<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF GREATE BAY CASINO CORPORATION (FORMERLY
PRATT HOTEL CORPORATION) AND SUBSIDIARIES AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             APR-01-1997             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997             JUN-30-1997
<CASH>                                          23,966                  23,966
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   23,760                  23,760
<ALLOWANCES>                                    14,521                  14,521
<INVENTORY>                                      3,828                   3,828
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                42,784                  42,784
<PP&E>                                         320,112                 320,112
<DEPRECIATION>                                 168,368                 168,368
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 216,864                 216,864
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           48,341                  48,341
<BONDS>                                        316,243                 316,243
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                           519                     519
<OTHER-SE>                                    (152,177)               (152,177)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   216,864                 216,864
<SALES>                                              0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                68,097                 136,293
<CGS>                                                0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   54,658                 106,485
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 6,839                  15,297
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   909                   1,559
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               9,018                  18,527
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 (3,327)                 (5,575)
<INCOME-TAX>                                        35                     210
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             (3,362)                 (5,785)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                    310                     310
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    (3,052)                 (5,475)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     (.59)                  (1.06)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0                       0
        

</TABLE>