Tropicana’s Numbers Were Boosted by iOS Apps
The Tropicana Atlantic City Casino reports a 60% increase in its monthly revenues from February 2014. The number is a positive sign for the growth of New Jersey gambling after weeks of negative signs. It also contradicts much of the gloom after the casino websites’ numbers took a dip in the middle part of February.
Mobile Casino Apps Helped Boost Numbers
Several reasons were given for the increase in traffic, but the bump appears to come from several technological upgrades during the month of February. The site launched a mobile casino app for Apple iOS devices in February. Now New Jersey gamblers can play using the Apple iPad and iPhone.
The President and CEO of Tropicana Entertainment, Anthony “Tony” Rodio, says the new gaming app gives the Tropicana Online Casino a wider reach, because many potential customers are too busy for desktop gambling. New Jersey is a state full of commuters, many of whom travel into Manhattan or Philadelphia to their work. On the long commute into out-of-state offices, mobile gaming offers entertainment.
When asked to elaborate on the value of the company’s mobile players, Rodio said, “The Tropicana Atlantic City app is an extension of our ‘something for everyone’ approach to gaming and entertainment. Our goal is to offer people a little break and a little fun whenever they want it, wherever they are in the state.”
The mobile gaming numbers are a good sign for New Jersey online gambling in general. The Tropicana is one of the first Atlantic City online gaming sites to have upgraded their support to allow for iOS gadgets. That means other competitors should expect a similar boost when they offer more mobile gaming apps.
Geolocation Troubles Fixed
Another reason for the increase in revenues appears to have been the fixing of the glitch involving geolocation technology. In the first months of legalized New Jersey online gambling, residents living near the borders of the state had a problem with their ability to get online. The geolocators registered players across the border from Philadelphia and New York City as being in Pennsylvania and New York State, respectively.
State regulators worked with the online casino personnel and geolocation device vendors to correct the issues. Camden, New Jersey was the area worst hit by the glitch. New Jersey authorities eased their buffering technology, so the Delaware River did not register as outside the state of New Jersey. Since many citizens of New Jersey reside on the borders of the state, these gamblers can play online for the first time.
Natural Increases over Time
Many land-based gaming executives and analysts might not have taken into account the incremental increases expected in online businesses. With a brick-and-mortar casino, often the biggest crowds are the ones on opening night, when expectations are high and everything is new. In online gambling, a more casual gaming concept works, so signup lists build slowly and incrementally over time. It’s only natural for the numbers to increase from month to month, where they might not in an offline gambling venue.
In the early months since the inception of iGaming in New Jersey, officials and analysts have fretted about numbers that were lower than expected. Several lawmakers had begun pointing fingers, while the governor’s projections had been heavily criticized as wholly unrealistic. While it’s uncertain where the ceiling is on the industry as a whole, the Tropicana’s February increases should be a hopeful sign for all its competitors–and the politicians banking on bigger tax revenues from the Atlantic City gaming companies.
iPoker Dropped across the Board
Online poker was down in February by nearly 10%. While the operators would hope for growth each month, the 10% drop-off is not as bad as it looks. February is the shortest month, a full 3 days shorter than January. Those 3 days represent nearly 10% fewer days in the month than other months, so the 10% decline was to be expected. The daily numbers remained about the same.
Boardwalk casinos hope March 2014 will be a month of growth. The WPT Championship at the Borgata Casino brick-and-mortar location in April should get plenty of attention in March, so that should drive customers to give the new gaming method a try. The next month should see an overall increase in gaming habits, though vacations associated with spring break might cause a decline in numbers through the middle of the month.
