October Casino Revenue Down 12.3 Percent In NJ
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) -- Atlantic City's casinos took in 12.3 percent less from gamblers in October than they did a year ago.
Figures released Wednesday by the state Casino Control Commission showed nine of the 11 casinos reporting revenue declines.
The Tropicana Casino and Resort bucked the trend with a 7.1 percent increase. Trump Marina Hotel Casino, another of the city's struggling gambling halls, showed a 3.4 percent increase. The biggest decline was at the Showboat Casino Hotel, which was down 22.7 percent.
Atlantic City is struggling against the economy and competition from casinos in neighboring states, including Philadelphia's first casino, which opened in late September.
Linda Kassekert, chairwoman of the Casino Control Commission, noted the recent trend of people spending more money in Atlantic City on things that don't involve gambling.
"Gaming revenues are down because of the increased competitive environment," she said. "But more people are spending the night in Atlantic City and they are spending more money on all the other things the casino hotels have to offer."
The city's top casino, the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, registered a slight decline of less than one half of one percent.
The Atlantic City Hilton Casino Resort was down 8.3 percent; Bally's Atlantic City was down 14.4 percent; and the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort was down 17.1 percent.
Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino was down 17.8 percent; Harrah's resort Atlantic City was down 18.3 percent; and Resorts Atlantic City was down 19.1 percent.
For the first 10 months of the year, the casinos have won $3.1 billion, down 9.1 percent from the same period last year.
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