January 2023

 

LIGHT Snapshots

 
January 2023
 

In LIGHT of the data.

January is historically the lowest gross gaming revenue (GGR) generating month for Atlantic City’s casino operators. Even with off-property online gaming and sports betting included, operators usually see their lowest GGR in the first month of the year.

If 2023 follows historical trends and January is the lowest month of the year, then this month’s results are quite encouraging.  January 2023 ($385.4 million) beat out both January 2022 ($340.1 million) and 2021 ($295.5 million) to set a new near-term record for January monthly total GGR.  A raised low-water mark to start the year off indicates that chances are good for year over year increases in GGR going forward.

 

Even considering only brick & mortar GGR, Atlantic City’s casino operators have reason to be hopeful. Brick and Mortar GGR for the month ($211.7 million) surpassed the pre-pandemic high set in January 2020 ($192.1 million) and approached January monthly revenues not seen since 2012 ($245.9 million) and 2011 ($255.4 million), when there were more Atlantic City casinos in operation, and no sports wagering or online gaming.

While far too early to call, continued strong performance in brick & mortar GGR could be an indicator that operators’ recent, and ongoing, investment in both the Atlantic City gaming and nongaming product is working – allowing the resort to effectively compete in an increasingly crowded tri-state gaming market, and amid inflationary pressures and economic concerns.

 

Atlantic City Gaming Win & Total Casino Revenue

Source: N.J. Division of Gaming Enforcement

Monthly Revenue (Casino Licensees, $ In Millions

 January 2023

% Change from Prior Year January 2022 YTD

January 2023

% Change from Prior Year YTD January 2022
Total Gaming Win (includes Internet & Sports Wagering) 385,365 13.3% 340,111 385,365 13.3% 340,111
Sports Wagering Revenue 20,823 11.8% 18,620 20,823 11.8% 18,620
Internet Gaming Win 152,867 10.9% 137,850 152,867 10.9% 137,850
Casino Gaming Win 211,675 15.3% 183,642 211,675 15.3% 183,642

 

Quarterly Revenue (Industry, $ In Thousands)** Q3 2022 % Change from Prior Year Q3 2021 YTD September 30, 2022 % Change from Prior Year YTD September 30, 2021
Casino $469.19 -7.3% $505.87 1,368.67 3.0% 1,328.80
Rooms $261.87 6.1% $246.86 $554.21 14.8% $482.56
Food & Beverage $160.59 13.1% $142.03 $396.07 33.5% $296.68
Entertainment & Other $88.49 20.8% $73.27 $209.76 38.5% $151.41
Casino Licensees Total Revenue $980.14 1.3% $968.03 $2,528.71 11.9% $2,259.45

** Data agregated from New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement Quarterly Financial Reports for individual properties, includes amended totals as of August 22, 2022. May not match totals from Quarterly Press Releases and Statistical Summaries, which represent a 'snapshot' of data at the time of publication and are not retroactively updated. 


Atlantic City Hotel Lodging

Source: N.J. Division of Gaming Enforcement

Casino Hotel Lodging Statistics
For the Period Ended
September 30, 2022 & 2021
Q3 2022 Q3 2021 YTD 2022 YTD 2021
Occupancy percentage 86.66% 81.25% 76.2% 68.0%
Average Daily Room Rate (ADR) $216.55 $224.61 $184.71 $178.07
Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR)* $187.66 $182.50 $140.75 $121.09

* RevPAR= ADR X Occupancy Percentage


Atlantic City Statistical Transportation Data

Source: South Jersey Transportation Authority

Travel Mode December
2022
Change
from Prior
Year
December
2021
YTD
December
2022
Change
from Prior
Year
YTD December
2021
AC Expressway
Total Toll-Paying Traffic
Pleasantville Toll Plaza
1,266,808  -1.7% 1,288,665 17,296,280 -0.6% 17,396,761
AC Airport
Scheduled Service Passengers 61,894 -2.8% 63,675 841,464 5.8% 795,183
Charter Passengers  2,575 -59.6% 6,376 114,483 59.3% 71,856
Total Air Passengers 64,469 -8.0% 70,051 955,947 10.3% 867,039

