Atlantic City betting it can put COVID behind it in 2023

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — How well Atlantic City's nine casinos do in clawing their way back to where they were when the COVID pandemic hit nearly three years ago will go a long way toward determining what kind of year 2023 will be for the New Jersey resort town.

It will feature big new projects, including a long-awaited year-round water park next to the Showboat hotel, and major dining, lodging and entertainment projects at several casinos.

There are also big questions looming over the city that could be answered in the new year, including deciding between dueling proposals for developing the former Bader Field airport property, and whether the state Legislature will act on a bill that would end smoking in Atlantic City casinos.

“I'm looking forward to the new year; we're past COVID now,” said Bob McDevitt, president of Local 54 of the Unite Here union, the city's main casino workers union. “Our industry has survived that, and with that kind of momentum growing, it could be a good year for the residents of the city and for the casinos.”

Resorts casino president Mark Giannantonio said he is “fairly optimistic” about the coming year.

“In 2022 we were buffeted by a difficult economy and very high inflation, and we're beginning to see that come down,” he said, adding that local initiatives on improving safety and cleanliness are cause for optimism.

“That's going to add a new level of confidence,” Giannantonio said. “Our customers will see a difference and hopefully that will lead to more visitation.”

Getting back to and exceeding pre-COVID levels in their core business — winning money from in-person gamblers — remains the top goal of Atlantic City's casinos. Through the first 11 months of 2022, the casinos won $2.56 billion from on-premises gamblers, compared with...