<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLILDATED 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>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS                   12-MOS                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1995             DEC-31-1994
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996             JAN-01-1995             JAN-01-1994
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1995             DEC-31-1994
<CASH>                                          22,991                  28,067                  29,302
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   26,180                  28,789                  29,279
<ALLOWANCES>                                    15,524                  16,496                  15,297
<INVENTORY>                                      4,016                   4,462                   4,389
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                46,203                  53,909                  56,723
<PP&E>                                         318,769                 317,808                 303,355
<DEPRECIATION>                                 161,882                 148,531                 136,138
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 221,345                 250,116                 249,673
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           53,063                  45,931                  36,961
<BONDS>                                        322,897                 328,570                 327,889
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                           519                     519                     519
<OTHER-SE>                                    (159,726)               (138,934)               (134,592)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   221,345                 250,116                 249,673
<SALES>                                              0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               283,640                 304,337                 295,917
<CGS>                                                0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  237,854                 226,678                 217,469
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                41,026                  42,480                  42,390
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 2,167                   2,988                   3,283
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              37,999                  36,578                  36,191
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (35,406)                 (4,387)                 (3,416)
<INCOME-TAX>                                       160                   (100)                   1,080
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (35,566)                 (4,287)                 (4,496)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (35,566)                 (4,287)                 (4,496)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    (6.86)                   (.83)                   (.87)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0                       0                       0


</TABLE>