New report shows Atlantic City casinos at risk from gaming regulation changes

Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Arkansas all made progress toward expanded casino gambling, while the latter two may see additional changes via referendum in November.

Additional expansion in New Jersey would cannibalize Atlantic City casinos, potentially resulting in additional closures there, according to the report.

“The regulatory landscape casinos have contended with, in some cases for many years, is continuing to evolve,” says Alex Bumazhny, Senior Director. “As iGaming gains steam, daily fantasy sports rules develop and individual states consider expansion, Atlantic City is not the only jurisdiction contending with the swift changes.”

Voters will decide in a November referendum whether to approve as many as two North Jersey casinos. Since a 1976 referendum allowed casino gambling in Atlantic City, the resort has held New Jersey's monopoly on gaming.

In June, Fitch Ratings predicted that as many as four more Atlantic City properties could close if casino gambling comes to North Jersey.

In May, Mark Giannantonio, CEO of Resorts Casino Hotel, said three to five Atlantic City casinos would close "fairly immediately" upon opening of new casinos upstate.