In March 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic escalated, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy ordered all nine Atlantic City casinos to close their doors on March 16. This unprecedented move marked only the fifth time in the 42-year history of legalized gambling in New Jersey that the casinos were shuttered, with previous closures occurring during events like Hurricane Sandy in 2012

The closure led to significant financial losses for the casinos. The second quarter of 2020 saw a collective gross operating loss of $112 million, a stark contrast to the nearly $160 million profit reported in the same period the previous year. Only the Golden Nugget reported a profit during this time, largely due to its online gambling operations .​WHYY

The casinos remained closed until July 2, 2020, when they began reopening with enhanced health and safety protocols in place. Despite the challenges, the industry has gradually recovered, with online gambling and sports betting helping to offset some of the losses incurred during the closures.​