NJ Gamblers Flock to Atlantic City in Summer, Stay Online in Winter

When it comes to land-based gambling, New Jersey offers something that no other U.S. jurisdiction has. Not even Las Vegas can promote its beach, boardwalk, and Atlantic Ocean to visitors. Just to be clear, Atlantic City will never be in the same league as Las Vegas. Vegas is a year-round destination, while Atlantic City has struggled with figuring it out.

When it comes to gambling in the Garden State, NJ online casinos are doing record-setting business during the winter months. Atlantic City casino revenue, on the other hand, tends to be flat during these colder months. Between Fourth of July and Labor Day weekends, the action on AC gaming floors starts heating up because it's prime season.

Since the first Atlantic City casino opened in 1978, the New Jersey gambling landscape has changed drastically. These days there are more than two dozen legal real-money online casinos available to Garden State residents. Options like FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM casinos are becoming a better option than driving down the AC Expressway since slots and live dealer games can legally be played from the living room couch.

The March monthly revenue results from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE), help paint a picture that many NJ gamblers prefer gambling online versus at one of the nine AC casinos. Is this simply a seasonal thing? We take a deep dive into the numbers (although the Atlantic Ocean would be much more exciting) to answer the question.

Winter is primetime for NJ online casinos 

March 20 might’ve been the first day of spring, but the most recent DGE report paints a clear picture that NJ online casinos have yet to reach its ceiling. Total iGaming revenue came in at $272 million, which is 11.5% higher than the same period in 2025. It came just shy of breaking December’s monthly revenue record of $273.2 million. 

By comparison, Atlantic City’s land-based casinos earned $236.7 million, which was a 2.5% increase from March 2025. The MGM-operated Borgata Hotel Casino Spa once again led the AC market with $67.2 million, making it only one to outperform FanDuel or DraftKings levels. FanDuel Casino remains the market leader with $62.7 million followed by DraftKings Casino with $48.2 million.

The point that NJ online casinos outperform Atlantic City gaming floors during the winter months is even clearer when looking at year-to-date revenue results. The table below provides a comparison of the top-five performers from the two sectors. 

Atlantic City casinos have faced challenges before 

It’s no secret that the Atlantic City market has experienced its share of hard times. Who remembers 2014? That’s the year four of Atlantic City’s 12 casinos closed. Two of them - Trump Plaza and the Atlantic Club - are still closed 12 years later. The former Trump Plaza site was imploded in February 2021 and remains vacant today.

The former Atlantic Club, which Steve Wynn opened as the Golden Nugget back in 1980, has seen several companies pitch exciting plans ranging from indoor water parks to upscale condominiums. The building still sits vacant today.  Like the Monopoly board that's based on Atlantic City street names, there is prime oceanfront real estate available. 

However, the former Revel, another casino that closed in 2014, eventually reopened under new ownership. Today, Ocean Casino Resort ranks No. 3 behind Borgata and Hard Rock - the former Trump Taj Mahal site.

Ironically, 2013 was the year the New Jersey online casino industry launched. In November of that year, six operators simultaneously launched their online casino apps. Looking back, who would've thought that a little more than a decade later, these legal play-at-home platforms would eventually outperform the land-based gaming palaces?

While in-person slots and table games remain the bread and butter, Atlantic City casino operators get slices of the NJ online casino revenue pie. All Garden State iGaming operators are required to partner with a land-based property to gain market access.

Fourth of July kicks off Atlantic City’s prime season 

It's no secret that Atlantic City casinos do their biggest business during the summer months. Beaches are packed, beach bars are open for business, and as long as it's not raining, there’s heavy foot traffic walking the world-famous Boardwalk.

This is the time of year when hotel occupancy rates are also at their highest.

As far as Atlantic City’s seasonal business goes, the July 2025 revenue report supports the case. The nine AC gaming halls earned a combined $284.1 million, while NJ online casinos' revenue was $247.3 million.

The summer momentum continued in August 2025, when land-based properties collected $311.9 million, compared to $248.4 million for NJ online casinos. What really stood out with this result was the fact that it was the town’s strongest month since Atlantic City casinos reopened following the global pandemic.

Taking a closer look at the numbers, the land-based market saw a 6.1 year-over-year increase. The table below shows that six of the eight properties fared better than they did in August 2024. 

Will these New Jersey gambling trends continue?

One thing that seems to be crystal clear is that the New Jersey online casino industry is showing no signs of slowing down. Since December alone, the sector has seen revenue surpass $272 million twice, and those results currently hold the top two spots on the all-time board.

Atlantic City casinos are gearing up for another prime season, featuring new amenities, A-list entertainment, and, hopefully, great weather. Like every other summer, the slots and table revenue will tell the real story.