings, and a loyal customer base. Its consistent outperformance highlights the enduring appeal of a luxury integrated resort experience.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, while still a significant player, secured a distant second place with $42.6 million in retail GGR. However, this figure represented a 4.1% decline from its performance in March 2025. This slight contraction for Hard Rock, typically a strong performer, suggests that even leading properties are not immune to the fluctuating market dynamics and competitive pressures that characterize Atlantic City. The specific figures for Caesars and Ocean’s gains were not individually detailed in the initial report, but their inclusion among the three gainers suggests effective operational strategies or targeted marketing efforts that resonated with consumers.
The struggle faced by the other six casinos could be attributed to a confluence of factors, including increased competition from the stronger performers, shifts in consumer spending habits, specific operational challenges, or a less effective capture of the transient spring break and early spring tourist traffic. The intense competition for a finite pool of visitors and gaming dollars means that minor differences in marketing, entertainment, or service quality can lead to significant revenue disparities.
The Digital Dynamo: iGaming and Sports Betting Bolster Statewide Revenue
While the land-based casino segment presented a varied performance, New Jersey’s online gaming and sports betting markets continued their remarkable surge, acting as critical pillars for the state’s overall gaming revenue. In March 2026, iGaming win climbed by a significant 11.6% to reach an impressive $272 million. This consistent growth underscores the widespread adoption and convenience of online casino platforms, which have become a staple for many New Jersey residents and visitors.
Similarly, the sports betting market experienced a substantial boom, with oddsmakers retaining $87.6 million from the wagers they accepted, representing a robust 22.8% surge compared to March 2025. This growth is particularly notable given the timing, as March is typically a strong month for sports betting due to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament ("March Madness"), a major national sporting event that drives significant wagering activity. The expansion of online sports betting across the nation has also cultivated a larger, more engaged audience, benefiting mature markets like New Jersey.
Chairman Plousis further emphasized the significance of these digital segments: "With growth in all three segments of New Jersey’s total gaming revenue, it has now exceeded one-half billion dollars in thirteen consecutive months. In the first quarter, statewide total gaming revenue eclipsed $1.7 billion faster than any other year this decade." This statement highlights the critical role that iGaming and sports betting play in propelling New Jersey’s gaming industry to unprecedented heights, establishing it as a national leader in diversified revenue streams. The consistent monthly total gaming revenue exceeding half a billion dollars for over a year is a testament to the robust and integrated nature of the state’s gaming ecosystem.
Economic Contributions and Public Beneficiaries
The impressive performance across all gaming segments translates directly into substantial economic benefits for the State of New Jersey. In March 2026 alone, gaming taxes totaled nearly $95.6 million. This brought the year-to-date haul for the state to more than $277 million. The vast majority of these gaming taxes are channeled into the Casino Revenue Fund, a vital state resource dedicated to supporting a wide array of programs and services, particularly for New Jersey’s senior citizens and individuals with disabilities. This consistent flow of revenue underscores the gaming industry’s critical role not just as an entertainment provider, but as a significant contributor to the state’s social safety net and public welfare initiatives.
The symbiotic relationship between land-based casinos and their online partners also proved beneficial for specific Atlantic City properties. The iGaming and sports betting numbers notably helped offset some of the retail GGR declines for casinos like Golden Nugget and Resorts. Golden Nugget benefits significantly from its partnership with FanDuel, one of the leading online gaming operators. FanDuel’s iGaming platform alone generated gross revenue of $62.6 million in March. Similarly, Resorts is partnered with DraftKings, another industry giant, which recorded $48.2 million in iGaming win. In the sports betting arena, FanDuel led with $32.1 million in revenue, stemming from its partnership with the Meadowlands Racetrack, while DraftKings followed with $22.3 million. These partnerships are crucial, allowing land-based casinos to participate in and profit from the rapidly expanding digital market, effectively diversifying their revenue streams beyond the physical confines of their properties.
