September 2022 Snapshots
In LIGHT of the data.
September’s mild weather helped contribute to a strong start to the fall season for Atlantic City’s casino operators. At $251.7 million, traditional brick-and-mortar gaming revenues (slots, table games and poker) exceeded September 2021 ($248.5 million) and September 2019 ($224.5 million) by 1.3% and 12.1%, respectively. Total casino gaming revenue for the month (including internet gaming and retail and online sports betting) of $431 million exceeded September 2021 ($405.1 million) by 6.4% and September 2019 ($283.3 million) by 52.1%.
The nine months ending September 2022 set a steady pace, with Atlantic City’s casinos surpassing the same periods in 2021 and 2019 by 12.5% and 4.0%, respectively, for brick-and-mortar and 14.5% and 43.9%, respectively, for total casino gaming revenue. At this rate, Atlantic City’s casino operators are likely to meet and potentially exceed pre-pandemic end-of-year totals for both brick-and-mortar and total gaming revenue.
Internet gaming continues to play a significant role in Atlantic City casino gaming operations accounting for 31.4% of total casino gaming revenue in September 2022 and 34.3% for the year to date. A significant increase compared to 10.2% and 13.7%, respectively, in 2019.
As evidenced by the performance of Atlantic City’s gaming operators, internet gaming is the fastest growing segment of the gaming industry. According to the American Gaming Association, internet gaming revenue YTD July in the six states that have legalized Internet gaming was up 41.1%. New Jersey being the first state to legalize online gaming is positioned well to capitalize on this growth trend. At the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas last week, Bill Miller, American Gaming Association president, called on industry leaders to “embrace a digital future.” New Jersey is clearly ahead of the curve.
Atlantic City Gaming Win & Total Casino Revenue
Source: N.J. Division of Gaming Enforcement
| Monthly Revenue (Casino Licensees, $ In Thousands) |
September 2022 |
% Change from Prior Year | September 2021 | YTD September 2022 | % Change from Prior Year | YTD September 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Gaming Win (includes Internet & Sports Wagering) | 430,978 | 6.4% | 405,146 | 3,551,464 | 14.5% | 3,101,486 |
| Sports Wagering Revenue | 43,995 | 29.3% | 34,027 | 198,726 | -7.4% | 214,519 |
| Internet Gaming Win | 135,245 | 10.3% | 122,595 | 1,217,904 | 23.2% | 988,725 |
| Casino Gaming Win | 251,738 | 1.3% | 248,525 | 2,134,833 | 12.5% | 1,898,241 |
| Quarterly Revenue (Industry, $ In Thousands)** | Q2 2022 | % Change from Prior Year | Q2 2021 | YTD June 30, 2022 | % Change from Prior Year | YTD June 30, 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casino | 454,541 | 2.0% | 445,541 | 899,484 | 9.3% | 822,932 |
| Rooms | 172,942 |
18.9% |
145,472 | 292,341 | 24.0% | 235,696 |
| Food & Beverage | 131,757 | 44.9% | 90,933 | 235,471 | 52.3% | 154,653 |
| Entertainment & Other | 69,545 | 56.5% | 44,445 | 121,274 | 55.2% | 78,138 |
| Casino Licensees Total Revenue | 828,785 | 14.1% | 726,630 | 1,548,570 | 19.9% | 1,291,418 |
** 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 June 30, 2022 & 2021 |
Q2 2022 | Q2 2021 | YTD 2022 | YTD 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Occupancy percentage | 77.4% | 70.0% | 70.4% | 61.2% |
| Average Daily Room Rate (ADR) | $171.79 |
$158.00 |
$163.21 | $146.32 |
| Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR)* | $132.99 | $110.56 | $114.90 | $89.55 |
* RevPAR= ADR X Occupancy Percentage
Atlantic City Statistical Transportation Data
Source: South Jersey Transportation Authority
| Travel Mode | August 2022 |
Change from Prior Year |
August 2021 |
YTD August 2022 |
Change from Prior Year |
YTD August 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AC Expressway | ||||||
| Total Toll-Paying Traffic Pleasantville Toll Plaza |
1,834,159 | -6.4% | 1,959,601 | 11,741,377 | 1.8% | 11,539,191 |
| AC Airport | ||||||
| Scheduled Service Passengers | 94,937 | 38.6% | 68,500 | 591,855 | 10.3% | 536,645 |
| Charter Passengers | 9,411 | -2.0% | 9,598 | 83,456 | 144.9% | 34,084 |
| Total Air Passengers | 104,348 | 33.6% | 78,098 | 675,311 | 18.3% | 570,729 |
Atlantic City Meetings and Conventions Data
Source: MeetAC
| September'22 | September '21 | % Change from Prior Year |
TOTAL 2022 YTD |
TOTAL 2021 YTD |
% Change from Prior Year |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conventions/Tradeshows/Meetings* | ||||||
| # of Shows | 7 | 4 | 75% | 63 | 18 | 250% |
| # of Room Nights | 13,285 | 4,077 | 226% | 94,321 | 17,238 | 447% |
| # of Delegates | 16,326 | 7,882 | 107% | 381,355 | 62,389 | 511% |
| Delegate Spending | $9,909,837 | $2,348,166 | 322% | $126,766,553 | $15,283,173 | 729% |
| Boardwalk Hall Bookings | ||||||
