Although the casinos in Atlantic City were able to cue a chorus of woeful MSM headlines over last month’s gambling grosses, the Boardwalk actually did quite well. Revenues were up 5% year/year and 7% higher than in March 2019. What were down were sports betting revenues, slipping 4% despite a 30% surge in handle. Luck was not with the bookies. Before we get to that, the supposedly woebegone terrestrial casinos raked in $240 million, led by Borgata and its $56.5 million. The MGM Resorts International pleasure palace fell 8%, the only revenue-negative casino in town.
There was a tight contest for second place, pitting Hard Rock Atlantic City and its $44 million (+11%) against Ocean Casino Resort‘s $41 million (+17.5%). Could Borgata be finally showing its 21-year age? Or are players put off by the penny-pinching regime that evidently came in when Travis Lunn left. The Caesars Entertainment threesome put in a good showing, led by Harrah’s Resort ($21 million, 2%), which was followed by Tropicana Atlantic City ($20 million, 2.5%) and Caesars Atlantic City ($18.5 million, 8%). As for the grind joints, Golden Nugget (11.5%) busted out of last place and past Resorts Atlantic City (6%), $14 million to $13.5 million. That left Bally’s Atlantic City to bring up the rear with $12 million and an 11% leap. So, unless you’re an MGM exec, there’s a great reason to celebrate.
Internet casinos added a whopping $197 million, a 19% leap. DraftKings led with $49 million but close behind were BetMGM with $42 million and FanDuel with $43 million. Way back were BetRivers ($7 million), Hollywood Casino ($3 million) and Fanatics ($1 million). All other operators combined for $31.5 million. Sports betting brought in $90 million on $1.3 billion in handle. FanDuel was out front with $29.5 million, after which came Fanatics with an astonishing $20 million. DraftKings checked in with $17.5 million, BetMGM logged $6 million, ESPN Bet $4 million and Caesars Sportsbook $3.5 million. BetRivers was in sub-$1 million territory.
Elsewhere on the Boardwalk, Mayor Marty Small (D) made the front pages of the papers … and not in a good way. Mr. Small has been charged with terroristic threats, aggravated assault, disorderly conduct and assault. His wife La’Quetta rang up three counts of simple assault. Reports our Atlantic City bureau, “The mayor is alleged to have hit his daughter in the head with a broom multiple times until she lost consciousness. He didn’t take her to the hospital until three days later. His daughter took photos of her injuries and sent them to her boyfriend, who shared the photos with police detectives.” Small is also accused of threatening to throw his daughter down a flight of stairs. Atlantic City High School Principal Constance Days-Chapman is under arrest for having failed to respond to the daughter’s pleas for help. Give that woman an “F” for job performance.
Small’s attorney, Ed Jacobs, tested the credulity of the Atlantic City electorate by saying that the indictments wouldn’t impinge on Hizzoner’s ability to discharge his duties. He added, for theatrical effect, “Mayor Small and Superintendent LaQuetta Small are completely innocent of any wrongdoing and will ultimately be vindicated.” What is it about Atlantic City and its mayors? Most of the last bunch have wound up in the hoosegow. Don Guardian (R) performed the job with grace and was rewarded by being voted out of office, in favor of Small. Boy, did the voters screw the pooch (and themselves) that time. Still working on his comedy act, Jacobs pooh-poohed the entire unpleasantness as “challenges facing parents attempting to properly raise a teenage child.” He has some pretty twisted notions of proper parenting. Jacobs set great store by the fact that Mr. and Mrs. Small weren’t led away in handcuffs. We trust that’s coming soon.
The city by the sea is also experiencing issues involving its airport. It’s only served by troubled Spirit Airlines, which flies in six to 10 times a week. Well, forget that. On the heels of cashiering 260 pilots, Spirit is closing its base in Atlantic City. Added the airline, “Spirit is actively evaluating opening a new crew base in the Northeast to provide coverage from one of our larger cities, and we hope to be able to finalize a new crew base in the near future.” For the Boardwalk’s sake, let’s hope such finalization is imminent.
Getting back to the casinos, we were given a hint why the Golden Nugget performed so well last month. It “sent out a mailer for last Sat night for Elite level players. It was a cocktails and prizes event. When you walked in, they offered glasses of champagne so you didn’t have to wait at the bar. They also gave out thermal drink cups to the Elite members.” Bally’s tried to counterpunch but its “gifts” were leftovers from previous giveaways. Yes, the stuff nobody wanted earlier. With thinking like that, is it any wonder the Bally’s is floundering? Oh, yes, and the “food” was a cheese ball and crackers. Keep rolling out that red carpet, Bally’s.
A second visit to the Nugget wasn’t such a happy occasion. “We went to Michael Patrick’s coffee shop for lunch. We won’t make that mistake again. The casino was ‘lightly attended.'” A stay at Ocean Resort was much more impressive, not least for the quality of the hotel room (above). The casino floor (below) was being upgraded so that players can accept reward offers at any slot machine, an operation that was promised to take only 12 or 13 hours to complete. They started yesterday and are still at it today: “Each machine has to have the small two-by-three-inch screen replaced with a new screen. With the variety of machines and slot machine manufactures it appears it’s going to take a lot longer.” Hey, Ocean at least is trying harder, which can’t be said for some of its brethren.