Atlantic City Meetings and Conventions Data

Source: VistAC

  January '23 January '22 % Change
from Prior Year
TOTAL
2023 YTD
TOTAL
2022 YTD
% Change
from Prior Year
Conventions/Tradeshows/Meetings*
# of Shows 6 4 50% 6 4 50%
# of Room Nights 18,156 15,384 18% 18,156 15,384 18%
# of Delegates 64,367 53,409 21% 64,367 53,409 21%
Delegate Spending $16,741,927 $13,472,282 24% $16,741,927 $13,472,282 24%
Boardwalk Hall Bookings
# of Shows 4 3 33% 4 3 33%
# of Attendees** 10,044 15,017 -33% 10,044 15,017 -33%
Hotel Bookings
# of Shows 6 4 50% 6 4 50%
# of Room Nights 3,697 5,787 -36% 3,697 5,787 -36%
# of Attendees 1,646 16,000 -90% 1,646 16,000 -90%
Delegate Spending $1,936,582 $3,900,814 -50% $1,936,582 $3,900,814 -50%
Monthly Totals
# Convs_Trade_Mtgs / Boardwalk Hall / Hotel 16 11 45% 16 11 45%
# of Room Nights 21,853 21,171 3% 21,853 21,171 3%
# of Attendees 76,057 84,426 -10% 76,057 84,426 -10%
Delegate Spending $18,678,509 $17,373,096 8% $18,678,509 $17,373,096 8%

Notes:

*Includes Visit Atlantic City events booked at Boardwalk Hall

**Includes Meet AC events booked at Boardwalk Hall


LIGHT Snapshots is a publication of the Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality & Tourism, Stockton University School of Business
Jane Bokunewicz, Ph. D., Faculty Director and Associate Professor of Hospitality

Atlantic City Information

Atlantic Avenue 'road diet' topic of conversation at Clean and Safe Atlantic City meeting - As reported by The Press of Atlantic City, during a Jan. 20 Clean and Safe Atlantic City meeting at City Hall, Casino Association of New Jersey President Mark Giannantonio expressed concern about the impact of the 'road diet' on the visitor experience at the peak of tourism season. The City Council has approved the first phase of the 'road diet' to begin from Maine Avenue in the Inlet to Tennessee Avenue in midtown.

Atlantic City Police begin 2023 with new plan to increase visibility - As reported by The Press of Atlantic City, the Atlantic City Police Department has announced a new deployment plan for 2023 with the aim of increasing police visibility and responsiveness in the resort. 

Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) posts request for proposals for a new grocery store - As reported by The Press of Atlantic City, the CRDA has released a new request to find an operator for a grocery store for the city. The deadline for proposal submissions is June 8. 

First evening CitiStat meeting held at Stockton University's Atlantic City campus - As reported by The Press of Atlantic City, at the request of residents, the bi-weekly CitiStat meetings will alternate between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. The first 5 p.m. session was held at Stockton University's Atlantic City campus on Jan. 25. As reported at the meeting, from Jan. 11 to 25 there were 114 problems reported to the city; 35 were closed and 79 were in progress as of Jan. 25. About 97% were responded to within 24 hours.

Money available for study of Bader Field, feasibility as city park - As reported by The Press of Atlantic City, two private foundations associated with former State Sen. William Gormley have donated $40,000 to study the potential of making Bader Field into a city park and using the space to provide back-bay flooding mitigation for the island. 

Officials continue to work on resolving issues for Stanley Holmes Village Residents - According to The Press of Atlantic City, as of Jan. 26, residents of Stanley Holmes who have been without major kitchen appliances since the week before Thanksgiving are seeking reimbursement from the Atlantic City Housing Authority. All residents were previously refunded their November rent due to a lack of heat and hot water that month after boilers serving the housing complex failed. Heat and hot water have been restored, but other issues continue to persist. An editorial from the Press of Atlantic City summarizing events at Stanley Holmes Village. 

New Jersey Gaming News

Guns prohibited on casino floor by Casino Control Act, unlikely to change - As reported by The Press of Atlantic City and Casino.org, a federal judge in New Jerset has issued a temporary restraining order that prevents parts of the new gun carry law from being enforced pending resolution of litigation challenging it. The New Law would prohibit the carrying of firearms in sensitive locations including casinos. Guns have always been banned from Atlantic City's casinos under the Casino Control Act. As of February 7 the Casino Association of New Jersey (CANJ) has reaffirmed the ban. CANJ President Mark Giannantonio told Casino.org, "all of the casinos are exercising their rights, as private property owners, to prohibit the carrying of firearms on their premises.”

