- Atlantic City’s retail casinos recorded a 12% year-on-year increase in April gaming revenue.
- Eight of the nine casino properties reported improvement, with Golden Nugget the only venue to decline.
- The result comes as operators face longer-term competitive pressure from planned casino expansion in New York City.
Atlantic City’s casino sector generated nearly $235.6 million in gross gaming revenue from in-person play in April, according to the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement. The result was 12% above the same month in 2025 and marked the city’s strongest April performance since 2012.
The figures suggest that, despite future competitive risks, the market remains resilient in the near term. New York City is expected to add three large-scale casino resorts in the coming years, a development that could reshape regional player traffic and intensify competition for established operators in New Jersey.
For April, physical slot machines generated $169.4 million, while table games contributed $66.2 million. Regulators said all casino hotels posted growth in either slot or table win, and five operators improved in both categories. Over the first four months of 2026, in-person gaming revenue reached $888.5 million, up 4% from a year earlier, with table games providing much of the momentum.
Online gaming continues to lead market growth
Although retail casinos performed well, online gaming remained the larger revenue driver. New Jersey’s iGaming market produced $263.1 million in April, also up 12% year on year. This was the eighth consecutive month in which online casino revenue exceeded land-based casino win.
April was also the third-strongest month on record for the state’s online casino segment. Through the first four months of the year, iGaming revenue moved above $1 billion for the first time in state history during that period, underlining how digital channels are becoming central to operator strategy and market access.
Sports betting also added to the state’s gains. Sportsbooks retained $102.1 million in April, a 13% increase from a year earlier. Year-to-date sports betting revenue reached $370.5 million, up 4%.
Across all gaming segments, New Jersey’s combined gaming revenue totaled $2.3 billion in the first four months of 2026, representing a 9% increase year on year.
Golden Nugget remains the weak point in the retail market
One operator stood apart from the broader market trend. Golden Nugget was the only Atlantic City casino to report a decline in April retail gaming revenue. For the year through April, its in-person gaming win fell 6% to $40.9 million, placing it near the bottom of the local market.
The property’s weaker retail performance has drawn additional attention because of ongoing speculation around Tilman Fertitta’s interest in acquiring Caesars Entertainment. If such a deal were to move forward, regulators could require asset sales or restructuring in Atlantic City to address market concentration concerns.
Analyst commentary has suggested Golden Nugget could be the most likely property to be sold or otherwise separated in that scenario. While the venue has stronger digital exposure through iGaming partnerships including FanDuel and BetRivers, those online arrangements could potentially be reorganized under Caesars’ existing Atlantic City framework if ownership changes occur.
For operators, the April data shows that Atlantic City’s retail base is still capable of producing solid returns, but the market’s long-term outlook will depend on how effectively casino groups balance land-based performance, online growth, and future competitive pressure from nearby jurisdictions.
