Hard Rock Atlantic City had a financially outstanding 2024 and did what it has done for four consecutive years: handed out bonuses to its employees totaling more than $10 million.
Rock Stars
Atlantic City casinos have had their share of ups and downs, but the Hard Rock has been climbing up the Boardwalk ladder in terms of popularity and profitability. And its appreciation for those who have been largely responsible for its success has not gone unrecognized nor unrewarded.
The casino resort, owned and operated by the Florida-based Seminole Tribe, announced it had another banner year and rewarded their workers, aptly named “rock stars,” with $10 million in year-end bonuses coupled with a town hall-style affair in which another $100,000 in cash and prizes was up for grabs for their appreciative employees.
“Hard Rock Atlantic City team members are the key to our success in the market, and we are honored to recognize them and their hard work,” said Hard Rock International Chair Jim Allen at last year’s bonus giveaway.
According to the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, Hard Rock Atlantic City has 3,525 employees on its payroll, and the bonuses were unequally divided among full-time and part-time workers, along with union, non-union, salaried, hourly, tipped and nontipped employees. However, if divided equally, the bonuses would amount to $2836 per person.
Executive-level staff did not qualify for the bonuses.
Money Talks
Back in the early 90s, the rock band AC/DC released “Moneytalks,” not one of their bigger hits but apropos for the rock n’ roll-themed Hard Rock Atlantic City Casino that made plenty of it in 2024.
Hard Rock management proved that money does indeed talk when they shared a bit of the spoils with their hardworking staff who have made the resort one of the most popular of the nine properties on (or near) the Boardwalk.
Since opening in June 2018 and struggling with the pandemic that would shutter Boardwalk casinos for months less than two years later, the Hard Rock has established itself as the second most popular Atlantic City casino destination, trailing only the Borgata.
Hard Rock’s casino floor operations, including slots and table games, yielded a whopping $544.9 million in 2024 compared to Borgata’s $738.1 million. If the casino’s sports betting and online casino revenues of $187 million are included, it brings the total gross gaming revenue to $731.9 million for the year.
Not only are the property’s soaring revenues critical, but efficiency is the key to its success as well. Hard Rock’s operating profit was $107 million through the first three quarters of 2024, while Borgata posted $166.5 million over that same nine-month period.
