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Atlantic City has been the home of a rotating network of casino properties and resorts since gambling was legalized in the late 1970s.
The hotels offered by these resorts range from five-star luxury to basic economy. Prices during the week are substantially lower than weekends. The best nights in terms of price are usually Sunday through Wednesday. Thursday may be moderately expensive compared to early weekdays. Saturday is by far the most expensive night of the week in Atlantic City, followed by Friday.
Try one of these Atlantic City Online Casinos
There are nine Atlantic City casinos open. Three are owned by CaesarsEntertainment (Caesars sold Bally's in 2020 but the sale is pending):
- Bally's
- Caesars
- Harrah's
MGM Resorts owns the top-grossing casino-hotel, Borgata. ElDorado Resorts operates the Tropicana Atlantic City after a sale of the property in early 2018. Golden Nugget is owned by Landry's Inc., and Resorts is independently owned.
Borgata, Golden Nugget and Harrah's are in the Marina District. Bally's, Caesars, Resorts, and Tropicana are on the Boardwalk.
In 2018, two casinos opened in preexisting, refurbished properties. Ocean Casino Resort, the former Revel, opened its doors the same day as Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, which reopened in the former Trump Taj Mahal property.
For information about gambling revenue in Atlantic City, click here.
Atlantic City casinos in 2021
Here is a brief rundown of the nine casinos in Atlantic City:
Bally's
Bally's is on the Boardwalk and offers more than 100 table games and a poker room. Its hotel is perfect for budget-minded travelers. Wild Wild West, found along the Boardwalk under Bally's, offers low-limit games and the largest sportsbook in Atlantic City at 15,228 square feet.
Borgata
Located in the Marina District, Borgata is the flagship of Atlantic City. Owned by MGM Resorts, Borgata's luxury resort is home to more than a dozen restaurants. It has a giant poker room and a sports and race book. The limits at Borgata are reasonable, with many $5 and $10 table game minimums. All blackjacks pay 3-2. Games with a minimum bet of $25 stand on all 17s.
Caesars
Caesars is on the Boardwalk. It is owned by Caesars Entertainment and is a middle-tier resort with more than 100 table games. There are more than a dozen restaurants at Caesars, as well as two showrooms for entertainment.
Golden Nugget
Golden Nugget is a boutique hotel in the Marina District. It has several Landry's restaurants on-site. All blackjacks pay 3-2 at Golden Nugget. Its hotel rooms are more modern than most in Atlantic City, and there is a walking trail between Harrah's and Golden Nugget.
Hard Rock Atlantic City
Hard Rock AC opened its doors in summer 2018. The newly remodeled and redesigned building on the Boardwalk no longer bears any resemblance to the Trump Taj Mahal casino. The casino features 120 table games and a variety of entertainment options and restaurants.
Harrah's
Harrah's is the Atlantic City flagship for Caesars Entertainment. Located in the Marina District, it offers more than 100 table games, as well as competitive video poker. There is an after-hours pool with the latest musical acts and DJs. Harrah's is also home to a variety of dining establishments.
Ocean Casino
The repurposed Revel Hotel & Casino got a new name in early 2018 when the property was officially sold to AC Oceanwalk before transitioning ownership to Luxor Capital in early 2019. Ocean Casino opened its doors on June 28, 2018, and includes one of the more luxurious casino floors and a variety of high-end restaurants and shops. Ocean Casino is at the opposite end of the Boardwalk from Tropicana.
Resorts
Resorts is the original Atlantic City casino. Having opened on the Boardwalk in 1978, it is smaller than its competitors but still retains its playing power. Resorts offers low limits for its table games. All blackjack games stand on all 17s and pay 3-2.
Tropicana
Tropicana has an old-school feel. It is on the far south end of the Boardwalk. All blackjack tables stand on all 17s and pay 3-2. Tropicana's casino floor is separated into sections of slots and video poker.
