Atlantic City Casinos Lost 2,700 Jobs in 2008

Atlantic City, New Jersey’s 11 casinos are losing jobs at an alarming pace.

The state Casino Control Commission says slightly more than 38,000 people are employed in the resort city’s gambling industry. That’s 2,700 fewer than this time last year.

In December 2008, the casinos eliminated 566 jobs, compared with 78 jobs lost in December 2007.

The biggest cuts came at Bally’s Atlantic City, which eliminated 669 jobs in the past year. Six other casinos eliminated 300 or more jobs.

For the year, Atlantic City’s casinos won 7.6% less from gamblers than they had a year ago.