May 2023

 

LIGHT Snapshots

 
May 2023
 

In LIGHT of the data.

In May 2023, we saw the continuation of a trend with significant month-over-month growth in total gross gaming revenue for Atlantic City operators driven primarily by internet gaming revenue.

At $423.4 million, May 2023 total gross gaming revenue for Atlantic City鈥檚 operators set a new near-term record for May monthly revenue and contributed to total year-to-date gross gaming revenues of over $2 billion 鈥 another near-term record. May 2023 Internet Gaming at $161.4 million represented approximately 38% of Atlantic City gaming operators鈥 total gross gaming revenue for the month, compared to nearly 35% of total gross gaming revenue in May 2022 and 14.4% in May 2019.

 

Although down 2.4% from last year ($233.02 million), at $227.3 million, May 2023 brick-and-mortar gross gaming revenues exceeded 2019 ($222.9 million). This is the continuation of a return to pre-pandemic levels, but not the amount of growth many may have hoped to see from this sector. Traditional gaming products like slots and table games are not growing as quickly as newer products (for example, online slots and mobile sports betting). This hints at a lasting change in consumer behavior as casino patrons have made these newer products part of their regular casino experience.

Nongaming resort amenities are also becoming a larger part of the casino experience. In the first quarter of 2023, we saw rooms, food & beverage and entertainment revenue grow while casino revenue was down slightly. Even with internet gaming growing in popularity, the resort experience, with a diverse offering of dining and entertainment options, is something that consumers seem to be demanding more of 鈥 and operators are planning to supply more of based on recent investments in their properties.  

As noted in April, Atlantic City鈥檚 operators are right at the beginning of what is expected to be an important summer season. In future reports from the DGE we look forward to seeing how recent investment in casino properties, increases in personnel costs and changing customer behavior in response to regional competition impact the industry鈥檚 profitability and the balance of gaming and nongaming revenue streams.

 

Atlantic City Gaming Win & Total Casino Revenue

Source:

Monthly Revenue (Casino Licensees, $ In Thousands

May 2023

% Change from Prior Year May 2022 YTD

May 2023

% Change from Prior Year YTD May 2022
Total Gaming Win (includes Internet & Sports Wagering) $423,412 8.4% $390,500 $2,048,263 10.3% $1,856,989
Sports Wagering Revenue $34,654 61.5% $21,460 $152,630 61.3% $94,623
Internet Gaming Win $161,412 18.7% $136,016 $781,520 14.7% $681,381
Casino Gaming Win $227,347 -2.4% $233,024 $1,114,112 3.1% $1,080,986
Quarterly Revenue (Industry, $ In Thousands)** Q1 2023 % Change from Prior Year Q1 2022 YTD March 31, 2023 % Change from Prior Year YTD March 31, 2022
Casino $419,324 -6.5% $448.34 $419,324 -6.5% $448.34
Rooms $139,649 17.0% $119.40 $139,649 17.0% $119.40
Food & Beverage $129,135 24.5% $103.71 $129,135 24.5% $103.71
Entertainment & Other $68,530 32.5% $51.73 $68,530 32.5% $51.73
Casino Licensees Total Revenue $756,638 4.6% $723.18 $756,638 4.6% $723.18
Gross Operating Profit (GOP) $135,436 -14.8% $159.02 $135,436 -14.8% $159.02

** Data agregated from New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement for individual properties, includes amended totals as of April 13, 2023. May not match totals from which represent a 'snapshot' of data at the time of publication and are not retroactively updated. 


