Brands: Nine Casino

Mark Giannantonio has been president and CEO of Resorts casino since 2012. He succeeds Joe Lupo, who is leaving to run the Mirage casino in Las Vegas. Gianantonios takes the reigns amid a crucial summer season for Atlantic City's casino industry. The industry's profitability increased in the first quarter of this year compared to before COVID-19. However, only four of the nine casinos individually reported higher gross operating profits. All nine have reached new contracts with the industry’s main employee union in recent weeks.

Antonio City casinos want to strike a middle ground between anti-smoking and pro-smoking campaigners. Many casinos fear that prohibiting smoking on-site will turn away well-heeled gamblers.

There is an impasse between Atlantic City casino workers who want a smoking ban and gambling executives who fear it would hurt business and cost jobs. A bill that would end smoking in the casinos has sat untouched in New Jersey's state Legislature for months.

Outdoor gambling may be a partial solution to the impasse between smokers and casino workers. A bill that would end smoking in the casinos has been introduced but has not had a hearing. The Casino Association of New Jersey opposes a smoking ban.

Supporters of a ban on smoking at Atlantic City casinos gathered at the United Auto Workers office in Linwood, about 10 miles west of Atlantic city. They are hoping to get a smoking ban bill passed before the New Jersey legislative session. They also want to avoid following Maryland's lead in permitting smoking in outdoor areas. Chris Moyer of Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights and Corrine Orlando of the American Heart Association warn against that approach.

Resorts casino reached an agreement with Atlantic City's main casino workers union on Wednesday. Housekeeping employees will see their pay increase to $22 per hour at the end of the four-year contract. Golden Nugget casino is the only one without a new labor agreement. The union reached agreements on new contracts with the Borgata, Caesars, Harrah's, Tropicana, and Hard Rock. Bally's and the Ocean Casino Resort agreed to adopt the terms of contracts reached by some of larger properties in the city.

All nine Atlantic City retail casinos averted strikes in July. 10,000 workers now have new contracts. The final two casinos will have a union contract ratification vote on August 4.

Resorts casino reached an agreement with Atlantic City's main casino workers union on Wednesday. Housekeeping employees will see their pay increase to $22 per hour at the end of the four-year contract. Golden Nugget is the only casino without a new labor agreement. The union has authorized a strike on July 30 if a contract is not reached with Golden Nugget. The other casinos agreed to adopt the terms of contracts reached by some of them.

NJ online casino revenue is still going strong in 2022. Online gaming revenue for New Jersey accounts for 33% of the total revenue so far ($2.43 billion) for the state's casino industry. The total gaming revenues for 2022 was $401.5 million, up from $8.7 million in 2021. It's expected that total revenues would fall in the summer for casinos based on a myriad of factors, including summer weather and New NJ's Shore vacation spots.

New Jersey's nine casino hotel properties enjoyed good results last month.

June's gaming revenue reported by casinos, racetracks and their partners was $401.5 million. Year-to-date, total gaming revenues reported was $2.43 billion. Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa earned nearly $54.3 million, followed by Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, which made $44.6 million in June. Internet gaming win reported for June was 24.4% higher than for the previous month. The summer season is still ahead of us. The industry does not have the benefit of the pent-up demand that motivated much of last summer’s activity.

The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement released the financial results for the first quarter of 2022. The casinos and their online arms collectively posted a gross operating profit of $155.6 million. Borgata, Hard Rock, Ocean and Tropicana were individually more profitable this past quarter than they were at the start of 2019. Caesars saw $10. 6 million, ahead of Golden Nugget, which saw $5.5 million and Resorts earned $536,000. Ocean had the highest average room rate at $209, while Golden Nugget had lowest at

The last labor strike at an Atlantic City casino closed the Trump Taj Mahal in September 2016. The union Unite Here Local 54 is threatening to strike five of the city's nine casinos. A walkout is tentatively scheduled for Friday at industry leader Borgata and at Caesars Entertainment properties Caeres, Hard Rock and Tropicana. Bally's and Ocean agree to abide by whatever deals are struck elsewhere. Resorts and Golden Nugget are in the Yellow Zone. Other casinos are facing a deadline.

Unite Here Local 54 members voted overwhelmingly to authorize a July 1 strike against Borgata, Caesars, Harrah's, and Tropicana, as well as a possible July 3 strike at Hard Rock. The union is demanding better wages and a reduction in inflationary pressures.

Atlantic City Retail Casino Workers Vote to Strike. About 96% of them are in favor of hitting picket lines. If the strike goes ahead, it will begin with four casinos on July 1 and then more casinos may join later.

The Local 54 branch of the Unite Here trade union has voted in favor of authorizing a full-blown strike against the city's collection of nine casinos. 96% of those who voted voted to give the union's negotiating committee the right to call a strike next month if no progress on desired ‘significant’ salary increases be reached.

The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement announced the May 2022 total gaming revenue results today.

