New Jersey Casino Revenues Flatline YoY, Gambling Support Hotline Returns

New Jersey casino revenues totaled $230.7 million in September, remaining unchanged year-on-year. 

Slot revenue in the state remained stable, with a slight decrease of 1.8% from $173.3 million to $170.1 million, while table game revenue increased 5.7% from $57.3 million to $60.6 million. 

In other news, in September, a New Jersey Superior Court Judge returned the 1-800-GAMBLER to the Council on Compulsive Gambling in New Jersey after a lengthy legal battle with the National Council on Problem Gambling. 

Ocean Casino Keeps New Jersey Stable 

A recent report from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement showed that of the nine casinos in the state, six saw revenue decline, two saw revenue remain stable, and one saw revenue climb by double digits. 

Ocean Casino Resort was the only casino to see revenues rise year-on-year, seeing a double-digit increase of 39.3% from $28.5 million to $39.6 million. Table games revenue was the most significant contributor, increasing 234.4% from $4.1 million to $13.7 million, while slot revenue also increased by 6.5% from $24.3 million to $26 million. 

Bally’s Atlantic City was the biggest loser, with profits declining 19.4% from $12.6 million to $10.1 million. Caesars Atlantic City also saw double-digit declines of 19%, with revenue decreasing from $20.5 million to $16.6 million. 

Revenue at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa remained stable, with profits increasing slightly by 0.6% from $62.4 million to $62.8 million. Hard Rock Atlantic City casino saw similar results, with a 1.7% increase from $44.7 million to $45.4 million. 

New Jersey Council Wins Back 1-800-GAMBLER

After a legal battle, the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey (CCGNJ) has had the 1-800-GAMBLER hotline returned to them from the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), after it licensed out the number in June 2022.  In September, the NCPG received a cease-and-desist order from a New Jersey Superior Court Judge to stop using the national hotline and the 1-800-GAMBLER trademark. 

Luis Del Orbe, Executive Director of the CCGNJ, has expressed concerns after discovering that the NCPG had rerouted calls away from Florida and New Mexico call centers to one based in Louisiana. “We felt that disconnecting a call center that has been using the number and providing services to gamblers of that area is not the right move. It’s a way of weaponizing the number,” Del Orbe said. 

The CCGNJ will continue to offer support for those struggling with gambling through the hotline, with no plans to reduce the scope of services offered. It will continue to serve New Jersey residents with information, prevention programs, and public awareness.