Atlantic City
A dealer conducts a card game at the Ocean Casino Resort on Friday, June 4, 2021, in Atlantic City, N.J. Atlantic City's casinos won over $374 million in May, an increase of more than 290% from last May when they were closed due to the coronavirus, and online gambling was the only option. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)
Casinos' online win still growing despite return of gamblers

By Wayne Parry Jun. 16, 2021 03:55 PM EDT

Phil Juliano, a vice president with Bally's Corp. looks over a new Italian restaurant at Bally's casino in Atlantic City N.J. on Monday, June 14, 2021. The new owners of Bally's Atlantic City are attempting to revive a comatose casino in perhaps the most cutthroat gambling market in America. Rhode Island-based Bally's Corporation is spending at least $90 million on the Boardwalk casino over the next five years, including hotel room makeovers, a renovation of the casino floor, new slot machines and restaurants, and more live entertainment. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)
New owners try to get Bally's Atlantic City back in the game

By Wayne Parry Jun. 15, 2021 10:30 AM EDT

This May 3, 2021 photo shows a man playing a slot machine at the Hard Rock casino in Atlantic City, N.J. On Thursday, June 3, 2021, New Jersey legislators were scheduled to vote on four bills giving relief to the Atlantic City casino industry following coronavirus-related declines, and to expand some other forms of gambling. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)
NJ bills to help casinos, expand sports and other betting

By Wayne Parry Jun. 03, 2021 04:00 PM EDT

FILE - Guns N' Roses' Axl Rose, left, and Slash perform on the first weekend of the Austin City Limits Music Festival on Oct. 4, 2019, in Austin, Texas. The hard rock band has booked two dates at the Hard Rock casino in Atlantic City, N.J., Sept. 11 and 12. (Photo by Jack Plunkett/Invision/AP)
A-list shows returning to Atlantic City with Guns N' Roses

By Wayne Parry Jun. 01, 2021 10:07 AM EDT

This May 3, 2021 photo shows an intentionally disabled slot machine next to a woman playing a different slot machine while wearing a face mask at the Hard Rock casino in Atlantic City, N.J. On Friday, May 28, New Jersey dropped its indoor mask mandate and Atlantic City casinos turned slot machines that were disabled to create distance between players back on again. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)
NJ to give beachgoers COVID shots over Memorial Day weekend

By Wayne Parry May. 28, 2021 02:41 PM EDT

Alex Krisulas of State Island N.Y. eats a slice of pizza on the boardwalk in Asbury Park, N.J. on Friday, May 21, 2021. Businesses and residents alike expect this summer at the Jersey Shore to be busier than last year as more people get vaccinated and COVID19 restrictions are scaled back or eliminated. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)
Busier summer seen at Jersey Shore in Year 2 of COVID-19

By Wayne Parry May. 27, 2021 12:54 PM EDT

This May 3, 2021 photo shows a woman playing a slot machine at the Hard Rock casino in Atlantic City N.J. On Monday, May 24, 2021, New Jersey gambling regulators released figures showing that the Atlantic City casinos' first quarter earnings more than tripled this year compared to the same period last year, when the COVID19 pandemic wiped out half of March.(AP Photo/Wayne Parry)
Atlantic City 1st quarter casino earnings more than triple

By Wayne Parry May. 24, 2021 02:54 PM EDT

A dealer counts money at a craps table at the Hard Rock casino in Atlantic City , N.J., on May 3, 2021. Figures released May 14, 2021, show Atlantic City's casinos won nearly four times as much from gamblers in April as they did a year ago, when the casinos were closed, and online betting was the only game in town. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)
Internet gambling still strong in NJ even with casinos open

By Wayne Parry May. 14, 2021 03:56 PM EDT

In this June 23, 2014 file photo, beachgoers fill the sand at Atlantic City N.J. On Wednesday, May 12, 2021, New Jersey legislators were scheduled to discuss two proposed measures that could have a far-ranging impact on Atlantic City's future: A bill changing the amount the city's casinos must pay in lieu of property taxes, and a bill extending the state's takeover of Atlantic City's main decision-making power for another four years. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)
Casino taxes, city power at stake in Atlantic City future

By Wayne Parry May. 12, 2021 01:28 PM EDT

This May 3, 2021 photo shows the exterior of the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J. On Tuesday, May 11 the American Gaming Association released statistics showing that the U.S. commercial casino industry matched its best quarter ever in terms of revenue in the first three months of 2021, taking in more than $11.1 billion as customers continued returning amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)
US casinos match best quarter ever; post-COVID hopes rise