Wild Wild West
Not usually counted among the casinos in Atlantic City, Wild Wild West is in the lower level of Bally's. It offers $5 live table games, as well as some electronic ones with even lower limits. Wild Wild West offers live entertainment, as well as two bars and restaurants.
Games at Atlantic City casinos
AC casino table games and casino videopoker are everywhere in the resort town along with hundreds of slot machines. Most are similar or share the same names as online casino games, but some are exclusive to one or two casinos.
Atlantic City sports betting
New Jersey legalized sports betting in January 2012 after voters passed a nonbinding referendum instructing the New Jersey Legislature to pass it. But the major sports leagues took issue with this.
New Jersey was not exempted under the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). Even Delaware, which was exempted under PASPA, lost its own fight with the sports leagues in 2009 and was forced to only offer parlay cards.
The fight between New Jersey and the sports leagues came to an end on May 14, 2018, when the US Supreme Court ruled that PASPA was unconstitutional. After that, the floodgates opened, and AC casinos and NJ online gambling sites got quickly up and running with sportsbooks once the NJ sports betting law and regulations were finalized.
Eight Atlantic City casinos now have retail sportsbooks up and running.
Closed Atlantic City casinos
The Atlantic Club Casino Hotel (closed Jan. 13, 2014)
The Atlantic Club Casino Hotel was actually Atlantic City's original Golden Nugget.
The property opened as The Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino in 1980. It was one of the smallest casinos in the city, but by 1983, it was the top-grossing.
Golden Nugget owner Steve Wynn sold the casino for $440 million to Bally Manufacturing in 1987 and the name changed to Bally's Grand Hotel and Casino.
Hilton Hotels Corporation bought Bally and renamed the property Atlantic City Hilton in 1998.
In 2005, Resorts International bought the casino. It ran Resorts Atlantic City and the Atlantic City Hilton for the next four years as a single entity called Atlantic City Hilton and Resorts Atlantic City.
In June 2011, the Hilton name was removed and it became the ACH Casino Resort. In February 2012, it was rebranded as a locals casino and renamed The Atlantic Club Casino Hotel. By the end of the year, the parent company of online gaming giant PokerStars entered into discussion to buy the property.
Its eye was on legalized online gambling in New Jersey. A purchase agreement was struck in January 2013, but PokerStars pulled out after having difficulty obtaining a casino license.
The casino shut its doors on January 13, 2014. Caesars Entertainment soon bought the property and Tropicana bought all the gaming equipment.
Caesars Entertainment then sold to TJM Properties in 2014. TJM made plans to reopen it as a non-gaming property. The company announced in 2017 another developer would be purchasing the property and turning it into an indoor waterpark.
The financing for this project ultimately fell through.
Showboat Atlantic City (closed Aug. 31, 2014)
The Showboat Hotel, Casino and Bowling Center opened in March 1987 on land leased from Resorts International right beside where the soon-to-be Trump Taj Mahal was under construction. The Showboat featured a 60,000-square-foot casino and a 60-lane bowling alley.
A 1995 renovation brought in a Mardi Gras theme. Three years later, Harrah's Entertainment, which is now Caesars Entertainment, bought the Showboat's parent company and took ownership.
The bowling alley became a buffet in 2001. In 2003, Showboat built a new hotel tower and remodeled the original. It also constructed a third hotel tower. But by June 2014, Caesars Entertainment made plans to close down the Showboat. The company looked to sell, but after failing to find a suitable buyer, the Showboat shuttered on Aug. 31, 2014.
In December of that year, Richard Stockton College bought the property with plans to turn it into a college campus.
They later sold it to Philadelphia developer Bart Blatstein, who reopened it as a non-gaming hotel in July 2016. Plans currently include an indoor water park on the parking lot next door to Showboat.
Trump Plaza (closed Sept. 16, 2014)
The $210 million Harrah's at Trump Plaza opened up as the biggest casino in Atlantic City history on May 14, 1984. It was a joint partnership between Donald Trump and Holiday Inn's gaming division Harrah's. It originally featured 614 rooms, seven restaurants, a 750-seat showroom, and a 60,000 square foot casino.
