Atlantic City Information

Atlantic City approved as member of state 'Transit Village' program - According to a June 15 news release from the New Jersey Department of Transportation, Atlantic City has been designated as a Transit Village. The Transit Village Innitiative promotes mixed-use development and Complete Streets accommodations near transit facilities. To be elligible for the designation, a municipality must have a redevelopment plan encouraging economic activity. Atlantic City plans to increase housing opportunities near the Atlantic City rail station and within walking distance of shops, restaurants, offices, entertainment and cultural centers. Further reporting by The Press of Atlantic City.

Atlantic City gaming and nongaming properties celebrate major milestones - As reported by The Press of Atlantic City, Atlantic City's two newest casinos, Hard Rock and Ocean, celebrated the five-year anniversary of their June 27, 2018 opening, Borgata celebrated the 20th anniversary of its opening on July 2, 2003 and The Steel Pier celebrated the 125th anniversary of its opening on June 18, 1898. 

Atlantic City receives four proposals for full-service grocery store - As reported by The Press of Atlantic City, the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) has received four proposals to build a full-service grocery store in Atlantic City. Among the four proposals is one from Village Super Market the same company the CRDA ended talks with in late 2022 after three years of failed negotiation. The three other proposals are from JAS Group Enterprise, Save Philly Stores and Bailing International Firm.

South Jersey Economic Review (SJER) released by William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy - The latest issue of SJER features an assessment of Atlantic City's COVID recession and recovery with comparisions to local, regional and national metropolitian areas. Special focus is given to employment and labor force statistics. Press coverage by The Press of Atlantic City. 

The Press of Atlantic City provides 'CitiStat Briefs' - The Press of Atlantic City, reporting on the bi-weekly CitiStat meeting, noted that in the most recent two weeks (as of June 29), 192 complaints or concerns had been filed. In the same time period, 294 cases were closed — 54 from the current period and 240 from prior periods - and 138 cases remain in progress. Reported complaints mostly focused on high grass and weeds and exterior violations on houses but also noted condidtions at Renaissance Plaza and the vacant Madison Hotel related to the presence of homeless individuals. A multi-unit residence at Belfield Avenue, damaged by suspected arson June 21, has been declared an imminent hazard and slotted for demolition. 

U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management approves construction and operations plan for Ørsted's Ocean Wind I - According to a July 5 news release, Ørsted's Ocean Wind I, New Jersey’s first proposed offshore wind farm, received official approval from the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). The approval marks an important milestone for the project, which is expected to begin commercial operations in 2025. Further reporting from The Washington Post, and The Associated Press. According to The Associated Press, on June 30 the New Jersey Legislature narrowly approved tax breaks for the project.

New Jersey Gaming News

Bally's online casino operations in New Jersey not impacted by temporary shutdown of online sportsbook - As reported by Play NJ and Legal Sports Report, Bally Online Casino in New Jersey will remain fully operational as the company temporarily shuts and reboots its digital sportsbooks in other states. The sportsbook, Bally Bet, which is transitioning to Kambi's sports betting platform, is expected to relaunch state by state beginning with Ohio in August. Further reporting by SBC Americas. 

MGM asks federal judge to dismiss lawsuit, denies wrongdoing - As reported by The Associated Press,MGM Resorts International has asked a federal judge to dismiss the lawsuit of a man, Sam Antar, who claims the company preyed on his gambling addiction, and refer the matter to arbitration. The current lawsuit, filed in May, is a revision of a lawsuit initially filed in September. The company also denies any violation of New Jersey laws and says it did not create or worsen a gambling problem in Antar or anyone else. Antar has a history of fraudulant behavior and has served time in prison for a fraudulant investment scheme and theft by deception.

Attorney General, Division of Gaming Enforcement announce new responsible gaming tools - According to a June 12 news release, New Jersey gambling regulators announced two new tools to assist problem gamblers: a dedicated hotline and a virtual option to self-exclude from gaming activities. The tools are intended to further reduce the risk of problem gambling in the state. Further coverage by NJ Biz. 