Union members of Local 54 of the Unite Here union will vote on Wednesday on whether to authorize a strike against Atlantic City's nine casinos. The union is seeking significant wage increases to help workers deal with financial setbacks caused by the coronavirus pandemic and rapidly rising prices. Union went on strike in 2004 for 34 days and walked out against the former Trump Taj Mahal casino in July 2016. It has since reopened under different ownership as the Hard Rock. The casinos and their online partners are collectively making more money now than before the pand epidemic hit.

The workers union in Atlantic City will vote on Wednesday to call a strike against the city's casinos and some of the biggest employers.

The union representing Atlantic City's casino workers will vote on Wednesday on whether to authorize a strike against the city's casinos. The union's contract with the casinos expired nearly two weeks ago. Union wants "significant" wage increases in the next contract to help workers deal with financial setbacks caused by the coronavirus pandemic and rising prices. The casinos and their online partners are collectively making more money now than before the pand epidemic hit. They say that in-person revenue won from gamblers is the crucial metric. It's not all the casino have surpassed their pre-pandemic levels. A strike could happen during the July 4 holiday weekend.

The Unite Here union's local 54 will vote on Wednesday whether to authorize a strike against Atlantic City's casinos. The union is two weeks past contract expiration and hasn't reached a new agreement with the casinos yet. If the vote goes in favor of the union, it will give the negotiating committee the power to call a walkout. No target date has been set, but the July 4 holiday weekend is a good one for a possible walk out. Union is seeking significant wage increases to help workers deal with financial setbacks caused by the coronavirus pandemic and rising prices. The casinos and their online partners are collectively making more money now than before the pand epidemic hit.

Borgata made the biggest first-quarter profit of $45.9 million in Atlantic City casinos. The total profits for the nine casinos is higher than any first quarter in the previous eight years. In 2019, with the new Hard Rock and Ocean casinos not even a year old, firstquarter profits were $87 million.

No smoking is still prohibited on the casino floor at Rivers Casino Philadelphia. People can smoke on Jack's Bar patio or outside designated entrances.

The main casino workers union in Atlantic City has warned of a possible labor dispute if there is no agreement on soon-to-expire casino contracts. The current deadline to sign new contracts is May 31. Unite Here Local 54 wants to secure “significant” wage increases as part of the new contract.

Atlantic City casinos reported nearly $235.3 million in in April. That's up 24% from 2021 and 13% since 2019. It's the sixth time since November 2021 that monthly land-based gambling revenues collectively reported by the industry were higher than before COVID-19 forced a 107-day shut down in 2020.

Chicago is in a hurry to approve a $1.7 billion casino deal. Chicago CFO testified that the city loses $1000 million per day in revenue without a functioning casino. Joliet has had a double casino payday for nearly three decades. In northwest Indiana, officials in Gary and Lake County have reacted to recent developments in Chicago. The first casino in Illinois opened May 4, 1993. It was called the Empress. Now it's owned by Hollywood Casino. They also own the naming rights to Tinley Park’s outdoor amphitheater. In Gary, the officials reacted by delaying the casino approval.

Unite Here Local 54 represents over 10,000 Atlantic City casino employees. They want to be middle class. Bob McDevitt believes a significant wage raise is long needed.

Workers are confident about Atlantic City Casino Smoking Ban. New Jersey banned smoking in most indoor public spaces 16 years ago.

Atlantic County will not hear a case involving its share of a portion of annual effective tax dollars until April 25. The case involves the amount owed to the county by the city's nine casinos. It is also about the inclusion of mobile sports betting and online casino gaming in the gross gaming revenue figure that determines the PILOT. The change in definition of revenue could cost the County $3 million to $5 million per year.

Atlantic City casinos posted $212.4 million in February this year. In 2020, the gross gaming revenue was $218.3 million.

Land-based casino revenues in Atlantic City picked up in February. In-person gaming revenues are up 43% compared to the same month in 2021. The nine casinos operating in the city earned just over $212 million in that month.

Ocean Casino Resort is renovating its 12,000-square-foot Gallery section. The Gallery will feature a 100-ft elevated bar and lounge with 59 seats and a dozen slot machines. It will also replace the operation of its sportsbook with US Bookmaking and Vic Salerno. The renovation is expected to be complete by the summer.

The Gallery Bar, Book & Games will open at Ocean Casino Resort this summer. The 12,000-square-foot space will replace the casino's former sportsbook. It will feature sports betting, an elevated center bar, blackjack and roulette tables, three LED video walls and a mezzanine lounge.

New Jersey's casino tax law has a major flaw, a judge rules. The state legislature's attempt to change the terms of a consent order reached with Atlantic County in 2018 regarding payments by Atlantic City's nine casinos may be upended. A previous settlement directed 13.5% of the PILOT money from the casinos' gross gaming revenue to Atlantic county. New law exempts online casino gaming and mobile sports betting revenue.

