While August is historically one of the strongest months of the year for Atlantic City’s resort properties, the market experienced a slight year-over-year cooling in August 2026, according to data released Wednesday by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) and analyzed by the Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality and Tourism (LIGHT) at Stockton University.
Total gaming revenue for casinos, racetracks, and their partners reached $615.7 million for the month, representing a 4.1% decrease compared to $642.2 million reported in August 2025. Despite the monthly dip, the industry remains ahead on a year-to-date basis, with total gaming revenue climbing 5.4% to $4.81 billion through the first eight months of the year.
Brian Tyrrell, faculty director of LIGHT, noted that the lackluster year-over-year comparison was largely predictable due to unique calendar and scheduling factors. August 2026 featured one less Friday than the previous August, a later Labor Day holiday (falling on Sept. 7 rather than Sept. 1), and a delayed start to the fall sports calendar, which impacted wagering volume.
The collective casino win for Atlantic City’s nine casino hotels dropped 5.5% to $294.9 million in August, down from $311.9 million in August 2025. However, traditional brick-and-mortar revenue has successfully crossed the $2 billion threshold for the year-to-date period, outpacing 2025’s pace.
Internet gaming win continued to act as a major pillar, rising 4.4% year-over-year to $259.3 million for August, bringing year-to-date iGaming totals to $2.13 billion. Conversely, sports wagering gross revenue dropped 25.0% to $61.4 million for the month, hampered by a later college football start and lower overall win percentages, alongside potential emerging pressures from prediction market trading.
Industry experts emphasize that gross gaming revenue (GGR) serves primarily as a reflection of total gaming activity—driven by a mix of organic consumer demand and promotional credits—rather than a direct indicator of net profitability, which continues to face headwinds from operational costs and promotional expenses.
