As Revel revenues continue lower than expected, summer will be casino’s big test

The Christie Administration hopes the new Revel casino will be the key to revitalizing Atlantic City. But, for the second month in a row, Revel ranks eighth in gaming revenue among the city’s 12 casino properties.

The $13.9 million that Revel won from gamblers in May is only a slight improvement from April.

Assemblyman John Burzichelli says Revel is still in its trial period and it’s too soon to judge whether it’s a success.

“Very little was spent promoting gaming because they were still shaking down the technology,” said Burzichelli, D-Gloucester. “So I think, in fairness, it’s early to make that call that people watching should be concerned about.”

The big test for Revel will be over the summer, says Roger Gros, publisher of Global Gaming Business magazine, a trade publication for the casino industry.

“If they don’t double their revenue next month to over $30 million, it’s going to be very questionable whether they can continue to operate the way they are operating,” Gros said Monday.

Overall gaming revenue at Atlantic City casinos was down 9.5 percent in May from a year ago.