<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF GB HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>        0000912926
<NAME>       GB HOLDINGS INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                  
<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>                                          12,333                  12,333
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   23,737                  23,737
<ALLOWANCES>                                    14,539                  14,539
<INVENTORY>                                      3,545                   3,545
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                31,078                  31,078
<PP&E>                                         318,918                 318,918
<DEPRECIATION>                                 170,199                 170,199
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 214,548                 214,548
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           52,204                  52,204
<BONDS>                                        187,921                 187,921
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                             1                       1
<OTHER-SE>                                     (26,982)                (26,982)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   214,548                 214,548
<SALES>                                              0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                69,241                 199,919
<CGS>                                                0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   56,321                 162,799
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 8,141                  24,963
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   706                   2,265
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               5,408                  16,239
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 (1,335)                 (6,347)
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0                       0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             (1,335)                 (6,347)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                     310
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    (1,335)                 (6,037)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0                       0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0                       0