<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF GREATE BAY CASINO CORPORATION AND
SUBSIDIARIES AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000030117
<NAME> GREATE BAY CASINO CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                           6,555                  22,991
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                      274                  26,180
<ALLOWANCES>                                       213                  15,524
<INVENTORY>                                        164                   4,016
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 9,381                  46,203
<PP&E>                                           2,181                 318,769
<DEPRECIATION>                                     971                 161,882
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  15,752                 221,345
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          106,372                  53,063
<BONDS>                                         30,894                 322,897
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                           519                     519
<OTHER-SE>                                    (143,635)               (159,726)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    15,752                 221,345
<SALES>                                              0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               263,366                 283,640
<CGS>                                                0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  212,514                 237,854
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                30,544                  41,026
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 3,408                   2,167
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              36,760                  37,999
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (19,860)                (35,406)
<INCOME-TAX>                                     1,014                     160
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (20,874)                (35,566)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                    310                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (20,564)                (35,566)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    (3.96)                  (6.86)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    (3.96)                  (6.86)


</TABLE>