Gaming revenue results hint that Boardwalk gloom may lift

ATLANTIC CITY -- For four and a half years now, the light at the end of the tunnel for the nation's second-largest gambling market has been an oncoming train.

Atlantic City has been battered and beaten by casinos in neighboring states and pummeled by the uncertain economy, even as its 11 casinos looked for any sign that the gloom might be lifting.

Now, it may finally be.

Casino revenues here fell just 3.7 percent in June, to $276.2 million. June slot revenue was down 3.1 percent, to $200.5 million, while table games revenue decreased by 5.2 percent, to $75.7 million.

"There is light at the end of the tunnel," said Tony Rodio, president of the Tropicana Atlantic City. "I think we've experienced most of the pain we're going to experience."

In fact, had it not been for a lucky table games player who beat the Tropicana for about $8 million last month, Atlantic City would have been within 2 percentage points of breaking even, Rodio said.

"We'll take our small victories where we can," he said.