Atlantic City Hotel Lodging

Source:

Casino Hotel Lodging Statistics
For the Period Ended
March 31, 2023 & 2022
Q1 2023 Q1 2022 YTD 2023 YTD 2022
Occupancy percentage 65.18% 63.05% 65.18% 63.05%
Average Daily Room Rate (ADR) $156.52 $152.20 $156.52 $152.20
Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR)* $102.02 $95.96 $102.02 $95.96

* RevPAR= ADR X Occupancy Percentage


Atlantic City Statistical Transportation Data

Source:

Travel Mode April
2023
Change
from Prior
Year
April
2022
YTD April
2023
Change
from Prior
Year

 

YTD April
2022

AC Expressway
Total Toll-Paying Traffic
Pleasantville Toll Plaza
1,341,194 -2.9% 1,381,021  5,176,401  3.8% 4,985,484
AC Airport
Scheduled Service Passengers 74,640  1.0% 73,902 259,650 -2.5% 266,245 
Charter Passengers  11,533  -3.0% 11,894  35,433  -1.4% 35,927
Total Air Passengers 86,173  0.4% 85,796 295,083 -2.4% 302,172 

Atlantic City Meetings and Conventions Data

Source:

  May '23 May '22 % Change
from Prior Year
TOTAL
2023 YTD
TOTAL
2022 YTD
% Change
from Prior Year
Conventions/Tradeshows/Meetings*
# of Shows 6 9 -33% 37 36 3%
# of Room Nights 10,228 12,138 -16% 56,846 52,982 7%
# of Delegates 55,244 53,136 4% 318,920 256,849 24%
Delegate Spending $11,236,694 $11,064,576 2% $68,620,331 $68,620,331 34%
Boardwalk Hall Bookings
# of Shows 4 5 -20% 16 14 14%
# of Attendees 29,634 29,634 1% 95,461 84,594 13%
Hotel Bookings
# of Shows 11 18 -39% 49 54 -9%
# of Room Nights 8,973 10,763 -17% 34,648 41,034 -16%
# of Attendees** 6,225 9,235 -33% 33,842 56,758 -40%
Delegate Spending $5,283,502 $5,492,870 -4% $21,167,475 $26,935,930 -21%
Monthly Totals
# Convs_Trade_Mtgs / Boardwalk Hall / Hotel 21 32 -34% 102 104 -2%
# of Room Nights 19,201 22,901 -16% 91,494 94,016 -3%
# of Attendees 91,103 91,816 -1% 448,223 398,201 13%
Delegate Spending $16,520,196 $16,557,446 0% $89,787,806 $78,065,292 15%

Notes:

*Includes Visit Atlantic City events booked at Boardwalk Hall

**January 2023 vs January 2022 Hotel Attendee variance is due to an event moved from hotel venue in 2022 to Boardwalk Hall* in 2023


LIGHT Snapshots is a publication of the Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality & Tourism, 91视频 School of Business
Jane Bokunewicz, Ph. D., Faculty Director and Associate Professor of Hospitality

Atlantic City Information

Atlantic City Chamber, Casino Association to commission traffic study - As reported by , the Casino Association of New Jersey and the Greater Atlantic City Chamber are commissioning an independent traffic study to examine the impact on Atlantic Avenue of a proposed 'Road Diet.'

Ribbon cut on new 91视频 residence hall in Atlantic City - On May 3, 91视频 celebrated the official opening of a new 135,000 square-foot, 416-bed residential facility in Atlantic City. Read the University news release

Sister Jean's Kitchen, closed in 2019, set to reopen - As reported by , Sister Jean's Kitchen, closed in 2019 due to issues related to their original location at Victory First Presbyterian Church, is set to reopen Fall 2023 in the Fellowship Hall of Sister Monica's Parish Church located at 108 N. Pennsylvania Ave. Sister Jean's Kitchen operated by the nonprofit organization, Friends of Jean Webster, continues the longtime mission of its namesake to serve hot meals to the homeless of Atlantic City. 

91视频 to offer undergraduate degree in Esports Management -  On May 10, 91视频 announced it will offer a new Bachelor of Science in Esports Managementwith classes begining Fall 2023. Additional reporting from . 

New Jersey Gaming News

Atlantic City's first casino, Resorts Casino Hotel, celebrates 45th Anniversary - According to a from Resorts Casino Hotel, the property celebrated its 45th anniversary on May 26 with the Annual Opening of the Sea and . Further reporting by . 

