Big month for Atlantic City; Wanna be president?

Casino gambling revenue in Atlantic City was up 5%, to $258 million, last month and Internet gaming revenues pole-vaulted 39%, exceeding $17 million. Higher coin-in at the slots translated into a 3% growth in one-armed banditry while a 7% increase in table play, borgata_exterior_sunsetcombined with a little good luck for the house, meant an 11.5% revenue uptick. Borgata grossed $81 million, a 12.5% gain, far overshooting Deutsche Bank‘s projection ($65 million). Table play was 10% higher and players lost big, with Borgata raking in 22% more than last year. Slot play was up 6% and the house had a winning edge, banking 8% more coin-in. (I’m telling ya, Boyd Gaming, you’re going to be sorry you sold your half of this piggy bank.) Borgata continues to hold the largest share of hotly contested Internet play, with the unlikely runner up being the Golden Nugget. With or without PokerStars, they’re still an also-ran at Resorts Digital, stuck firmly at the back of the pack.

Unite-Here Local 54‘s strike relegated Trump Taj Mahal to the bottom rung of the ladder, down 8% to $17.5 million. Some business must have migrated to Resorts Atlantic City, up 6% to $18 million and finally out of last place. What Tropicana Entertainment lost with one hand (at the Taj), it made up with the other at the Tropicana Atlantic City, up 14% to $33 million. Low-rollers were avoiding Bally’s, though, as it fell 5% to $22 million. Caesars Atlantic City outperformed the Caesars Entertainment trio, up almost 8% to $32 million. I guess somebody in the Marina District had to suffer for Borgata’s success and that somebody was Harrah’s Resort, uncharacteristically down (-5%) though still grossing a Caesars-best $34 million. The nearby Golden Nugget had a nice 6% bounce, though, pulling in $21 million. It would be a shame if New Jersey voters opened the northern tier of the state to casino gambling just when Atlantic City is righting itself.

* Want to be president of Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino? Current prexy Rob Kunkle is leaving Paragon Gaming (and, by extension, the Westgate) to try his fortunes elsewhere. Westgate’s response has been to throw the search for a new prez open to the general public. Mail your resume to Human Resources at 3000 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas, NV, 89109 or e-mail it here.

* Demolition and relocation of certain structures being complete, MGM Resorts International is beginning construction of MGM Springfield. That 2018 opening feels like forever distant but this is no small endeavor, encompassing three city blocks. To cite just one statistic, the complex will have 22 discrete entrances. Besides, since MGM Springfield is being built in a historically sensitive area, this is a job not to be rushed.

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