AC gambles on ad campaign

While gambling revenues have plummeted for the second year running at the shore, slot houses and racetracks in Pennsylvania are raking it in.

Atlantic City casinos have been losing their chips to Pennsylvania, and they want them back. While gambling revenues have plummeted for the second year running at the shore, slot houses and racetracks in Pennsylvania are raking it in. Meanwhile, Atlantic City casinos are advertising that there’s more to them than just gambling.

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Billboards in Pennsylvania exclaim “Trump gives you more!”, ticking off a list of what you can’t get in Pennsylvania slot parlors: headline entertainment, fine dining, and shopping. The Borgata sends a similar message as gambling revenues slow to a trickle. Analysts say Pennsylvanians are sticking close to their home slot parlors.

Gamblers can still only play table games in Atlantic City, but casino consultant Joe Weinert says resorts are getting ready for when that, too, comes to Pennsylvania.

Weinert: There has been a lot of discussion in Harrisburg about allowing live table games. So Atlantic City – while it remains an advantage now, it will lose that advantage at some point in the next couple years.

At the same time Atlantic City is seeing double-digit decreases in revenue, Pennsylvania slot parlors are seeing double-digit increases.