Quarterly Atlantic City profits double from a year ago

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) - Atlantic City's nine casinos saw their gross operating profit more than double in the third quarter of this year, according to state figures released Monday.

The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement figures show the casinos posted a collective gross operating profit of more than $310 million in July, August and September of this year.

That is more than twice the $151 million profit they reported in the third quarter of 2020, when they were still operating under state-imposed capacity restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic.

For that reason, James Plousis, chair of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, said the results are not directly comparable.

Instead, he compared them to the third quarter of 2019, before the pandemic hit, and found the casinos did nearly 30% better in the third quarter of this year.

'œThrough efficiencies, every operator posted a profit in the third quarter, a great accomplishment coming out of an extremely challenging period,'ť he said in a statement. 'œAtlantic City's recovery is gaining momentum and is on track for an impressive year."

Gross operating profit reflects earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and other expenses, and is a widely accepted measure of profitability in the Atlantic City casino industry.

Jane Bokunewicz, director of the Lloyd Levenson Institute at Stockton University, which studies the Atlantic City gambling industry, said the casinos have been making do with fewer workers 'œby operating lean.'ť

'œSo far it seems operators have been able to successfully balance the currently reduced labor supply with growing consumer demand for resort amenities including lodging,'ť she said. 'œThat does raise the question of the potential impact on future employment in the casinos, and if some currently unfilled jobs might ultimately be eliminated.'ť

The Borgata had the highest operating profit at $57.2 million, up from $2.3 million a year earlier. Tropicana's profit was $48 million, up from $18.2 million; Hard Rock had a $46 million profit, up from nearly $21 million; Harrah's had a profit of nearly $44 million, up from $19.3 million; and the Ocean casino had a $37 million profit, up from $24 million.

Caesars had a $27.6 million profit, up from $17.5 million; Resorts had a $16.1 million profit, up from $7.7 million; and Golden Nugget had a $14.3 million profit, up from $7 million.

Bally's posted a $2 million operating profit in the third quarter of this year, compared with a $13 million profit last year when it was still owned by Caesars Entertainment. The casino is now owned by Rhode Island-based Bally's Corp.

'œWe are pleased that the north end of the Atlantic City Boardwalk - '~North Beach' - continues to lead the market, with Hard Rock Atlantic City, Ocean Casino Resort and Resorts showing the majority of the increase in comparison to 2019," said Joe Lupo, Hard Rock's president.

Among internet-only entities, Golden Nugget Online Gaming had a profit of just over $9 million, down from $9.4 million a year earlier. Caesars Interactive Entertainment New Jersey had a profit of nearly $5 million, up from $4.8 million, and Resorts Digital's profit was $3.8 million, down from $6 million in the third quarter last year.

In terms of hotel occupancy, Ocean had the highest average room price at $331, while Resorts had the least expensive at nearly $148.

Ocean and Hard Rock had the highest occupancy rate for the quarter at more than 96%; Caesars was over 93% full. Golden Nugget had the lowest occupancy rate at 64%.

The occupancy rate for the city's nine casinos as a whole was just over 81%.

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Follow Wayne Parry on Twitter at @WayneParryAC