There are efforts to ban smoking inside Atlantic City casinos. A recent study predicts such a move would cost jobs, revenue and state taxes. The report offers no opinion or recommendation whether smoking should be allowed on casino floors.

Atlantic City casino gambling revenue from tables and slots increased nearly 15% in January compared to a year prior. Online gambling revenues set another monthly record. The total amount gambled on sports is a new all-time high in New Jersey.

Bill Callahan is promoted to the newly created position of general manager at Atlantic City's Ocean Casino Resort. He joined the company in July 2020 as senior vice president of hospitality and was promoted in November 2021 to executive vice-president of the hospitality department. New Jersey regulators approved a deal to sell half of Ocean to Ilitch family, which owns professional sports teams, a nationwide pizza chain and a casino in Detroit. Ocean opened in 2012 as the former Revel casino.

In-person gambling revenues increased slightly in December, but were still down for the year. However, gains from online and sports betting pushed 2021’s total gambling revenue above $4 billion for first time since 2008.

The calendar has turned to 2022. Atlantic City casinos are still dealing with many of the same issues from 2021. The imminent launch of New York online sports betting and its ripple effects on New Jersey iGaming will be significant. Lawmakers in Trenton have their eyes on a few proposals that will affect Atlantic city casinos and the seaside resort.

Travis Lunn is the new president and chief operating officer of Atlantic City's Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa. Lunna has worked in Las Vegas at MGM Grand, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, The Venetian and The Palazzo.

The future of four casinos in Atlantic City hangs in the balance. The state Senate is debating whether to pass an Aid Bill. If the bill is not passed, four of the nine casinos could be closed. New Jersey's online casino industry is worth close to $1.5 billion a year.

Atlantic City casinos have some big projects in the works for 2022.

The PILOT law for Atlantic City casinos was signed by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. A legal challenge is looming, but it won't involve casinos set to benefit from the PilOT.

There were declines in in-person money won from gamblers at Atlantic City casinos during November. The decline is due to a rise in online gambling and sports betting. Last year's 107-day closure forced many casinos to turn to internet gaming. In 2021, the industry will have to maintain national leadership in digital gaming while marketing Atlantic city as a resort with world-class attractions. The drop in land-based gaming revenue helped contribute to state lawmakers approving an amendment to the casino payment in lieu of tax agreement. Without the amendment, four of the city's casinos would have closed.

In the first year of online gambling in New Jersey, it made up 4.5% of the Atlantic City casino industry's gross gaming revenue bottom line. The annual growth has turned it into the controversy of 2021. Atlantic County officials filed a lawsuit that is headed for court hearing next month. It stems from passage of a casino tax break bill in the last days of state legislative session this month and Gov. Phil Murphy's signature.

Alabama voters may get the chance to decide on gambling in the state. Republican Senator Greg Albritton wants to introduce a constitutional amendment that would include a state lottery, a deal with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians and a yet-to-be-determined number of other gambling sites. The House proposal fizzled out. Lawmakers face primaries in May. Some members of Republican leadership doubt the proposal will pass. The past gambling legislation has failed under a mix of opposition from conservative lawmakers and turf wars over who would get lucrative casino licenses.

New state legislation gives tax breaks to Atlantic City casinos. It was signed into law by Gov. Phil Murphy on Tuesday night. The amount casinos will pay next year will be reduced by $55 million and likely between $30 million to $65 million annually through 2026.

The last chance for passage of the bill likely will come on Jan. 10. The process of getting bills through committee before reaching full votes in the Assembly and Senate must start all over again in new session. Governor Phil Murphy signed into law a subsidy to help the state’s three racetracks remain competitive with Pennsylvania and New York tracks. Chris Christie ended a $30 million annual subsidy paid by the Atlantic City casino industry to the tracks in exchange for a promise not to lobby for VLTs at the sites.

New Jersey lawmakers passed a bill on Monday that will give Atlantic City casinos multiple tax breaks. The bills are now waiting for Gov. Phil Murphy's signature. The Senate supported a measure that would add $3 to the room charge at Atlantic Beach casinos to fund public safety measures.

The bill S4007 is aimed at saving New Jersey casinos from closure. It passed both houses of the state legislature after a dramatic marathon voting session. The bill amends an existing payments in lieu of property taxes law. It allows gambling houses to make payments to Atlantic City, Atlantic County and the school system instead of paying property tax.

Atlantic City casinos are planning a New Year's Eve celebration. The casinos and racetracks saw better returns in 2021 than the year before. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos closed on March 16, 2020 and didn't let them reopen until July 2 the same year. In September, a state report showed Atlantic City’s casinos took in 31% more in August this year than they did a year earlier.

November's gaming revenue numbers show that Atlantic City casinos are still struggling. The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic and Ocean Casino Resort saw double-digit growth in revenue, but the other properties are down 22%. COVID-19 continues to have an adverse impact on the industry.