‘A tsunami on top of an earthquake’: Six Atlantic City casinos could close under NYC, North Jersey competitive pressure

Wednesday, April 15, 2026 8:46 PM
  • Wayne Parry, The Press of Atlantic City

For years, Atlantic City’s casino industry has been dreading the arrival of three new casinos in New York City, but no one had estimated just how bad things might get.

Until now.

Speaking at the East Coast Gaming Congress at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, executives put numbers on the nightmare for the first time Wednesday: The three New York casinos could cost Atlantic City 25% to 30% of its annual gambling revenue, according to Jim Allen, chairman of Hard Rock International.

And if a revived push to seek casinos in North Jersey results in one or more new casinos in Monmouth or Bergen counties, things could get much worse, they said.