Gambling revenue falls at Boardwalk casinos in January

ATLANTIC CITY -- Warm weather in January was offset by a cold streak at the gambling tables for Atlantic City's casinos, whose revenue fell 7.2 percent last month.

The decrease dashed hopes that a surprising increase the month before might be the start of a hot streak for the nation's second-largest gambling market.

Statistics released Friday afternoon by the state Division of Gaming Enforcement show the casinos took in $236.9 million in January. Slot machine revenue was virtually unchanged at $164.7 million, but table games revenue plunged 20.2 percent, to $72.2 million compared with a year ago.

Lisa Spengler, a spokeswoman for the gaming enforcement division, said the decrease can be chalked up to "primarily bad luck." The casinos hold percentage at table games was 14.8 percent last month, compared with 16.6 percent in January 2011. Slot machine winnings, she noted, were down only 0.1 percent for the month.

The calendar hurt somewhat; there was one more Saturday in January 2011 than there was this year. But unseasonably mild weather this January (temperatures averaged 10 degrees warmer than normal) spurred hopes the casinos might have had a better month.

The resort has been fighting fierce competition from casinos in neighboring states, and the lingering effects of an uncertain economy.

Only two of the 11 casinos showed increases in revenue last month: The Golden Nugget Atlantic City, up 3.4 percent to $9.6 million; and Resorts Casino Hotel, up 3.2 percent to just over $10 million.