After a solid summer season for New Jersey’s shore communities, experts think the season will end on a strong note.

“I think some of the people that may have put off going to the shore much of the summer for financial reasons are realizing this is the last chance,” said Michael Busler, a professor of finance at Stockton University.

Busler says it was a mixed summer for Atlantic City; while online wagering helped casinos earn slightly more money than last summer, in-person gambling decreased amid a season of fewer in-person events.

“Boardwalk merchants were very upset by the lack of big events that would draw people to the boardwalk and help their business,” he said. “The air show, which brings in up to a half a million people for some reason that didn’t occur this year. And it’s been going on for, I don’t know, decades.”

The Wildwoods also had a solid summer, thanks to big boosts from large events.

“I think a lot of new people got introduced to the Wildwoods that have never been here before,” said Ben Rose, director of marketing and public relations for the Greater Wildwoods Tourism Authority. “The Barefoot Country Music Fest actually sold out this year and there were about 40,000 tickets sold for each of the four days. So that’s a huge influx of people in June really kicking off our summer business.”