Online gambling helps AC casinos

Without the internet gambling results, Atlantic City would’ve registered a 2 percent decrease.

US.- According to the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, the seven casinos from Atlantic City registered US$205 million last month, a 0.3 percent increase compared to the same period a year ago.

If the online gambling numbers wouldn’t have influenced the results, casinos from Atlantic City would’ve experienced a 2 percent year-on-year fall. Both Golden nugget and Resorts Digital experienced the biggest jump with a 131 and 66 percent increase respectively in February. Richard Schwartz, president of Rush Street, who runs a Golden Nugget site, said: “Online gaming represents a growth vehicle for the gaming industry as it attracts a new and younger demographic.”

Schwartz also commented that industry data shows that existing brick-and-mortar casino players, who subsequently become online players too, return more frequently to the brick-and-mortar casino and spend 15 percent more on the casino floor. He considers that the online gambling sector in New Jersey will keep growing this year as it’s getting easier for players to deposit money in their online accounts.

The sector grew 27 percent year-on-year to US$18.7 million, whilst the land-based casino market grew 4.9 percent in February. Chairman of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, Matt Levinson, said: “The current operators continue to show resiliency in a challenging gaming market and have been able to increase the New Jersey gaming market.”