Tax Revenue From Hotels on Rise in Atlantic City

Atlantic City officials say efforts to pull in visitors through non-gambling attractions are paying off.

New figures show luxury tax revenues were up 12 percent in 2012 to $35.5 million, an all-time high. They were also up in three of the first four months of the year.

The luxury tax is collected on hotel rooms, show tickets, alcohol sold by the glass and beach chair rentals.

Gambling revenues are still key to the Atlantic City economy, and they are down for the seventh straight year.

But the head of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, Matthew Levinson, tells The Press of Atlantic City the rise in luxury tax revenue is a "huge positive."

He says it shows people are spending money on things other than slot machines.

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