| # of Shows | 1 | 0 | N/A | 28 | 0 | N/A |
| # of Attendees | 2,800 | 0 | N/A | 120,732 | 0 | N/A |
| Hotel Bookings | ||||||
| # of Shows | 18 | 9 | 100% | 115 | 83 | 39% |
| # of Room Nights | 14,082 | 6,453 | 118% | 90,369 | 75,986 | 19% |
| # of Attendees | 9,055 | 18,417 | -51% | 149,329 | 107,497 | 39% |
| Delegate Spending | $7,380,846 | $4,229,876 | 74% | $57,638,469 | $45,015,869 | 28% |
| Monthly Totals | ||||||
| # Convs_Trade_Mtgs / Boardwalk Hall / Hotel | 26 | 13 | 100% | 206 | 101 | 104% |
| # of Room Nights | 27,367 | 10,530 | 160% | 184,690 | 93,224 | 98% |
| # of Attendees | 28,181 | 26,299 | 7% | 651,416 | 169,886 | 283% |
| Delegate Spending | $17,290,683 | $6,578,042 | 163% | $184,405,022 | $60,299,042 | 206% |
Notes:
January 2021 hotel attendees reflect virtual attendance numbers
March and August 2021 conventions/tradeshow numbers updated based on information received after reporting deadline
January 2022 conventions/tradeshow numbers updated based on information received after reporting deadline
March 2022 Boardwalk Hall Bookings updated based on information received after reporting deadline
*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
Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) Board and City Council support cannabis-friendly plan for Atlantic City - As reported by The Press of Atlantic City on Sept. 20, the CRDA Board of Directors voted in support of a cannabis-friendly Green Zone Redevelopment Plan for Atlantic City. On Sept. 21, the Atlantic City City Council voted 7-1 in favor of ordinances to create the 'green zone.' Making "all classes of state-licensed cannabis businesses a permitted use within the zone, which would run from Boston to Maryland avenues along both sides of Atlantic and Pacific avenues." This area includes most but not all of the Tourism District and does not come within 200 feet of the Boardwalk.
New Jersey Gaming News
Atlantic City Casino PILOT Amendment - As reported by The Press of Atlantic City and Casino.org, the state of New Jersey has requested a stay of Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Michael Blee's Aug. 29 decision to strike down the amendments to the 2016 Atlantic City Casino PILOT pending appeal. Oral arguments for the stay were heard Oct. 12. The state has filed for an appeal of the decision.
BetMGM to sponsor NJ TRANSIT's Meadowlands Rail Line - According to a Sept. 14 news release from NJ TRANSIT, the Meadowlands Rail Line will be renamed the BetMGM Meadowlands Rail Line as the result of a new three-year sponsorship agreement. The naming rights agreement is the first of its kind for NJ TRANSIT. Further reporting from NorthJersey.com.
Bills seeking to extend internet gaming law to 2033 and to include esports as internet gaming being considered by New Jersey legislators - As recorded by the New Jersey State Legislature Bill A2190/S3075, which "extends authorization for Internet gaming law to 2033, and Bill A4397/S2986, which "includes esports as internet gaming and provides for additional internet gaming permits; permits additional esports-only permits for sports wagering" were refered to the Assembly State and Local Government Committee on Sept. 15 and introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee on Sept. 22.
National Gaming News
25th East Coast Gaming Congress - On Sept. 21, 23 organizers, Spectrum Gaming Group, Cooper Levenson, Attorneys at Law, SI Sportsbook and Esports Entertainment Group hosted the 25th East Coast Gaming Congress & NexGen Gaming Forum. Read coverage of the event from the Associated Press, Legal Sports Report and The Press of Atlantic City. As reported by the Associated Press and The Press of Atlantic City, after a planned panel discussion of casino smoking was canceled, casino workers and patrons who oppose smoking in casinos gathered in front of the conference venue demanding that the state Legislature act on a bill to ban casino smoking.
Colorado sports betting generated $12.4 million in tax revenue, funds will be used to support state Water Plan - According to a Sept. 15 release from the Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission (CLGCC), in its second fiscal year Colorado sports betting generated $12.4 million in tax revenue. $11.4 million of this revenue will be distributed to the Water Implementation Cash Fund in support of the State's Water Plan. Further reporting by Casino.org.
Hard Rock International announces wage increases - According to a Sept. 12 news release, Hard Rock International and Seminole Gaming announced wage increases for team members and new hires at company managed hotel, casino and cafe locations. New starting wages range between $18 and $21 an hour with minimal exceptions - a rate 2.5 times the federal minimum wage and exceeding each state's minimum wage. This represents a $100 million investment in the Hard Rock workforce.
