Atlantic City’s gaming industry kicked off 2026 with notable momentum as total gambling revenue in New Jersey reached $586.4 million in January, up 5.9 percent compared with the same month a year ago, according to data released Tuesday by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE). That increase reflects a continuing trend of growth in both traditional casino play and, especially, internet gaming — a segment that now accounts for nearly half of total statewide gaming revenue.

Despite bitter winter weather and the city’s customary slower off-season, Atlantic City’s nine casino-hotels reported solid results on the ground. Brick-and-mortar casino win — the amount retained by casinos from in-person gaming — totaled $213.3 million, a 1.6 percent year-over-year increase, marking the strongest January figure in more than a decade for the resort’s physical properties.

Industry analysts say these results highlight a broader resilience in the market, with online gambling playing a key role. Internet gaming revenue — which includes online slots, table games and related activity — totaled $258.9 million in January, a 16.8 percent increase over January 2025. That continues a pattern of double-digit growth in the digital arena, where online operators have, in recent months, outpaced their land-based counterparts in revenue generation.

“This sustained performance in internet gaming, now regularly eclipsing traditional casino revenues, underscores a structural shift in how and where players choose to gamble,” said gaming industry observer Jane Bokunewicz of Stockton University’s Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality and Tourism.

Sports betting — another major sector of New Jersey’s gaming landscape — saw a modest decline. Operators reported $114.2 million in sports wagering revenue for the month, down 6.5 percent from January 2025, even as the total handle (amount wagered) exceeded $1 billion.

The January revenue report also reflects the diversity of Atlantic City’s casino performance. Some properties, like Hard Rock Atlantic City, posted strong year-over-year gains, while others, such as Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, saw slight declines in their casino win totals.

With continued expansion in online gaming and gradual improvements in in-person play, Atlantic City’s gaming sector enters 2026 positioned for sustained growth — a positive sign for local tourism, employment and state tax revenues tied to the industry.