Borgata completes $55 million renovation, opens rebranded MGM Tower in time for 20th Anniversary - As reported by and , Borgata has completed a $55 million renovation and rebranding of The Water Club as MGM Tower. Completion of the project coincides with the 20th anniversary of the opening of Borgata on July 2, 2003. 

Kindred launches in New Jersey - As reported by , on May 10, Kindred that its proprietary tech platform had gone live in New Jersey. The company described the new platform as an 鈥渋mportant鈥 step in rolling out the enhanced offering throughout all its gambling services in the U.S.

91视频 91视频 train with Bally's Atlantic City - As reported by , 17 91视频 91视频 are participating in Bally's dealer training program as part of the Stockton Atlantic City Summer Experience: Live, Work, Learn. The Live, Work, Learn program, now in its second year, connects 91视频 91视频 with Atlantic City businesses for on-the-job learning experiences. 

Stockton Atlantic City Summer Experience: Live-Work-Learn

 National Gaming News

NCAA releases results of college sports betting survey - According to a May 24 , the NCAA commissioned Opinion Diagnostics to conduct a survey of Sports Betting Activities among United States residents between the ages of 18 and 22. According to published 58% of survey respondents reported engaging in at least one sports betting activity. 67% of 91视频 living on college campuses were bettors and tended to bet with greater frequency. Among U.S. residents 18-22, 16% reported having engaged in at least one risky behavior and 6% reported that they have previously lost more than $500 on sports betting in a single day. Further reporting by

New York State/Seneca Nation reach new 20-year gaming compact agreement - As reported by , representatives of the Seneca Nation and New York state reached a new Class III gaming compact agreement that will allow the tribe to continue operating its three casinos (Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino, Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino and Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino) for at least annother 20 years. 

Pennsylvania passes sports betting handle milestone - According to , with the addition of $572.1 million in handle for April 2023, Pennsylvania has become the fifth U.S. state to surpass $21 billion in all-time sports betting handle. Pensylvania is currently ranked fifth in all-time sports betting handle behind (as of April) New Jersey ($37.5 billion), Nevada ($31.9 billion), New York ($22 billion) and Illinois ($21.6 billion). 

Resorts World Las Vegas submits plans for own Convention Center - As reported by , Resorts World Las Vegas submitted plans to Clark County for a large convention center on the northwest corner of its property. The new facility would be 370,000 square-feet with 70% dedicated to convention and public space. 

Tennessee passes sports betting handle tax - According to , beginning July 1, Tennessee will replace the current 20% tax on sports betting gross gaming revenue with a 1.85% tax on sports betting handle. The state will become the first in the nation to tax based on handle rather than gross gaming revenue. . Additional reporting from .

Wagering on Kentucky Derby reached new record - According to , wagering on the Kentucky Derby set a new record with $188.7 million in total handle - $10 million more than last year's previous record of $179 million. 

Hospitality & Tourism News

Atlantic City to host national indoor pickleball tournament - Visit Atlantic City that the USA Pickleball Indoor National Championships will be held at the Atlantic City Convention Center from September 19-23, 2023. The 2022 tournament, held at the Finley Center in Hoover, Alabama, saw 704 total participants. Further reporting by , 

Beach Replentishment work finishes in Avalon, Stone Harbor next - As reported by , a federal project to add 600,000 cubic yards of sand to Avalon beaches has finished. Stone Harbor will be the next town to have beaches rebuilt. 

Consumers sue Atlantic City casino hotels, allege conspiracy to raise room rates - As reported by , on May 9, two New Jersey residents filed a lawsuit naming several Atlantic City casino hotels and a Florida-based hospitality technology company Cendyn Group LLC, which sells the pricing algorithm platform the properties use, alleging a conspiracy to raise room rates. Further reporting from . 

New Jersey Division of Travel & Tourism releases 2022 Economic Impact Report - On May 11, the New Jersey Division of Travel & Tourism released the . According to the report, prepared by Tourism Economics, "Visitors to New Jersey spent $45.4 billion in 2022, an increase of 22% over the prior year. Visitor volumes increased 19% as strong room demand bolstered the overnight travel sector. Visitor volumes reached 99% of 2019 levels in 2022."