As the 2025 holiday season reaches its peak, the Atlantic City casino industry is reinforcing its commitment to the region through a massive wave of charitable donations, volunteerism, and community partnerships.
From multimillion-dollar corporate giving to hands-on service at local food pantries, the nine casino properties—represented by the Casino Association of New Jersey (CANJ)—are addressing critical issues including food insecurity, youth development, and homelessness.
“Atlantic City is our home, and we are committed to showing up for our neighbors during the holidays and throughout the year,” Mark Giannantonio, president of the CANJ said. “Philanthropy remains a priority, and we’re grateful for our team members who consistently devote their time and resources to strengthen the community.”
The industry’s collective financial impact in 2025 has reached significant milestones, with several properties reporting record-breaking charitable totals:
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Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City: Through the resort and its Boardwalk 1000 Foundation, the property and its guests have donated over $1 million to local charities in 2025 alone.
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Caesars Entertainment Atlantic City Resorts: Caesars, Harrah’s Resort, and Tropicana have combined to donate over $315,000 to local organizations this year.
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Ocean Casino Resort: Total giving for 2025 is expected to exceed $280,000, with team members contributing over 750 volunteer hours.
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Resorts Casino Hotel: Donated more than $175,000 in 2025 to a wide array of organizations, including the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City and the American Cancer Society.
Addressing hunger remains a primary focus for the industry. This holiday season, the casinos collectively donated over 1,200 turkeys to ensure local families could celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Specific hunger-relief highlights include:
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Borgata Hotel & Casino: Donated $100,000 to help Jewish Family Service launch a new Mobile Pantry, bringing resources directly to underserved neighborhoods. They also provided a $25,000 direct donation to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ).
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Golden Nugget Atlantic City: Prepared and served a holiday feast for Career Opportunity Development, Inc (CODI) and provides ongoing sponsorship for Shore Medical Center.
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Bally’s Atlantic City: Team members partnered with the Salvation Army to serve Thanksgiving meals and donated 100 turkeys specifically to Atlantic Cape Community College students.
Investment in local youth remains a cornerstone of the industry’s philanthropic strategy:
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Shoes That Fit: Borgata and MGM Resorts awarded a $15,000 grant that provided brand-new sneakers to 530 students at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School Complex.
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Toys for Tots & Kelly’s Kidz: Hard Rock, Bally’s, and the Caesars properties have collected thousands of toys to be distributed to children at St. Christopher’s Hospital and through the Marine Corps’ annual toy drive.
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Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City: Received major support from Resorts ($30,000), Golden Nugget, and Ocean Casino Resort, which is selling specialty ornaments to benefit the club.
The “Gifts of Light” program, spearheaded by Caesars Entertainment, focuses on seniors in long-term care, hosting holiday karaoke and delivering personalized gifts to residents at Villa Raffaella Assisted Living and Complete Care.
Additionally, Hard Rock supported Wreaths Across America Day with a $1,000 donation to ensure local veterans’ lives are honored with wreaths placed at Atlantic County cemeteries.
