‘04 was good to New Jersey casinos

John Curran

Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2005 | 9:09 a.m.

ATLANTIC CITY -- New Jersey casinos won $4.8 billion from gamblers last year, a 7.1 percent increase over the year before, despite a monthlong strike that disrupted operations and kept many customers away.

A strong showing in December, coupled with recent casino expansions and the ongoing success of the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, helped offset the impact of the strike against seven casinos by 10,000 workers, according to the state Casino Control Commission.

Slot machine revenue jumped 6.9 percent and table game revenue was up 7.7 percent, according to year-end figures for the 12 casinos released Monday by the commission.

Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa continued its strong showing in 2004, winning $636 million at the tables and slots for the year, more than double its take in 2003 after opening mid-year. In December alone, it won $54 million from gamblers, a 45 percent increase over the same month of 2003 and the most of any of the casinos for that month.

Bally's Atlantic City, which led the city in revenue for the year at $644.7 million, nonetheless suffered a 4.9 percent decrease compared to 2003. Bally's and five other casinos -- all but one of which was hit by the strike -- posted year-to-year drops in casino revenue. The only casino that won less in 2004 that wasn't affected by the strike was Trump Taj Mahal, which posted a 2.7 percent decline.

In December the casinos saw a 12.6 percent increase in revenue. The Taj Mahal was the only casino that fared worse that month than in the same month of 2003, according to the commission.

"These results show the strength of the Atlantic City casino industry," said Casino Commission Chair Linda Kassekert. "Recent expansions by several casino operators clearly have helped to expand the market here."

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