Atlantic City Gaming Revenue Hits 14-Year High in July on Retail Strength

Atlantic City's casino market delivered its strongest July performance in 14 years during the month ending in 2026, signaling robust recovery in the regional gaming landscape. The nine Atlantic City casinos generated $304.2 million in gross gaming revenue from slot machines and table games, representing a 7.1% year-over-year increase from July 2025. Slot machines contributed $226.1 million (up 6.2%), while table games produced $78.1 million (up 9.5%), according to the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.

The across-the-board strength was nearly market-wide, with eight of nine casinos reporting higher revenue. Borgata led in absolute terms with $81.6 million in casino win, while Caesars achieved the largest percentage gain at 34.6% year-over-year growth to $25.3 million. Bally's was the sole underperformer, declining 13.7% to $12.2 million. This broad-based improvement suggests strengthened consumer demand rather than market share consolidation among the nine licensed operators.

July marked a notable inflection point in New Jersey's gaming ecosystem: it was the first month in 2026 when in-person casino revenue exceeded online gaming revenue. This reversal came despite a record performance from iGaming channels, which reached nearly $277 million in monthly gross gaming revenue. FanDuel, operating through Golden Nugget, led the online segment with $61.7 million (up 18.5%), while DraftKings contributed $48.1 million through its Resorts partnership.

Sports betting emerged as a significant revenue driver, particularly fueled by FIFA World Cup competition during July. Total sports betting revenue reached $100 million, a 30% increase year-over-year. Online sportsbooks accounted for $94.6 million of this total. FanDuel's online sportsbook led operators with $32.8 million in sportsbook revenue, with more than $30 million attributed to World Cup wagering. DraftKings followed with $25.6 million, while BetFanatics (Bally's) and BetMGM (Borgata) contributed $10.6 million and $8.8 million respectively.

Combined casino, iGaming, and sports betting revenue across New Jersey totaled $678.1 million in July, an 11.9% increase year-over-year. This performance pushed year-to-date 2026 revenue past $4.2 billion, surpassing prior-year pacing and generating over $540 million in gaming tax revenue for state programs benefiting seniors and disabled residents across all New Jersey counties.

Looking forward, Atlantic City faces imminent competitive pressure. New York City has approved licensing for three full-scale casinos (two in Queens, one in the Bronx), which will compete directly for regional gaming dollars. However, New Jersey legislators declined to pursue a ballot measure expanding slot machines outside Atlantic City this election cycle, preserving the regional monopoly for now. This competitive window may close rapidly once New York venues open, making this period of strong performance particularly significant for Atlantic City's ongoing market positioning and operator viability.