Atlantic City’s gambling sector is grappling with concerns following reports of declining in-person visits to its casinos, which has prompted calls for action from union leaders and lawmakers to address the downward trend.
Donna DeCaprio, president of Unite Here Local 54, expressed deep concern over the latest gaming revenue figures, stating: “Alarm bells should be ringing in Atlantic City and in Trenton.”
DeCaprio emphasized the need for urgent attention to the decline in brick-and-mortar casino attendance, warning of significant implications for the city’s workforce. Her union represents more than 10,000 casino workers in Atlantic City.
“The size of the declines at some of the individual properties portends some serious instability for thousands of workers,” DeCaprio stressed, urging legislators to prioritize policies aimed at reversing the downward trends.
“It is incredibly troubling to see that six of the nine gaming properties have posted declines of casino-win compared to February 2023 and year-to-date compared to 2023,” DeCaprio further said Wednesday, as per The Press of Atlantic City.
According to the March 15 report released by the state Division of Gaming Enforcement, while internet gaming revenue reported by casinos saw a substantial increase of nearly 28% compared to February 2023, revenue from in-person gambling at Atlantic City’s nine casinos experienced a 1.6% decline from the previous year.
“As lawmakers continue to proceed with the annual state budget process, representatives in the New Jersey Legislature must understand the perilous economic situation at hand for my members, and indeed all workers in Atlantic City,” DeCaprio further told the cited source.
Mark Giannantonio, president of the Casino Association of New Jersey
Mark Giannantonio, president of the Casino Association of New Jersey, echoed DeCaprio’s concerns, calling for immediate action to address the underlying issues affecting the city’s economic growth and development.
“This is not the time to enact laws, such as a full smoking ban, that will further erode customer visitation and revenues to our properties,” Giannantonio told The Press. “It is time for the City of Atlantic City and the State of New Jersey, in its oversight capacity over the City, to address the issues that are preventing economic growth and develop solutions that will increase visitation to Atlantic City.”
Meanwhile, two other groups, Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects and the United Auto Workers, announced plans to hold a joint news conference in Trenton to advocate for the passage of a casino smoking ban. While many workers have been pushing for this effort, the casino industry opposes it, citing it may lead to a further drop in visitation numbers.
Senator Vince Polistina, R-Atlantic
Senator Vince Polistina, R-Atlantic, echoed the sentiments expressed by DeCaprio and Giannantonio, stressing the urgency of addressing critical issues such as safety, cleanliness, and infrastructure to enhance the city’s appeal to tourists and support its economic recovery efforts.
“The city has never been in a more precarious situation than it is right now,” Polistina warned. “Many parts of the city look worse than they ever have, and the city has essentially bankrupted the CRDA.”
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/noticias/2024/04/05/71594-atlantic-city-casino-union-leaders-lawmakers-urge-action-amidst-declining-inperson-visits