Competitor Hilton was soon denied a casino license on its $320 million Atlantic City Marina casino project under construction nearby. Trump came in and bought out Hilton, finished construction and opened it up as Trump Castle. Harrah's sued Trump, claiming a conflict of interest. Trump bought out Harrah's interest in Harrah's at Trump Plaza and renamed it Trump Plaza.
Trump continued building an empire in Atlantic City over the next decade, buying up existing casinos and construction projects. However, when he opened up the even larger Trump Taj Mahal in 1990, business at Trump Plaza suffered.
The property went through a bankruptcy in 1992. Trump's publicly-traded Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts ultimately gained ownership. A new East Tower opened in early 1996 as did a connection to the new Trump World's Fair.
In 2011, with Trump almost completely divested in the company, Trump Entertainment Resorts announced it was looking to sell Trump Plaza or find a financing partner for a new renovation. At least one deal to sell fell through. By July 2014, the company said it would soon shut Trump Plaza down.
In August 2014, Trump filed a lawsuit demanding the property remove his name. On Sept. 16, 2014, Trump Plaza shut down.
In June 2020, the AC mayor announced that Carl Icahn submitted a plan for the Trump Plaza demolition to take place in 2021.
A brief history of Atlantic City
New Jersey voters amended the State Constitution in 1976 to allow casino-style gambling. It became the second state after Nevada to legalize casinos. They were restricted to Atlantic City. No other parts of the state could build casinos.
On May 28, 1978, Resorts International opened as the first casino in Atlantic City. There are currently nine hotel-casinos located in the resort city.
Borgata is by far the biggest winner in terms of casino revenue. It was built in 2003. Only one casino has been built since Borgata. Revel opened in March 2012. But it fell into bankruptcy within a year after it failed to attract gamblers with its attempt to be a resort first and casino second.
New Jersey has fallen on hard times as neighboring states have legalized casinos. Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun began drawing gamblers from New York City in 1992. Today, casinos are now found in all states that border New Jersey.
This has forced New Jersey out of the second-place spot in terms of gaming revenue. Pennsylvania now has that honor.
NJ online gambling goes live
Former Gov. Chris Christie signed online gambling into law on Feb. 26, 2013. This legalized NJ online poker and online casinos in the state. Any player located within New Jersey at the time of login will be able to play interactive real money games.
Christie had twice vetoed legislation before finally signing it into law.
In March 2011, Christie outright vetoed similar legislation after citing that he felt it would take a change to the New Jersey Constitution to allow gambling outside of Atlantic City, regardless of where the actual servers were located.
On Feb. 7, 2013, Christie apparently changed his mind. While he still vetoed the bill in front of him, it was only a conditional one. He instructed the legislature to raise the tax rate from 10 percent to 15 percent and add more funds to the problem gambling services provided under the law.
The legislature approved his wishes.
Latest Atlantic City casino news
In 1977, New Jerseylegalized gambling within the confines of Atlantic City. In that time, numerous casinos have come, gone, or rebranded themselves on the Jersey Shore.
With so much flux in America's Playground, it's important to keep a running list of what options are available to Atlantic City residents and visitors.
Top Atlantic City Online Casinos
See below for the most up-to-date information about which casinos are open in Atlantic City.
Total gambling options at Atlantic City casinos
| Casino | Slot Machines | Table Games | Poker Tables | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bally's | 1,775 | 122 | 42 | Caesars Entertainment |
| Borgata | 2,995 | 188 | 79 | MGM Resorts |
| Caesars | 1,878 | 132 | n/a | Caesars Entertainment |
| Golden Nugget | 1,456 | 88 | 10 | Landry's |
| Hard Rock | 2,103 | 152 | n/a | Hard Rock International |
| Harrah's | 2,129 | 133 | 37 | Caesars Entertainment |
| Ocean Resort | 1,907 | 107 | 8 | Luxor Capital Group |
| Resorts | 1,475 | 68 | n/a | DGMB, LLC |
| Tropicana | 2,476 | 112 | 18 | ElDorado Resorts |
Open casinos
Bally's Atlantic City
Bally's Atlantic City began life in 1979 as Bally's Park Place. It later expanded to include the Claridge and Hi-Ho casinos.