The Casino Association of New Jersey (CANJ) highlights members' investment, capital improvements - According to a Jan. 17 news release from the CANJ, Atlantic City's nine casinos are currently investing "hundreds of millions of dollars in the city and the community through exciting economic development projects," and in the past several years have invested over $1 billion in the Atlantic City region. It is hoped that these investments "will continue to solidify Atlantic City’s position as a world-class resort destination with top-notch dining, shopping and entertainment offerings."

Thomas Carver, former president of the Casino Association of New Jersey, inaugural member of the CRDA, dies - As reported by The Press of Atlantic City, Thomas Carver "a champion for casino industry and economic growth in Atlantic City" died on January 10. 

 National Gaming News

Bills introduced in New York Sare Senate to increase number of licensed sports gambling companies, support responsible gaming - New York State Senate Bill S1962, was introduced and refered to the Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee on January 17. The bill if passed would increase the number of licensed sports betting operators to no fewer than 14 by January 31, 2024 and no fewer than 16 by January 31, 2025. New York State Senate Bill S1550 introduced and refered to the Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee on January 12 would require "all advertisements for gambling and sports betting to include warnings about potential harmful and addictive effects of gambling."  A second responsible gaming bill New York State Assembly Bill A01056, introduced and refered to the Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Committee on January 13, would establish a problem gambling advisory council. Further coverage by Casino.org and Legal Sports Report

'Coalition For a Better Times Square' supports controversial casino project - According to Casino.org, on Jan. 6 the "Coalition For a Better Times Square” released a statement in support of a plan to redevelop 1515 Broadway in Times Square as a casino. The proposed "Caesars Palace Times Square" would be a joint effort between SL Green Realty, Caesars Entertainment and Roc Nation. The group claims the development could generate more than $65 million in new revenue for the Broadway industry. 

Michighan Gaming Control Board reports 41% year-over-year increase in total gross internet casino gaming and sports betting revenue in 2022 over 2021 - According to a press release from the Michighan Gaming Control Board, comercial and tribal internet casino and internet sports betting operators reported a combined $1.98 billion in total gross revenue in 2022 a 41% increase over the $1.4 billion generated in 2021. Total handle for the year was $4.6 billion compared with $3.7 billion recorded in 2021.

Nevada reports Casino Net Income Record for Fiscal Year 2022 - According to a January 19 press release, the Nevada Gaming Control Board has released the "Nevada Gaming Absract - 2022." The 296 casinos in Nevada which grossed greater than $1 million in gaming revenue, collectively generated $4.1 billion in net income for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2022. Total (gross) revenue for the same period was $26.4 billion with 40.5% of the total gross revenue ($10.7 billion) generated by gaming activity. Further reporting from Casino.org.  

Hospitality & Tourism News

Air travel returns to normal operations after January 11 system outage - According to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration, the Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) system outage that grounded flights nationwide was caused by human error and not an attack. As reported by The New York Times the outage delayed more than 9,000 flights on January 11. Further reporting from The Philadelphia Inquirer

Atlantic City Visitor Welcome Center on Atlantic City Expressway gets another chance - As reported by The Press of Atlantic City, state officials have decided to reopen the building for the 2023 tourism season after giving it a second chance last year. Between May 13 and Oct. 16, 2022, the center served 2,598 people. The 25-year-old building had been closed previously in 2019 due to low usage. 

Local journalist who reported extensively on the casino industry, Atlantic City mourned - According to The Press of Atlantic City,  David Spatz, a former Press of Atlantic City entertainment writer and local broadcaster at WOND-AM 1400, died on Jan. 22 at the age of 71. Mr. Spatz was remembered fondly for his work reporting on Atlantic City and its casino and entertainment industries. 

Meet AC rebranded as 'Visit Atlantic City' - According to a Jan. 17 news release, Meet AC, Atlantic City's destination meetings and events marketing organization, has been rebranded as 'Visit Atlantic City.' According to the release, "Visit Atlantic City’s new branding embodies a series of personality traits that will guide marketing materials and plans moving forward. These include Playful, Bold, Eclectic, Celebratory and Iconic - all verbs that describe the vibes visitors expect when visiting the destination." Further coverage by The Press of Atlantic City and Casino.org

Showboat annonces final phase of $50 million renovation project - As reported by The Press of Atlantic City, about 800 rooms, suites, the lobby and other areas of the Showboat are planned to be updated as part of the property's last phase of renovations. Rooms are expected to be ready in time for the summer 2023 season. The $100 million Island Waterpark is scheduled to open Memorial Day weekend.