By Wayne Parry May. 11, 2021 12:38 PM EDT

This July 9, 2018 photo shows the Atlantic City, N.J., beachfront. A report released Wednesday, May 5, 2021, from a state panel recommended rebuilding Atlantic City's Boardwalk, improving the look of its business districts, and embracing the "blue economy" of the ocean to help the seaside gambling resort recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. It also suggested money from legalized marijuana sales could help pay for it. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)
Can pot money rebuild Atlantic City? New Jersey suggests it

By Wayne Parry May. 05, 2021 12:32 PM EDT

This Jan. 16, 2020 photo shows the giant guitar at the entrance to the Hard Rock casino in Atlantic City N.J. On May 3, 2021, Hard Rock officials told The Associated Press they will spend $20 million on renovations, the latest in a line of Atlantic City casinos to reinvest during the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)
Despite virus, Atlantic City casinos reinvesting millions

By Wayne Parry May. 03, 2021 07:14 AM EDT

NJ governor vows 'major' announcement on virus restrictions

May. 02, 2021 04:36 PM EDT
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is promising a “major announcement" Monday on easing restrictions imposed in the Garden State due to COVID-19....

FILE - In this July 2, 2020 file photo, a woman plays a slot machine at the Golden Nugget casino in Atlantic City N.J. On Friday, April 30, 2021, business and political officials called on New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy to ease coronavirus restrictions enough to allow conventions and trade shows to resume in Atlantic City. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry, FILE)
Biz groups to Murphy: Let us do conventions in Atlantic City

By Wayne Parry Apr. 30, 2021 02:11 PM EDT

FILE - Claressa Shields, left, hits Marie-Eve Dicaire with a left during the fifth round of a boxing bout for the women's super welterweight title in Flint, Mich., in this Friday, March 5, 2021, file photo. The Professional Fighters League, the only MMA organization with a season format, returns after a year away for a card in Atlantic City. Kayla Harrison and Claressa Shields are among the stars expected to have breakout seasons this year and former UFC champion Anthony Pettis makes his PFL debut on Friday night, April 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)
Unlock the cage: Fight promotion returns after year break

By Dan Gelston Apr. 22, 2021 04:43 PM EDT

FILE - This Oct. 1, 2020, file photo shows the exterior of the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J. The casino's owners told The Associated Press on Monday, April 19, 2021, they will spend $15 million on renovations, raises for employees, and charitable donations. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry, File)
Atlantic City's Ocean Casino plowing $15M into renovations

By Wayne Parry Apr. 19, 2021 12:25 PM EDT

This Oct. 1, 2020 photo shows the exterior of the Borgata casino in Atlantic City, N.J. On April 16, 2021, New Jersey gambling regulators released statistics showing that the Atlantic City casinos more than doubled their gambling revenue in March 2021 compared to a year earlier, when casinos were forced to shut down in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic. Both the Borgata and Hard Rock casinos posted identical revenue increases of 178.2% this March. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)
Bobby Flay restaurant in Borgata casino closing in June

By Wayne Parry Apr. 19, 2021 10:06 AM EDT

This Oct. 1, 2020 photo shows a gambler playing a slot machine at the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J. On April 16, 2021, New Jersey gambling regulators released statistics showing that the Atlantic City casinos more than doubled their gambling revenue in March 2021 compared to a year earlier, when casinos were forced to shut down in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)
March gambling revenue soars after 2020 virus shutdown

By Wayne Parry Apr. 16, 2021 03:05 PM EDT

In this March 9, 2016 photo, Cheryl Palina of Philadelphia lights a cigarette while playing a slot machine at the Tropicana casino in Atlantic City, N.J. On Thursday, April 15, 2021, health advocates, smoking opponents and some New Jersey lawmakers called for the state's temporary ban on casino smoking, imposed last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, be made permanent once the outbreak ends. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)
Smoking foes: Make COVID casino smoking ban permanent in NJ

By Wayne Parry Apr. 15, 2021 01:42 PM EDT

A gambler wears a face shield while playing a slot machine at the Hard Rock casino in Atlantic City N.J. on July 2, 2020, the first day it was allowed to reopen during the coronavirus pandemic. Figures released on April 9, 2021 show Atlantic City's nine casinos collectively saw their gross operating profits decline by more than 80% in 2020.(AP Photo/Wayne Parry)
Virus knocks 80% off Atlantic City casino profits in 2020

By Wayne Parry Apr. 09, 2021 03:27 PM EDT