Gaming revenue soars in Illinois, Atlantic City

Friday, Aug. 13, 1999 | 11:31 a.m.

SUN STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

Hot weather and big crowds of gamblers who wanted to get out of it created a good climate for New Jersey casinos last month.

They won $416.3 million from gamblers in July, the biggest one-month total in the history of New Jersey casino gambling, the state reported Thursday.

And in Illinois, riverboat casinos were bolstered by a new state law allowing them to stay docked as opposed to actually cruising in rivers. The law also eliminated specific "boarding times" that in the past limited when gamblers could enter casinos.

The state said Illinois casinos won a record $131.4 million in July -- topping the previous best month by about $20 million, the Chicago Tribune reported.

"It's mind-boggling," state Sen. Danny Jacobs told the Tribune. "We do have big-time gambling."

The New Jersey revenue, in the meantime, was an 8 percent increase over the same month last year. It surpassed the previous monthly record of $395 million set in August 1997.

Slot machine revenue was up 9.1 percent, to $297.1 million, while gamblers lost 5.4 percent more money at table games -- $119.2 million -- than they did last July, the state said.

For the year to date, the 12 casinos have won $2.4 billion from gamblers, a 4 percent increase over the first seven months of 1998.

Following are the New Jersey casinos, their revenue for July 1998, their revenue for July 1999 and the percentage change:

* Atlantic City Hilton: $25.6 million, $28.5 million, up 11.3 percent.

* Bally's Park Place: $43.9 million $51.9 million, up 18.1 percent.

* Caesars Atlantic City: $39.6 million, $46.2 million, up 16.6 percent.

* Claridge Casino Hotel: $14.8 million, $15.9 million, up 7.5 percent.

* Harrah's Casino Hotel: $33.5 million, $38.5 million, up 15 percent.

* Resorts Atlantic City: $22.7 million, $24.4 million, up 7.3 percent.

* Sands Hotel & Casino: $21.6 million, $22.1 million, up 2.2 percent.

* Showboat Casino Hotel: $32.9 million, $35.4 million, up 7.6 percent.

* Tropicana Casino and Resort: $36.3 million, $39.2 million, up 7.9 percent.

* Trump Marina Hotel Casino: $28.2 million, $28.3 million, up 0.4 percent.