Atlantic City, N.J. — The Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality & Tourism (LIGHT) at Stockton University — in collaboration with the Casino Association of New Jersey (CANJ) — released its third annual report today titled “2025 Impact: Atlantic City Casino Industry.” According to the report, despite the challenges of the current environment, the Atlantic City casino industry continues to power the regional economy — supporting jobs, growth and investment — and serves as a vital community partner through significant charitable giving.

“Atlantic City’s gaming industry demonstrated resilience and momentum in 2025,” said Jane Bokunewicz, faculty director of LIGHT at Stockton University. “Record-setting growth in internet gaming generated vital tax revenue for programs supporting seniors and people with disabilities, while the return of major events brought renewed energy to the city’s economy. Even as traditional gaming remained flat and operators navigated rising costs, casinos continued to invest in new amenities and experiences—positioning Atlantic City for long-term growth and continued revitalization ahead of expanded competition in the region.”

A Year in Review

The report details that 2025 was a year of contradictions for the Atlantic City casino industry. While gross gaming revenues and the corresponding tax and fee contributions to the state and regional economy reached record highs, net revenues and gross operating profits remained essentially flat or even slightly below previous years.

Success in 2025 was marked by strong performance, despite significant challenges. Internet gaming continued to grow and evolve, while traditional gaming remained stable amid market disruptions and rising operating costs. Looking ahead, the landscape may become even more competitive with the expansion of downstate New York casinos and renewed interest in North Jersey casino development in 2026. In response, the Atlantic City casino industry continues to invest in its properties, workforce and community — helping ensure the market remains competitive in an increasingly dynamic regional environment.

Capital Investments & Employment

In 2025, the casino industry continued a campaign of capital improvements, investing more than $1 billion over five years. Reinvestments in Atlantic City’s casino resort infrastructure included room renovations, expanded gaming spaces, and enhancements to culinary and entertainment offerings. They employed more than 22,000 individuals, two-thirds of whom are residents of Atlantic County.

Industry Generates Critical Taxes & Fees to NJ Support Social Safety Net

The Atlantic City casino industry generated $1.1 billion in taxes and fees in 2025, marking a nearly 25% increase from 2024 following an 11% rise the year before. As in 2024, a significant share of these contributions came from internet gaming and mobile sports betting. This growth has a meaningful impact on state and local residents, as a substantial portion of the taxes collected are directed to the Casino Revenue Fund (CRF). In Fiscal Year 2025, the Atlantic City casinos made a record contribution of $661.7 million to the CRF, supporting programs for seniors and individuals with disabilities. Overall, the industry plays a critical role in funding essential social safety net programs across the Garden State.

“This new report highlights the vital role Atlantic City casinos’ taxes and fees play in supporting New Jersey’s social safety net programs, as well as the state and local economy through the jobs we provide and the goods and services we purchase from vendors in

Atlantic County and statewide,” said George Goldhoff, president of the Casino Association of New Jersey (CANJ). “It also underscores our commitment to community investment through initiatives such as Casinos United Against Hunger, which helps address affordability challenges facing our residents.”

Community Giving

Community giving took center stage in 2025 as Atlantic City casinos further expanded their community impact through volunteerism, charitable giving, and cause-driven public awareness campaigns, such as lighting up blue to commemorate World Parkinson’s Day. For the first time, the CANJ partnered with the Community FoodBank of New Jersey to launch the Casinos United Against Hunger initiative. Atlantic City’s nine casinos gave back to the community in a variety of ways, including participation in awareness campaigns, service to local food pantries, and youth and veteran’s outreach programs. The industry made this commitment knowing that the returns on these investments, although difficult to quantify, will make a difference in the future of the city, people, and businesses that have come to rely on the long-term stability and sustainability of New Jersey’s casino industry.

Key Report Highlights & Data Points

• In 2025, Atlantic City’s casino operators realized $3.29 billion in total net revenue, which was essentially level with 2024 ($3.31 billion) and 2023 ($3.33 billion). This includes $1.74 billion in net non-gaming revenue and $1.67 billion in net gaming revenue.
• The industry finished the year with its third consecutive year-over-year decline in Gross Operating Profit (GOP) – 3.9% behind 2024 ($709.2 million) and 16.3% behind the near-term peak GOP from 2022 ($814.2 million).
• Operators contributed $1.1 billion in total casino taxes and fees, a 24.8% increase from 2024 ($883.2 million).
• The industry contributed a record $661.7 million to the CRF, helping the state’s most vulnerable populations with contributions including:

-- $590 million toward housing for people with developmental disabilities,

-- $16 million for community-based programs for seniors,

-- $5 million for pharmaceutical assistance, and

-- $4 million for personal assistance.

• Operators spent $195.6 million on capital expenditures, improving resort infrastructure and enhancing culinary and entertainment offerings for guests. In the past five years (2021-2025), operators have spent over $1.2 billion on projects to improve and differentiate their properties.
• The industry spent $634 million on goods and services purchased from New Jersey vendors. Nearly 60% of this spending ($373.9 million) was spent in Atlantic County.
• The industry employs 22,500 New Jersey residents (0.4% of the state labor force). 14,500 are Atlantic County residents (11.1% of the county labor force). 4,600 are Atlantic City residents (33% of the city's labor force).
• Atlantic City welcomed approximately 17.6 million visitors in 2025. Despite being a 2.6% decrease compared to 2024, the number of visitors in 2025 is consistent post-pandemic.
• The Atlantic City casinos remained committed to enhancing and engaging with the local community, donating over $3.1 million in giving: Over $2 million in charitable giving.More than $650,000 in in-kind giving, grants, and sponsorships. Over 10,500 volunteer hours. Nearly 1,200 volunteers.

Click here to view the report.

###

About Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality and Tourism (LIGHT) at Stockton University

The Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality and Tourism (LIGHT) at Stockton University provides a forum for public policy discussions regarding the gaming, hospitality and tourism industries in New Jersey. The Levenson Institute engages Stockton’s faculty, students and others in research, conferences and report writing to support sound decision making among policy makers and leaders in the region’s three largest industries. Along with other Stockton University centers, institutes and programs, LIGHT is a key part of Stockton’s commitment to playing a central role in issues that are vital to the economic and social well-being of our community and region.

About the Casino Association of New Jersey

The Casino Association of New Jersey (CANJ) is a trade organization that provides a collective voice for the Atlantic City casino industry by facilitating the exchange of information and ideas between our industry, small businesses, Atlantic City stakeholders and the general public. The CANJ consistently advocates for legislation and initiatives that support the ongoing revitalization of Atlantic City into a world-class destination resort. A thriving casino industry drives economic growth, job creation, increased tax revenue for state and local budgets, and prosperity for city residents, hardworking families and businesses which rely on the casinos for their livelihood. Our goals are simple: protect and grow the tens of thousands of jobs the casino industry supports across New Jersey and continue Atlantic City’s transformation into a world-class destination resort. For additional information, please visit www.casinosnj.org.