Looking At The Casinos
The latest casino industry figures (here) show that through the end of May, casino win was up 1.8 percent. Caesars and Tropicana have been having a banner year, with casino win up more than 20 percent. Even better news for Atlantic City is that not all of this gaming revenue gain is coming from internet gaming. (In fact, Borgata’s internet gaming revenue is down 6.6 pct this year – no idea why). There is a ‘but’, though.The quarterly data (here) and the annual data (here) show that New Jersey’s casinos – unlike their Las Vegas peers – are still seeing sales of food and drink decline. (That revenue matters, because it backs up CRDA’s Convention Center and Boardwalk Hall debt via the luxury tax. It also matters because it shows the casinos are still struggling to diversify their revenue). Room tax revenue was also down last year (this is the full casino tax report).
Hammonton’s water tower via @khustarelli on Instagram.
One other casino-industry figure that is not immediately obvious in all the press releases, but which surfaced in the city’s debt issuance last month, is casino employment. Employment across all the casinos fell 7 percent last year to 22,000 people (10 years ago, the casinos employed just over 40,000). Last year, the Taj Mahal’s closure contributed to job losses. But even in May this year (admittedly still the ‘off’ season), there were 61 fewer casino jobs in Atlantic City than there were in December. So that rising gaming revenue does not yet seem to be translating into jobs.
Stockton
SNJ Today interviewed Stockton University President Harvey Kesselman about its various projects. Beyond the development of the Atlantic City campus, an expansion of the Unified Science Center and a new health-sciences building, Kesselman said, “There’s another something like 14 or 15 other projects going on this summer on the main campus.” Read and watch the piece here.
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Where Are South Jersey Beaches Free?
The list misses out Somers Point (I know, it’s a ‘bay’ beach), but otherwise this is useful intel for visitors and locals alike here via Townsquare Media’s Cat Country.
In the rest of the news from the last 24 hours, Atlantic City residents and activists yesterday delivered 2,400 signatures to force a vote on any sale of the city’s water authority, NJ Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto reached an agreement on school funding, Gov. Chris Christie has made some appointments to the Delaware River Port Authority board, Camden’s power-plant equipment company Holtec is looking to hire, Plagido’s Winery in Hammonton was named New Jersey Winery of the Year for the second year running, the Dean Randazzo Cancer Foundation raised a record $110,000 with its Paddle For a Cause this past weekend, and Gov. Candidate Phil Murphy wants a ban on fracking in the Delaware River Basin. All that and more below:
Atlantic County Sheriff Warns of Phone Scam–Atlantic County Sheriff Frank X. Balles wants to make the public aware of a phone scam that started recently involving his office and the Atlantic County Criminal Courthouse in Mays Landing. Atlantic County residents have recently received phone calls from a male, who identifies himself as a “sergeant from the Atlantic County Sheriff’s Office,” according to Balles. Press of Atlantic City
EHT Graduate Troy Dixon Drafted by Seattle Mariners–Last week, Troy Dixon wrapped up a stellar senior season at NCAA Division I St. John’s University. Next week, he’s hoping to begin a long career as a professional baseball player. Press of Atlantic City
Atlantic City Police Investigating Second Shooting in Less Than 24 Hours–At least one person was wounded in a shooting in Atlantic City on Wednesday evening. It was the second shooting in which someone was injured in the city in less than 24 hours. BreakingAC
Murphy, Guadagno Make Their First Post-Primary Play for a Business Audience–Murphy doesn’t back down from $15 minimum wage at New Jersey Business & Industry gathering; Guadagno — who gets ‘standing O’ — wants to give folks a chance to get to know her www.njspotlight.com
Judge Rules Against Lawmakers Trying to Stop $300M State House Repairs–A state Superior Court judge yesterday ruled against a bipartisan group of lawmakers who are seeking to stop Gov. Chris Christie’s controversial, multimillion-dollar renovation of the State House in Trenton. The judge said that because bonds have already been sold to fund the rehab work any legal challenges are now moot. www.njspotlight.com