Bally's is one of three casinos in Atlantic City owned by Caesars Entertainment. It is located on the southeast corner of Michigan and Pacific avenues and backs up to the Boardwalk.
Bally's has no NJ gambling site or online sportsbook to its name. However, it shares an NJ online gambling license with its sister casinos, Caesars and Harrah's. As such, the following sites are nested under Bally's license in New Jersey:
Online casinos
Online Poker
Online Sportsbooks
Borgata
Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa opened in 2003. Its proposition was unusual for Atlantic City in that it sought to create a Las Vegas-type feeling inside the casino, rather than jamming the floor with slot machines.
Borgata featured 200 table games and a 34-table poker room. Its timing could not have been better for the latter, as Chris Moneymaker's WSOP Main Event win generated unprecedented interest in poker.
Borgata expanded its poker room to 85 tables (at the time) and became the dominant poker venue on the East Coast. The success carried over to the rest of the property.
It emerged as the New Jersey revenue leader in 2005 and has never relinquished that title. As of January 2019, the entire property's year-to-date revenue far exceeds that of any other Atlantic City casino.
MGM Resorts International owns Borgata. The casino is located at the northwest corner of Huron Avenue and Brigantine Boulevard. It is one of three AC casinos in the Atlantic City Marina District.
Online casinos
- BetMGM
- Scores Casino
Online Poker
- Borgata Poker
Online Sportsbooks
- Borgata Sports
Caesars
CaesarsAtlantic City opened in 1979 as the Boardwalk Regency. At the time, it was only the second legal casino in Atlantic City.
Since then, its name has changed twice, going from the Boardwalk Regency to the Caesars Boardwalk Regency before settling on its current appellation.
The casino is located at the southwest corner of Pacific and Arkansas avenues. It is also on the Boardwalk and adjoins its sister property, Bally's.
NJ gambling sites connected to Caesars are nested under the Bally's online gambling license. However, one site carries Caesars' name: Caesars Casino & Sports (online sportsbook and casino).
Golden Nugget
The Golden Nugget name in Atlantic City is somewhat unusual in the sense that it has applied to different casinos over time. The first incarnation was on the Boardwalk and ended its life at Atlantic Club Casino Hotel when it closed in 2013.
The current version, properly known as Golden Nugget Atlantic City, is in the Marina District. It grew out of the former Trump Marina.
Landry's, the parent company of Golden Nugget, applied the name to the former Trump property after its purchase in 2011. Landry's also spent $150 million to renovate the facility into its present condition.
Golden Nugget Atlantic City is located at the eastern end of Huron Avenue in the Atlantic City Marina District.
While Borgata is the leader of land-based gambling revenue, Golden Nugget and its partners rule NJ online gambling. Monthly revenue for Golden Nugget is often double that of its closest competitor.
Online casinos
- Golden Nugget
Online Sportsbooks
Hard Rock
Hard Rock Atlantic City is a brand-new property. It opened its doors on June 28, 2018.
The casino hotel occupies the former Trump Taj Mahal. The Seminole Tribeof Florida bought the defunct property in 2017.
After its purchase, Hard Rock spent $500 million renovating the entire property. The new ownership erased any vestiges of its India-themed predecessor.
Hard Rock is located on Pacific Avenue and straddles Virginia Avenue. The property backs up to the Boardwalk.
Online Casinos
- Hard Rock online
- Bet365 Casino
Online Sportsbooks
- Hard Rock Sports
Harrah's
Harrah's Atlantic City was the first AC casino built away from the Boardwalk. The fact that the property has endured for all these years is a testament to Harrah's management.
Harrah's is home to five different hotel towers — Atrium, Bayview, Harbor, Marina, and Waterfront. The most recent, Waterfront, was completed in 2008. However, Harrah's renovated the Bayview Tower in 2017.