Maryland opens application period for mobile sports betting, operators required to develop and submit diversity plan - As reported by Casino.org, operators granted sportsbook permits in Maryland must, within 30 days, develop and submit a diversity plan to the state. Prior efforts by the state to "deliver equity through its regulation of sports betting" by conducting "disparity analysis" of applications had been criticized for delaying the mobile sports betting licensing process. In July, Maryland's Sports Wagering Application Review Commission (SWARC) was encouraged to update the sportsbook licencing guidelines to help expedite the licenture process. These guidelines were accepted and the mobile licensing application period commenced Sept. 9.
Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB), Nevada Gaming Commission (NGC) approve Bally's operation of Tropicana Las Vegas - As reported by Casino.org, on Sept. 7 and Sept. 22 respectively, the NGCB and NGC approved Bally's operation of Tropicana Las Vegas located on the Las Vegas Strip. Bally's began aquisition of the property (non-real estate assets) in April of 2021 and announced that the aquisition had been completed Sept. 27. A major overhall of the property is anticipated in 2024.
Pew Research finds 1 in 5 U.S. adults have wagered on sports in the past year - Accoding to a study released by Pew Research Center on Sept. 14, 19% of U.S. adults say they have personally bet money on sports in some way in the last 12 months. The study, conducted in July 2022, found that 15% of U.S. adults had wagered with friends or family, 8% had bet in person at a casino, racetrack or betting kiosk and 6% had wagered online with a betting app, sportsbook or casino. Further reporting by Casino.org.
PointsBet, WynnBET decline renewal of 'approved sportsbook operator' status with National Football League (NFL) -As reported by Casino.org, sportsbook operators, PointsBet and WynnBET, declined to renew their 'approved' status with the NFL, an expense of $4 million, for the 2022 season - reducing their NFL related advertising spending.
Rivers Casino Schenectady, New York settles class action lawsuit with workers - As reported by Casino.org,Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady in upstate New York has settled a class action lawsuit for $5.5 million. The plaintiffs alleged that the company failed to properly calculate overtime pay for tipped hourly workers.
Sports betting traffic NFL week 1 2022 up 71% from 2021 - As reported by Casino.org, in the first week of National Football League (NFL) games for 2022 cybersecurity solutions company GeoComply recorded more than 103 million geolocation checks from sportsbooks in legal U.S. markets. This represents a 71.5% increase year-over-year. The increase is largely atributable to the expansion of the legal U.S. sports betting market. There were five more states allowing online sports wagering at the start of the 2022 football season than there were at the start of the 2021 season. New York, the most populous state with online sports betting, contributed 15.7 million of the 103 million geolocation checks for the week followed by Pennsylvania with 15.3 million checks, New Jersey with 13.5 million, Michigan with 9.7 million and Illinois with 8 million. Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Michigan and Illinois saw increased traffic compared to last year with a combined 9.5 million more checks in 2022 than in 2021.
Hospitality & Tourism News
American Hotel & Lodging Foundation (AHLAF) to partner with U.S. Job Corps - According to a Sept. 20 news release, AHLAF will partner with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Job Corps to fill an estimated 130,000 open positions in the hospitality industry. This partnership is the first of its kind for Job Corps and the hospitality industry. Through this partnership, Job Corps students will have access to hotel jobs and the AHLAF's apprenticeship program including nationally recognized credential attainment.
Canada to drop all COVID-19 border restrictions - According to a Sept. 26 news release from the Public Health Agency of Canada, effective Oct. 1, "all COVID-19 entry restrictions, as well as testing, quarantine and isolation requirements for anyone entering Canada" will be removed. Further reporting by Reuters and The New York Times.
Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) sees busiest August and summer on record - As reported by Casino.org, LAS, the primary airport for visitors to Las Vegas, logged more than 4.6 million arriving and departing passengers in August, setting a new record for that month. Airport officials report the three months ended August 2022 were the busiest three months in Clark County, Nevada, history.
Las Vegas City Council votes to allow cannabis consumption lounges - As reported by Casino.org, Las Vegas City Council voted 5-1 against an effort to exclude the City of Las Vegas from being targeted for a cannabis consumption lounge. Last year, the Nevada state legislature passed a bill (Assembly Bill 341) authorizing marijuana lounges and the Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board (CCB) has since developed regulations for the operation of licensed cannabis consumption lounges.
World’s seventh-busiest airport, Orlando International, gets new $2.8 billion terminal - As reported by the Associated Press, Orlando International Airport in Florida celebrated the public opening of $2.8 billion, 1.8 million-square-foot, Terminal C in September. With 47 million passengers in the 12 months ended June 2022, the airport was just shy of the visitor volume (50.6 million passengers) seen pre-pandemic in the 12 months ended June 2019. The new terminal will expand the airport's current capacity by 25%, easing overcrowding and allowing the handling of 12 million more passengers through 15 new gates.
