Recent drops in in-person playing income at Atlantic City casinos has left on line casino employee union management concerned about the industry.
Unite Here Local 54 President Donna DeCaprio, representing the town’s largest group of on line casino staff, instructed the Press of Atlantic City that “alarm bells should be ringing in Atlantic City and in Trenton” over declining in-person tourism on the state’s casinos.
DeCaprio added that February’s income report “confirms what those of us have been warning about over the past year — that attendance in our brick-and-mortar buildings is going in the wrong direction. It is incredibly troubling to see that six of the nine gaming properties have posted declines of casino-win compared to February 2023 and year-to-date compared to 2023.”
Sounding The Alarm
The state’s 9 casinos reported stay gaming income of $211.6 million for February, down 1.6% from $215 million final 12 months. Year-to-date income is at $416.3 million, additionally down 2.4% in comparison with $426.6 million in 2023.
This is in distinction to on-line gaming, which reached $182.3 million in February, progress of 27.9% in comparison with $142.6 million in February 2023. DeCaprio stated the falling in-person numbers not solely have an effect on union members but in addition the area’s financial system as a complete.
“As lawmakers continue to proceed with the annual state budget process, representatives in the New Jersey Legislature must understand the perilous economic situation at hand for my members, and indeed all workers in Atlantic City,” DeCaprio stated. “Not only is the overall in-person revenue troubling — but the size of the declines at some of the individual properties portends some serious instability for thousands of workers. The legislators need to take this into consideration as they consider policies that could compound the downward trends.”
Some legislators and people within the trade argue that strikes like utterly banning smoking in New Jersey casinos may damage the trade much more at a time when casinos are already shedding enterprise.
“This is not the time to enact laws, such as a full smoking ban, that will further erode customer visitation and revenues to our properties,” Casino Association of New Jersey President Mark Giannantonio instructed the Press. “It is time for the City of Atlantic City and the State of New Jersey, in its oversight capacity over the City, to address the issues that are preventing economic growth and develop solutions that will increase visitation to Atlantic City.”
