Atlantic City casino revenue up nearly 1 percent in November

Atlantic City's eight casinos saw their winnings increase by less than 1 percent in November, but it would have been a down month had it not been for a big boost from Internet gambling.

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Figures released Monday by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement show the casinos took in $204.3 million in November, an increase of 0.9 percent from Nov. 2014.

They also show how precarious the resort's casino market remains as it struggles to find its balance after the closure of four of the city's 12 casinos last year. The figures were released just three days after New Jersey state Senate President Steve Sweeney unveiled plans for a statewide referendum on whether to approve two new casinos in the northern part of the state -- something long opposed by the casino industry here and by southern New Jersey elected officials who fear it will harm an already damaged market.

The amount of money won from gamblers at brick-and-mortar casinos was down 1.4 percent, but that was offset by an increase of more than 51 percent in online gambling revenue. Internet gambling brought in $13.2 million in November, compared with $8.7 million in November 2014.

Matt Levinson, chairman of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, credited "a healthy increase in Internet gambling" for turning a potential negative month into a positive one. He said November would have been even better had it not been for a small decrease in slot machine revenue, and an unfavorable calendar this year: November had four Saturdays this year compared with five last year.

The Tropicana was up 10.4 percent to $25.5 million; Resorts was up 4.4 percent to $12.5 million; the Golden Nugget was up 3.8 percent to $18.5 million; and the Borgata was up 3.4 percent to $61.2 million.

The Trump Taj Mahal, which is waiting to emerge from bankruptcy court, was down 12.8 percent to $12.8 million; Bally's, which is also in bankruptcy, was down 11.7 percent to $15.2 million; and its sister property Caesars, which also is under Chapter 11 protection, was down 5 percent to $24.3 million. Harrah's was down 3 percent to $30.1 million.

Among Internet gambling operators, Borgata retained the top spot at $4.1 million, while Tropicana took over the No. 2 spot at $2.9 million. Caesars Interactive won $2.7 million, an increase of more than 147 percent from a year ago, and the Golden Nugget won $2.2 million. Resorts Digital won $1.2 million as it ramps up its online operation in anticipation of the launch next year of its affiliate PokerStars.

So far this year, the casinos have won $2.37 billion, a decrease of 7.1 percent from the first 11 months of 2014.