Harrah's Atlantic City is located northwest of Brigantine Boulevard just before it crosses the Absecon Inlet. It is in the Atlantic City Marina District.
Like its sister casinos (Caesars and Bally's), Harrah's shares its online gambling license. But it does have an online casino with its name on it.
Ocean Casino
Ocean Resort Casino opened its doors on June 28, 2018. The new casino is a renovated version of the defunct Revel, which closed after two years of operation.
Unlike its predecessor, Ocean Resort emphasizes the customer experience for mid-level bettors and visitors. The resort boasts a TopGolfSwing Suite facility, a Wahlburgers, six pools, and a state-of-the-art NJ sports betting facility.
However, in January 2019, just seven months after opening, the casino changed hands again. Former owner Bruce Deifik turned over ownership to Luxor Capital Group.
The rebranded Ocean Casino is located at the southwest corner of Oriental and Metropolitan avenues. It is on the Boardwalk, and management has removed the wall that used to separate the property from the famous walkway.
Online casinos
- Parx Casino NJ
Online Sportsbooks
Resorts Atlantic City
Resorts Atlantic City is a property with an unmistakable claim to fame. It was the very first casino built in Atlantic City.
On May 26, 1978, Resorts opened its doors and became the first legal casino in the United States outside of Nevada. It was the only casino outside Nevada until Bally's opened the following year.
Still, Resorts has kept chugging along while other properties have fallen by the wayside. It added a new hotel tower in 2004 and nearly doubled its number of available rooms.
List Of Atlantic City Online Casinos For Us Players
In 2011, the hotel and casino underwent a major renovation and adopted a Roaring Twenties theme. The buildings, personnel, and culinary offerings changed to recall the time period.
Resorts Atlantic City is one of the smaller casino properties on the Boardwalk. It is located between North Carolina and Pennsylvania avenues, next door to the new Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
For online gambling, Resorts has picked a full slate of partnerships with recognizable names. As such, its online market share has improved considerably over the years.
Online Casinos
- Resorts Casino
- PokerStars Casino
Online Poker
Online Sportsbooks
Atlantic City has been the home of a rotating network of casino properties and resorts since gambling was legalized in the late 1970s.
The hotels offered by these resorts range from five-star luxury to basic economy. Prices during the week are substantially lower than weekends. The best nights in terms of price are usually Sunday through Wednesday. Thursday may be moderately expensive compared to early weekdays. Saturday is by far the most expensive night of the week in Atlantic City, followed by Friday.
Try one of these Atlantic City Online Casinos
There are nine Atlantic City casinos open. Three are owned by CaesarsEntertainment (Caesars sold Bally's in 2020 but the sale is pending):
- Bally's
- Caesars
- Harrah's
MGM Resorts owns the top-grossing casino-hotel, Borgata. ElDorado Resorts operates the Tropicana Atlantic City after a sale of the property in early 2018. Golden Nugget is owned by Landry's Inc., and Resorts is independently owned.
Borgata, Golden Nugget and Harrah's are in the Marina District. Bally's, Caesars, Resorts, and Tropicana are on the Boardwalk.
In 2018, two casinos opened in preexisting, refurbished properties. Ocean Casino Resort, the former Revel, opened its doors the same day as Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, which reopened in the former Trump Taj Mahal property.
For information about gambling revenue in Atlantic City, click here.
Atlantic City casinos in 2021
Here is a brief rundown of the nine casinos in Atlantic City:
Bally's
Bally's is on the Boardwalk and offers more than 100 table games and a poker room. Its hotel is perfect for budget-minded travelers. Wild Wild West, found along the Boardwalk under Bally's, offers low-limit games and the largest sportsbook in Atlantic City at 15,228 square feet.
Borgata
Located in the Marina District, Borgata is the flagship of Atlantic City. Owned by MGM Resorts, Borgata's luxury resort is home to more than a dozen restaurants. It has a giant poker room and a sports and race book. The limits at Borgata are reasonable, with many $5 and $10 table game minimums. All blackjacks pay 3-2. Games with a minimum bet of $25 stand on all 17s.
