A report from the Atlantic County Economic Alliance (ACEA) highlights the five key challenges facing the future of Atlantic City and its nine casino resorts, which are essential to the local economy.
The ACEA, a nonprofit organization focused on economic development in Atlantic County, recently published the Greater Atlantic City Casino-Hotel Employment Exposure, which raises concerns about the potential impact on over 8,000 jobs in Atlantic County if the city’s casinos continue to experience financial declines.
Employment in Atlantic City’s casinos is currently at its lowest level in nine years, with the nine resorts employing 21,172 full- and part-time workers as of April 2026. Inflation, along with increased overhead and labor costs, has contributed to this decline from almost 30,000 employees pre-COVID-19 pandemic.
The ACEA points to various factors such as the shift to online gambling, increasing competition from other casinos, potential economic downturn, and new gaming options in neighboring states as threats to the state’s Casino Revenue Fund and thousands of jobs in Southern New Jersey.
This is a planning document, not a doomsday prophecy. But the size of the exposure is real, and the region needs to see it clearly before more competitive pressure is added,” said Dr. Max Slusher, the ACEA’s director of business development.
“History has shown that Atlantic City is resilient, but facing multiple challenges simultaneously requires a strategic plan,” Slusher added.
Convention and Non-Gaming Hospitality
The ACEA recommends that Atlantic City diversify its tourism offerings beyond just gambling by enhancing its convention and non-gaming hospitality sector. The organization suggests investing in upgrades and beautification projects throughout the city to attract a more diverse audience.
The ACEA aims to position casino gambling as one of many attractions rather than the primary draw for visitors.
The alliance also proposes incentives for casinos to reinvest in improving their gaming facilities, convention spaces, and accommodations through the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA).
The CRDA, a state agency supporting economic development in Atlantic City, receives a percentage of each casino’s revenue for reinvestment in the community.
Convention Lifeline
The ACEA study emphasizes the importance of investing in the convention sector as the only growing segment of the Atlantic City casino economy. It also suggests that the convention market could serve as a primary source of employment for displaced casino workers.
“In the event that thousands of casino jobs are at risk, redirecting workers to the convention and meetings sector within Atlantic City is a viable solution,” the ACEA stated.
“Convention and meeting roles involve local work that cannot be easily replaced by online gaming jobs. It offers opportunities for various job positions such as servers, chefs, attendants, technicians, and transportation staff,” the study noted.
If voters approve casinos outside Atlantic City through a statewide referendum, the Meadowlands could become a gaming destination. The ACEA recommends upgrading Atlantic City’s convention spaces to compete with potential rivals and retain its status as a premier event location.