New Jersey online casino operators saved the best for last in 2023, bringing in a record $180.3 million in adjusted gross revenue in December as part of the state’s all-time monthly high of $522.2 million in total gaming win to close out the year.

December’s numbers from the state’s Division of Gaming Enforcement lifted the year-end figure to a record $5.78 billion, a 10.9% increase from the $5.21 billion claimed across the state in 2022. Online casino gaming in the Garden State continued its upward trend from 2022, with December’s figure marking the third consecutive month an all-time high was attained.

The $180.3 million in December revenue was up 19.1% compared to the final month of 2022, when the $151.5 million in winnings also set a record at the time. The 36 online gaming platforms combined to generate more than $1.92 billion in revenue for 2023, up 15.7% year-over-year, and generated $288.5 million in state taxes. That was an increase of $39.1 million from 2022.

Atlantic City’s nine casinos reported $232.4 million in revenue for December, up 7.8% from 2022. It was a mixed bag to some extent, as the 13.9% surge in slot revenue to $175.3 million absorbed the 7.8% decline to $57.1 million in table games winnings. For the year, brick-and-mortar casino gaming revenue was up 2.2% to $2.85 billion, versus the $2.79 billion in operator winnings in 2022.

The Garden State also got a jolt in revenue from sports betting, with the $1 billion claimed by sportsbooks up 31.9% compared to 2022. Operators closed out 2023 with their third-highest revenue total in December with $109.4 million.

The state collected $595.5 million in taxes across the three wagering disciplines, with casino tax receipts totaling $178.1 million and sports wagering accounting for the remaining $128.9 million.

Golden Nugget furthers monthly revenue record

After becoming the first iGaming platform in New Jersey to generate $50 million in monthly revenue in November, Golden Nugget delivered a standout encore in pushing the record to $52.8 million for December. It capped an impressive year of growth for Golden Nugget, which had an all-time high of $38.4 million entering 2023 before crossing $40 million in January and then $45 million in September.

Its $524.8 million in 2023 winnings was up 21.6% from 2022 as it overtook the Borgata late in the year to become the state’s top internet casino revenue generator. The Golden Nugget, whose online platforms include FanDuel, BetRivers, and Betway, posted a year-over-year revenue increase of close to 40%.

Resorts Digital maintained its strengthening hold on the #2 spot with $46.1 million. It was a decline of $1.1 million from its record $47.2 million haul in November, but still good for a 14.2% year-over-year increase. Led by DraftKings and ESPN BET, Resorts also cleared the half-billion mark in full-year revenue at $507.8 million, up 29.1% from 2022.

The Borgata, which houses BetMGM, regained some of its momentum in December in crossing $40 million for the first time since September, but it also required counting the nearly $795,000 in poker rake to reach that benchmark. Its late swoon — year-over-year fourth-quarter revenue was down 11.6% to $114 million — resulted in a small year-over-year decline of 1.3% to $489.9 million for 2023.

Bally’s had the biggest year-over-year increase in terms of percentage, as its $82.8 million was nearly double its 2022 total of $41.8 million. Ocean Casino revenue was up 82.6% to $54.4 million, getting a late-year boost by setting monthly revenue highs for the final three months of 2023. Its $5.8 million in winnings for December was 65% higher versus the final month of 2022.

Hard Rock‘s final quarter was one for the record books. Its $9.1 million haul in December was an all-time monthly high and the $26.1 million accrued over the final quarter fueled a 16.3% increase for the year at more than $80.6 million.

Borgata ekes out small gain for in-person gambling

Though it may have slipped to third in iGaming revenue, the Borgata still lapped the field in Atlantic City, as its $729.7 million in revenue comfortably led the nine casinos. The Borgata had a gain of 0.7% for the year, dragged down by a 2.9% year-over-year decline for December at $58.8 million.

Five of the nine casinos reported lower revenue than 2022, but every location except Ocean Casino operated in a narrow band of gains or declines. Ocean Casino was the biggest gainer in percentage, with revenue surging 16.3% higher to $415 million. Its table games revenue was up 28.2% in 2023 to $122.5 million, as table drop increased 28.7% to $696.3 million.

Revenue at Hard Rock ticked 4.1% higher to $512.4 million, as it was the only venue besides Borgata to clear half a billion dollars. Its gains came on the strength of slots — the $361.4 million in revenue was 7.1% higher compared to 2022, more than offsetting the 2.5% dip in table games revenue. Hard Rock’s hold on the felt slumped nearly 1.7 percentage points to 15.4%, while table drop increased 8% to nearly $980 million.

Bally’s was the only other casino to post a year-over-year gain, inching 0.8% higher to $155.2 million. Of the five casinos with declines, Tropicana‘s 3.3% dip to $240.5 million was the steepest, slipping $8.2 million. Tropicana, though, topped $20 million in revenue for the first time since September, as December winnings were up 14.8% compared to 2022.

Resorts recorded a decline of 2.3% to $163.5 million, Golden Nugget was off 1.8% at $146.1 million, Caesars‘ revenue slid 1.7% to $231.3 million, and Harrah’s was down 1.5% to $254.1 million.

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