Atlantic City casinos rebound in May with $265 million in revenue as summer season begins

Atlantic City’s casino industry posted a strong performance in May 2025, generating $265.3 million in in-person gaming revenue across its nine casinos, according to figures released Monday by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.

The number shows a 10.9% increase from the $239.1 million recorded in May 2024, and a 20% rise from April 2025’s total of $211 million, marking the industry’s best monthly showing of the year.

Statewide, total gaming revenue, including casinos, racetracks, and their online partners, reached $614.7 million in May, up 20.5% year-over-year. Internet gaming hit an all-time monthly high, bringing in $246.8 million, a 28.5% increase from May 2024. Sports wagering also saw a boost, rising 30.2% to $102.5 million.

Casino Control Commission Chairman James T. Plousis said the results provide a solid base heading into the peak summer season. “Visitation to Atlantic City was stable with casino win surpassing internet gaming win for the first time this year,” he stated. “May provided a strong foundation for positive momentum during the summer season.”

Year-to-date, total gaming revenue in New Jersey stood at $2.74 billion through the end of May, an increase of 6.6% compared to the same period in 2024. Retail casino revenue reached $1.12 billion, narrowly trailing online gaming, which has brought in $1.16 billion so far this year.

Jane Bokunewicz, director of the Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality and Tourism (LIGHT) at Stockton University, noted that an extra Saturday and favorable weather may have contributed to the surge.

“A little sunshine and an extra Saturday helped Atlantic City’s casino operators realize the best single-month brick-and-mortar gross gaming revenue in the year-to-date and the best May return in recent years,” she said.

The May 2025 figures mark a notable improvement not only over recent years but also against pre-pandemic benchmarks. In comparison, May revenue in 2019 was $222.9 million, and in 2018 it stood at $193.3 million.

While online casinos have remained strong in the post-pandemic era, the return of warm weather and seasonal tourism is expected to favor brick-and-mortar establishments in Atlantic City in the months ahead. Industry observers project monthly revenue to hover around $300 million during the summer, potentially giving retail casinos a lead over their digital counterparts.