Atlantic City casinos back in business

Atlantic City’s casinos have Gov. Chris Christie’s approval to reopen.

Forced closure of several days due to Hurricane Sandy have added to the casinos’ difficulties from increased competition beckoning in neighboring states.

The governor ordered them closed in advance of the hurricane. During the storm, Atlantic City experienced power outages and heavy flooding that swept away part of the boardwalk.

The casinos themselves reported relatively little damage after the storm.

Revel, the latest addition to the city’s gambling mecca, will reopen Saturday.

“Although our team is fully ready, we have elected to reopen (Saturday) to allow for residents to return to their homes,” said Revel CEO Kevin DeSanctis. “We are grateful to our staff for their continued support.”

There could be tough days ahead. Atlantic City’s casinos have been losing revenue to new competition in Pennsylvania, Delaware and New York State. Basing expectations on the effects of Hurricane Irene, Deutsche Bank analysts estimate a 20 percent drop in casino revenues for the month of October.

Gamblers should check the casinos’ websites to find out if a specific location is open.