Published on: January 17, 2026, at 10:48 AM.
Updated on: January 17, 2026, at 10:48 AM.
- New Jersey’s gaming revenue broke records in 2025
- Garden State gamblers incurred losses exceeding $6.9 billion last year
- Mixed results reported from Atlantic City casinos
New Jersey, the second highest-grossing gaming state in the U.S., surpassed previous annual revenue records in 2025.
The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement indicates that gross gaming revenue (GGR) for 2025 from Atlantic City’s nine casinos, iGaming, and sports betting totaled $6,982,549,243, reflecting a 10.8% increase from 2024, an improvement of over $683.2 million.
This marks the fifth consecutive year in which New Jersey’s gaming revenue has hit a new high.
“A flourishing gaming sector benefits the entire state of New Jersey. It has spurred investments in Atlantic City’s convention, tourism, and entertainment venues, generating jobs and new economic growth throughout South Jersey,” remarked James Plousis, chairman of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission.
In 2025, gaming taxes allocated to the Casino Revenue Fund, which primarily support seniors and disabled citizens, surpassed $1 billion.
Surge in iGaming, Varied Casino Outcomes
The gaming boom in 2025 was largely driven by online casino gambling. New Jersey’s iGaming platforms generated over $2.91 billion from online players, representing a 22% increase from the prior year.
Online casinos concluded the year impressively, with December’s GGR reaching nearly $273.2 million, marking a record-breaking month. For the first time, iGaming generated more revenue than the nine physical casinos along the coast.
The casinos also performed well overall. Despite a sluggish December, where in-person gaming decreased nearly 7%, the total casino GGR for 2025 was $2.89 billion, indicating a 2.7% year-over-year rise. Slot machines generated revenue of $2.13 billion (up 1.7%), while table games brought in $762.5 million, a 5.7% increase from 2024.
However, only four of the nine casinos saw an increase in their in-person revenue last year. Borgata maintained its top position with a GGR of $800.8 million, an increase of 8.5% compared to 2024. Hard Rock ($550.8 million, up 1.1%), Ocean ($468.1 million, up 14.3%), and Harrah’s ($225 million, up 0.5%) also experienced improvements.
Bally’s recorded the steepest decline, with GGR plummeting 8.5% to $133 million. Golden Nugget also faced challenges with a 7.7% drop in in-person gaming, totaling $135.8 million. Caesars saw a 6.7% decrease to $203.8 million, while Tropicana dropped 4.9% to $216.8 million, and Resorts fell 1.2% to $159.9 million.
Prospects for 2026
While the Atlantic City casino sector experienced revenue growth in 2025, upcoming years present new challenges. Three large-scale casinos are being developed in downstate New York, including two in Queens and one in the Bronx.
The downstate New York area has historically been a significant source of customers for Atlantic City. The potential impact of the Queens and Bronx casinos on Atlantic City’s market is uncertain but likely to have negative consequences for the beachfront casino destination.
Combined with increasing expenses for labor and the rising costs of goods and services, Atlantic City’s weaker establishments, particularly Bally’s, appear to be at risk of closure in the near future.