Atlantic City casinos win second-highest monthly total in history

The casinos raked in $385.3 million, a 4.5 percent increase over last July and the second-highest total ever, the state Casino Control Commission reported. The high came last August when gamblers lost $395.5 million at the 12 casinos.

Eight casinos reported year-to-year increases over July 1997, including the Atlantic City Hilton, which saw double-digit increases in both slot machine revenue and table game revenue, winning 15.1 percent more overall than last year.

Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort, meanwhile, saw an 11.5 percent increase in its revenue, or "win."

Citywide, slot machine revenues climbed 3.7 percent, while table game revenues were up 6.6 percent. Good weather and good luck - and the fact that the summer months are traditionally the casinos' busiest - contributed to the increases, officials said.

Atlantic City Hilton president Wallace Barr attributed that casino's improved performance to aggressive marketing and good luck.

"The marketing programs came together, the weather came together and the general appeal of the property started to show," he said.

"We should be doing those types of levels in July and August, but maybe this is higher over last year in that we were a little bit luckier," Barr said.

Four casinos fared worse than they did last year: Bally's Park Place, the Claridge Casino Hotel, Resorts Casino Hotel and Showboat Casino Hotel.

Following are the casinos, their revenue for July 1997, their revenue for July 1998 and the percentage change:

-Atlantic City Hilton: $22.3 million, $25.7 million, up 15.1 percent.

-Bally's Park Place: $45.9 million, $43.9 million, down 4.2 percent.

-Caesars Atlantic City: $36.9 million, $39.6 million, up 7.3 percent.

-Claridge Casino Hotel: $14.8 million, $14.8 million, down 0.2 percent.

-Harrah's Casino Hotel: $30.7 million, $33.5 million, up 9.2 percent.

-Resorts Casino Hotel: $24.3 million, $22.7 million, down 6.5 percent.

-Sands Hotel Casino: $20.6 million, $21.6 million, up 4.6 percent.

-Showboat Casino Hotel: $33.7 million, $32.9 million, down 2.4 percent.

-Tropicana Casino and Resort: $34.6 million, $36.3 million, up 4.8 percent.

-Trump Marina Hotel Casino: $25.7 million, $28.2 million, up 9.7 percent.

-Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino: $35.9 million, $37.9 million, up 5.7 percent.

-Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort: $43.2 million, $48.2 million, up 11.5 percent.

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