<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>
<CIK>        0000030117
<NAME>       GREATE BAY CASINO CORP.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JUL-01-1997             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997             SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                          21,729                  21,729
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   23,857                  23,857
<ALLOWANCES>                                    14,539                  14,539
<INVENTORY>                                      3,717                   3,717
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                40,459                  40,459
<PP&E>                                         320,924                 320,924
<DEPRECIATION>                                 171,145                 171,145
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 213,732                 213,732
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           48,398                  48,398
<BONDS>                                        315,557                 315,557
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                           519                     519
<OTHER-SE>                                    (154,452)               (154,452)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   213,732                 213,732
<SALES>                                              0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                69,700                 205,993
<CGS>                                                0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   56,326                 162,811
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 5,720                  21,017
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   706                   2,265
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               9,092                  27,619
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 (2,144)                 (7,719)
<INCOME-TAX>                                       131                     341
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             (2,275)                 (8,060)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                     310
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    (2,275)                 (7,750)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    (0.43)                  (1.49)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0                       0
        

</TABLE>