Atlantic City’s Historical Resilience and Evolving Landscape
Atlantic City has a storied history as a premier East Coast resort destination, evolving from its early days as a health resort to its transformation into a gaming hub in the late 1970s. For decades, it thrived as the only legal casino market outside of Nevada. However, the early 21st century brought significant challenges, primarily from the proliferation of legalized gaming in neighboring states like Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, and Delaware. This increased competition led to a period of contraction for Atlantic City, with several casinos closing their doors between 2013 and 2014, including the Revel, Trump Plaza, and Showboat. The comment by Chairman Plousis about March 2026 being the "second-best March figure since 2013" is particularly poignant, as it highlights the market’s long journey of recovery and stabilization following that tumultuous period. The industry has since focused on diversification, enhancing non-gaming amenities, and leveraging its coastal location to rebuild its appeal as a comprehensive entertainment and leisure destination.
The post-pandemic era further accelerated the adoption of digital gaming, which proved to be a lifeline for the industry when physical casinos were forced to close. New Jersey’s foresight in legalizing iGaming in 2013 and sports betting in 2018 positioned it to capitalize on these trends, allowing its gaming operators to maintain revenue streams and employee retention even during unprecedented lockdowns. This strategic diversification has been instrumental in the market’s robust overall recovery and sustained growth.
Navigating Future Headwinds: The Looming NYC Competition
Despite the current stability and overall growth, Atlantic City faces significant future challenges, most notably the impending arrival of full-scale casino resorts in the lucrative New York City market. Three major casino projects – Bally’s Bronx, Hard Rock Metropolitan Park, and Resorts World – are expected to open their doors around 2030. These new establishments, strategically located within or immediately adjacent to one of the world’s largest metropolitan areas, pose a direct threat to Atlantic City’s market share, particularly for the day-tripper and regional visitor segments.
Industry analysts and economists are closely monitoring these developments, acknowledging that the entry of powerful, well-capitalized casino operators into the NYC market could fundamentally alter the competitive landscape of the Northeast. Atlantic City casinos have historically drawn a substantial portion of their clientele from the tri-state area, and the convenience of gaming options within New York City itself could significantly divert this customer base. This necessitates proactive strategies from Atlantic City operators and state regulators to safeguard the market’s long-term viability.
Strategic Investments and Long-Term Outlook
In anticipation of increased regional competition, Atlantic City has been actively investing in solidifying its attractiveness as a multi-faceted destination. This involves enhancing non-gaming amenities such as high-end restaurants, retail outlets, entertainment venues, and convention facilities. The goal is to evolve beyond solely being a gaming destination and become a comprehensive resort offering a broader appeal to a diverse demographic, including families and non-gamblers. Infrastructure improvements, beautification projects, and efforts to create a safer, more welcoming environment are also part of this ongoing strategy.
The operating results for 2025 provide a crucial context for understanding the market’s underlying health. Eight of the nine Atlantic City casinos reported positive operating results, collectively generating $665.4 million in profits. The Borgata once again led this charge, accounting for a remarkable $237.4 million of the total profit, further underscoring its financial strength and market leadership. Bally’s was noted as the sole outlier, indicating persistent challenges for that particular property. This overall profitability in the preceding year suggests that despite monthly fluctuations for some, the core business model for most Atlantic City casinos remains sound, providing a foundation from which to innovate and compete.
The long-term outlook for Atlantic City hinges on its ability to continue adapting to changing consumer preferences, embracing technological advancements, and strategically differentiating itself in an increasingly crowded regional market. Continued investment in both the physical properties and the digital infrastructure that supports iGaming and sports betting will be paramount. By leveraging its unique coastal appeal, historical legacy, and commitment to a diverse entertainment offering, Atlantic City aims to maintain its status as a vital economic engine for New Jersey and a premier destination for leisure and gaming. The mixed results of March 2026 serve as a timely reminder of the dynamic nature of the industry and the continuous need for innovation and strategic foresight among its stakeholders.
