Casinos in Atlantic City would have been up 11% last month — were it not for the big, fat zero that is Trump Taj Mahal in same-store revenue comparisons. Instead, they were dead even with June 2016, redeemed 
only by a 23.5% catapult in Internet gambling revenue, but not helped by an extra weekend day. Incremental variances aside, slot and table revenues were flat on the whole. One place they weren’t was Borgata, up 7% to $64 million. Table revenue rose 13% on 6.5% higher wagering and slot handle and winnings were up 5% each. Putting the best face on the data, New Jersey Casino Control Commission Chairman Matthew Levinson said, “These are solid numbers that show that casinos are attracting more business and increasing their market. Gaming revenue for the current operators has now increased every month this year compared to last year. So far this year, total gaming win at the seven casinos is up 11.1 percent, with six of the current seven operators outperforming last year.”
The only revenue-negative casino was Caesars Atlantic City ($25 million, -2%). By contrast, Bally’s seems to have finally found its footing, up 7.5% to $18 million and Harrah’s Resort booked $31.5 million (+14%). Resorts Atlantic City brought up the rear with $17 million, up 11%, while Tropicana Atlantic City outperformed everyone, leaping 20.5% ($28.5 million). It also bought the adjacent Chelsea Hotel, which it will use to offer a boutique-hotel amenity, moving up in the world. Golden Nugget slipped behind Bally’s, grossing $18 million, which was still a gain of 15%.
* MGM Grand Detroit ($48.5 million) continues to lose market share, down 2% last month. MotorCity was up 6% (to $38 million) and Jack Detroit gained 5%, finishing at $26.5 million.
* Sheldon Adelson‘s flirtations with politics are having very mixed results. “He’s spent a lot of money that has not born a big return on investment,” says Nevada pundit Jon Ralston. Silver State voters 
recently blew Adelson a big raspberry, legalizing recreational marijuana. His congressional push against online gambling is comatose, with Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R) and Attorney General Jeff Sessions out of the picture. And he got outfoxed by the Oakland Raiders on their Las Vegas stadium deal. But it’s not been all bad: His ties with Donald Trump got him a face-to-face with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. And the spread of Internet gambling at the state level seems to be deadlocked.
Perhaps the worst burn Adelson has suffered is merely collateral damage. He’s been deposed in an investigation of BFF Benjamin Netanyahu‘s alleged attempt to extort better coverage from a Tel Aviv newspaper in exchange for throttling distribution of Adelson’s Haaretz. (The newspaper ironically known as “The voice of Bibi.”) So even an ogre like Adelson can generate some sympathy from time to time.
