Atlantic City - Once thought immune to recession, Atlantic City’s casino industry lost more than 2,000 jobs last year as employment fell to its lowest level in two decades. Casinos finished 2008 with 38,585 workers, the first time since 1987 that annual employment sank below 40,000, according to year-end figures released Tuesday by the New Jersey Casino Control Commission. Employment peaked at 51,560 jobs in July 1997.

Shares of casino operator Boyd Gaming Corp. slid to an all-time low last week as an analyst trimmed some adjusted earnings forecasts on the likelihood that gaming revenue results will not improve until 2010. Boyd Gaming slides to all-time low as analyst reduces estimates, predicting weak revenue. Jeffrey Logsdon of BMO Capital Markets said 2009 looks to be difficult for Las Vegas-based Boyd, partly due to weakness at facilities in its central region and properties where Las Vegas locals play.

New York (AP) -- Shares of companies that operate casinos sank to new lows Tuesday on reports that the industry is suffering in the wake of the nation's economic downturn. Thomas Weisel Partners analyst Jake Fuller, in a note citing several factors for cutting his price target and earnings estimates for Las Vegas Sands Corp., noted his own survey work found the company's Venetian Las Vegas "discounting heavily in the June-July timeframe."