Propelled by continued strength in internet gaming, Atlantic City secured another year-over-year increase in total gross gaming revenue (GGR) for September 2026, according to figures released Monday by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.
However, the latest data—analyzed by Brian Tyrrell, faculty director of the Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality and Tourism (LIGHT) at Stockton University’s School of Business—highlights a complex month marked by soaring digital revenue, a sharp slump in physical casinos, and a downturn in sports betting.
Key September 2026 performance highlights
- Total Gaming Revenue: Reached $579.6 million statewide, marking a 2.8% increase compared to September 2025. Year-to-date total revenue stands at $5.39 billion, up 5.1%.
- Internet Gaming Win: Continued its dominant upward trajectory, surging 13.0% year-over-year to $274.8 million. Year-to-date internet gaming win reached $2.40 billion (a 13.2% increase).
- Casino Win (Brick-and-Mortar): Fell 1.3% to $227.8 million compared to September 2025. Despite the monthly setback, year-to-date casino win remains positive at $2.24 billion, a 1.4% increase.
- Sports Wagering Gross Revenue: Dropped 14.3% to $77.0 million compared to the previous September.
While internet gaming continues to break records, Atlantic City’s physical casino operations experienced an unexpected downturn. Following a strong summer run from May through July—some of the best brick-and-mortar returns since 2011—September delivered one of the worst physical casino performances in recent history.
On the bright side, slot machine GGR saw a notable 4.6% year-over-year increase, a shift potentially aided by unseasonably warm weather that extended throughout the month. This contrasted sharply with August’s 5.1% decline and last September’s drop. Yet, slot gains were ultimately insufficient to prevent an overall decline in brick-and-mortar revenue.
Statewide sports wagering saw significant declines in both win and handle, particularly for football, which represents the largest share of sportsbook activity. Tyrrell noted that this was largely driven by the professional and college football calendar featuring only three weekends of games in September 2026 compared to four weekends in September 2025.
Beyond the calendar shift, Tyrrell pointed to another emerging competitive pressure: prediction markets.
“If prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket are taking revenue off the board for regulated gaming operators in the state, we can expect to soon see (among other things) an impact on the state’s tax revenues and contributions to the Casino Revenue Fund,” Tyrrell warned, noting the critical role those funds play in supporting New Jersey’s most vulnerable residents.
Total Gross Revenue Taxes for the month reached $82.7 million, bringing year-to-date tax contributions to $756.8 million.