Online Gaming in New Jersey extended by five, not 10, years - According to the New Jersey legislative record, on June 30 a bill (A2190) extending authorization for internet gaming law through November 2028 was approved. Debate over the extension, initially proposed at 10 years and later at two years, found compromise at five years. Further reporting by The Associated Press, WHYY, NJ.com, NJ Spotlight News and Casino.org, 

Stockton Atlantic City Summer Experience: Live-Work-Learn

 National Gaming News

Fanatics acquires US sports betting holdings of Austalia based PointsBet - As reported by Play USA and The Sydney Morning Herald, after entertaining a late offer from DraftKings, PointsBet shareholders approved the $225 million sale of the company's US sports betting business to Fanatics. The acquisition is expected to close in 2024 pending approval by US sports betting regulators. PointsBet is the seventh-largest US sports betting operator and operates in 15 states.

Maryland sports betting regulators deny requests to ease oversight of incentives and promotions, new marketing laws passed  - As reported by Casino.org, Play USA, and The Baltimore Sun, regulators and operators in Maryland disagree over the rules governing sports betting marketing. The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency (MLGCA), regulators of the state's sports betting industry, issued a written warning to sports betting marketing teams advising them to cease using "risk-free" language in promotions and incentives as the agency deemed such language as predatory. Noting the importance of promotions and incentives in developing the state's sports betting market and how existing regulations, that operators give regulators at least a two day notice before putting new offers into effect, limited their agility in developing offers, operators requested that the rule be changed to permit notice "within five business days of offering a new promotion" - i.e. without prior notice. Their requests were denied. The Maryland legislature recently passed two new laws governing sports betting marketing in the state - SB620,  bans state universities from entering into marketing partnerships with sportsbooks and SB621, aims to make a regulatory framework for sports betting audit companies - both were effective as of July 1.The state, which launched retail sports betting in December 2021 and online sports betting in November 2022, recorded a sports betting handle of over $1.8 billion in the period January to May 2023. 

More than 10 companies bid for New York casino license, including late bid from Silverstein Properties in partnership with Greenwood Gaming and Entertainment - As reported by PlayNY and Play USA, Silverstein Properties and Greenwood Gaming and Entertainment (Parx Casino) have partnered on a bid for the highly sought New York casino license. The proposed 1.8 million square-foot project, to be located four blocks west of Times Square, would include 1,000 luxury hotel rooms, a 600,000-square-foot gaming, entertainment and restaurant complex, more than 100 units of affordable housing and a 1,000-seat performance hall. It would be expected to create 4,000 construction and 5,500 permanent jobs, as well as generate billions of dollars in economic activity for the city and state. 

Rhode Island legalizes online casino gaming - As reported by SBC Americas, on June 20 Rhode Island's Gov. Daniel McKee signed a bill (SB948) legalizing online casinos in the state. The bill allows for two operators, Bally's and IGT, to offer online casino games in the state at a tax rate of 61% on online slots and 15% on online table games. Additionally, the state and "Official Vendor," IGT, will net 85% of slot revenue and 51.5% of online table games revenue. Online casino gaming is expected to launch in Rhode Island in March of 2024. Further reporting from Legal Sports Report and Casino.org.

Vermont becomes 38th state to legalize sports betting - According to Legal Sports Report, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott signed Vermont's sports betting into law on June 14. The state's regulatory body, The Department of Liquor and Lottery (DLL), is expected to secure contracts with up to six online sportsbooks with the first anticipated to launch by January 2024. There will be no physical sportsbooks. Tax rates will be part of negotiations between operators and DLL, but the bill legalizing sports betting (H.127) requires a minimum 20% of revenue be given to the state. Sports betting is expected to generate $2 million for the state in 2024 and at least $10 million annually by 2026. 

New Jersey Hospitality & Tourism News

Escape the Cape Triathlon celebrates 10th year - As reported by The Press of Atlantic City, 2,000 people participated in the 10th Escape the Cape Triathlon. The event includes Olympic and Sprint Triathlons (Run, Bike, Swim), along with shorter competitions, including relays, aquabikes and swim-only races. The leap from the Cape May - Lewes Ferry featured in the Olympic and Sprint triathlons and the 1-mile swim was inspired by the Escape from the 40-year-old Alcatraz triathlon in San Francisco, which begins with a leap from a ferry into San Francisco Bay.  

Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority names its next executive director - In a June 9 news release, the Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority (GWTIDA) announced that Louis Belasco would become its next executive director, effective July 1. Blasco, a Wildwood native, succeeds long-time GWTIDA Executive Director/CFO,John Siciliano who recently retired.

Island Waterpark at Showboat opens to the public - As reported by The Press of Atlantic City, NJ Biz and the CRDA, Island Waterpark at Showboat opened to the public on July 4. The 120,000-square-foot facility will offer water activities and related ammenities year-round. The waterpark represents further diversification of Atlantic City's resort offerings and is intended to appeal to guests of all ages. It is complemented by over $1 billion in capital improvements undertaken by the city's casinos in recent years. Further reporting by PlayNJ. 

Le Diner en Blanc returns to Atlantic City for second year - As reported by The Press of Atlantic City, hundreds of people gathered on the Boardwalk to participate in Le Diner en Blanc, "the dinner in white," for the second consecutive year. Diners dressed in all white attire were escorted to a suprise dining location, the Boardwalk from Oriental to Atlantic avenues, for an open-air picnic.  

New Jersey State Senate votes to make $100 million available for a Boardwalk Preservation Fund - As reported by The Press of Atlantic City, on June 30, New Jersey State Senators voted yes on a bipartisan bill (S3989) to use $100 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to create a Boardwalk Preservation Fund, matching local money for projects building, repairing and maintaining boardwalks.

North2Shore Festival featured Jersey-wide excellence - According to festival website, the statewide North2Shore festival, hosted by Atlantic City (June 4–11), Asbury Park (June 14–18) and Newark (June 21–25), brought together over 50 venues and more than 100 events in an "over-the-top showcase of Jersey-wide excellence." Stockton University hosted several cultural events, a health fair and an esports tournament. Read the Stockton University press release and see coverage from The New York Times,The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Press of Atlantic City. 

Ocean City Council passes two ordinances to address problems with teens - As reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Press of Atlantic City, on June 15, members of Ocean City's City Council voted unanimously to change the curfew for juveniles to 11 p.m., instead of 1 a.m. and ban backpacks and other bags from the Boardwalk as of 8 p.m. each night. Both ordinances are aimed at addressing recent issues with teens including fights, public intoxication, property damage and shoplifting. Further coverage by NJ Spotlight News and New Jersey 101.5. 

Ram's Head Inn purchased by The Atlantic City Rescue Mission - As reported by The Press of Atlantic City, the historic restaurant and surrounding property was purchased by the mission, which intends to establish a restaurant and possibly also a hotel on site. No homeless shelter-type operations are planned for the site, which is expected to serve as a revenue stream for the mission. 

Record crowd attends Barefoot Country Music Festival in Wildwood - As reported by The Press of Atlantic City, an estimated 125,000 people attended the four-day (June 15-18) Barefoot Country Music Festival in Wildwood including a Barefoot record 34,000 on Saturday.  

National Hospitality & Tourism News

National Restaurant Association supports Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act (EWEA) - In a June 8 news release, the National Restaurant Association noted the importance of a new bill, HR 3734, in creating employment pathways for difficult-to-fill positions.  According to the association, the EWEA program "would help restaurants fill job
vacancies and provide employees with valuable training, experience and a career path." 

Pent-up demand for experiences credited for 54% year-over-year increase in Dave & Buster's sales - As reported by Nations Restaurant News, "Eatertainment" brand, Dave & Buster's saw a 54% increase in sales in 2022 compared to 2021. Analysts are atributing the growth to "a pent-up demand for experiences after two-plus years of uncertainty." Consumers are expected to continue to seek "experiences they can’t re-create at home" into 2023 despite continuing macroeconomic pressures. 

Survey of hotel owners, management companies and other industry stakeholders seeks to gauge their sentiment and prospects for the hospitality industry - According to a June 6 news release, NYU SPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality and Boston Consulting Group have collaborated on a survey of hotel owners, management companies, and other industry stakeholders. Based on their findings, rising consumer demand is expected to support positive outcomes for the industry in terms of occupancy rates, average daily room rates and revenue per available room, even though new construction is down to 2015 levels.