Atlantic City casino profits fall as two more casinos prep openings

Atlantic City casinos reported reduced profits in the first quarter of 2018, making next month’s arrival of two more casinos the last thing the market needs.

Figures released Tuesday by the New Jersey Casino Control Commission show the state’s seven casinos generated combined revenue of $599.2m and gross operating profit of $123.6m in the three months ending March 31.

Both figures represent declines from the same period last year, with revenue down 3.2% and operating profit falling 11.7%. All seven venues were in negative revenue territory, led by Caesars, which fell 16.5%. The profit plunge was largely due to two operators – Caesars and the market-leading Borgata – which were down 38% and 27%, respectively.

AC’s casinos were on a roll in 2017, with combined profit for the year rising nearly one-quarter from 2016, but the market suffered repeated bouts of inclement weather earlier this year that brought the gravy train to a screeching halt. Hotel occupancy was down 3.2 points to 77.9% in Q1, as customers apparently chose to stay home and patronize the state’s licensed online gambling sites (which set revenue records during Q1).