Caesars
Caesars is on the Boardwalk. It is owned by Caesars Entertainment and is a middle-tier resort with more than 100 table games. There are more than a dozen restaurants at Caesars, as well as two showrooms for entertainment.
Golden Nugget
Golden Nugget is a boutique hotel in the Marina District. It has several Landry's restaurants on-site. All blackjacks pay 3-2 at Golden Nugget. Its hotel rooms are more modern than most in Atlantic City, and there is a walking trail between Harrah's and Golden Nugget.
Hard Rock Atlantic City
Hard Rock AC opened its doors in summer 2018. The newly remodeled and redesigned building on the Boardwalk no longer bears any resemblance to the Trump Taj Mahal casino. The casino features 120 table games and a variety of entertainment options and restaurants.
Harrah's
Harrah's is the Atlantic City flagship for Caesars Entertainment. Located in the Marina District, it offers more than 100 table games, as well as competitive video poker. There is an after-hours pool with the latest musical acts and DJs. Harrah's is also home to a variety of dining establishments.
Ocean Casino
The repurposed Revel Hotel & Casino got a new name in early 2018 when the property was officially sold to AC Oceanwalk before transitioning ownership to Luxor Capital in early 2019. Ocean Casino opened its doors on June 28, 2018, and includes one of the more luxurious casino floors and a variety of high-end restaurants and shops. Ocean Casino is at the opposite end of the Boardwalk from Tropicana.
Resorts
Resorts is the original Atlantic City casino. Having opened on the Boardwalk in 1978, it is smaller than its competitors but still retains its playing power. Resorts offers low limits for its table games. All blackjack games stand on all 17s and pay 3-2.
Tropicana
Tropicana has an old-school feel. It is on the far south end of the Boardwalk. All blackjack tables stand on all 17s and pay 3-2. Tropicana's casino floor is separated into sections of slots and video poker.
Wild Wild West
Not usually counted among the casinos in Atlantic City, Wild Wild West is in the lower level of Bally's. It offers $5 live table games, as well as some electronic ones with even lower limits. Wild Wild West offers live entertainment, as well as two bars and restaurants.
Games at Atlantic City casinos
AC casino table games and casino videopoker are everywhere in the resort town along with hundreds of slot machines. Most are similar or share the same names as online casino games, but some are exclusive to one or two casinos.
Atlantic City sports betting
New Jersey legalized sports betting in January 2012 after voters passed a nonbinding referendum instructing the New Jersey Legislature to pass it. But the major sports leagues took issue with this.
New Jersey was not exempted under the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). Even Delaware, which was exempted under PASPA, lost its own fight with the sports leagues in 2009 and was forced to only offer parlay cards.
The fight between New Jersey and the sports leagues came to an end on May 14, 2018, when the US Supreme Court ruled that PASPA was unconstitutional. After that, the floodgates opened, and AC casinos and NJ online gambling sites got quickly up and running with sportsbooks once the NJ sports betting law and regulations were finalized.
Eight Atlantic City casinos now have retail sportsbooks up and running.
Closed Atlantic City casinos
The Atlantic Club Casino Hotel (closed Jan. 13, 2014)
The Atlantic Club Casino Hotel was actually Atlantic City's original Golden Nugget.
The property opened as The Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino in 1980. It was one of the smallest casinos in the city, but by 1983, it was the top-grossing.
Golden Nugget owner Steve Wynn sold the casino for $440 million to Bally Manufacturing in 1987 and the name changed to Bally's Grand Hotel and Casino.
Hilton Hotels Corporation bought Bally and renamed the property Atlantic City Hilton in 1998.
In 2005, Resorts International bought the casino. It ran Resorts Atlantic City and the Atlantic City Hilton for the next four years as a single entity called Atlantic City Hilton and Resorts Atlantic City.
In June 2011, the Hilton name was removed and it became the ACH Casino Resort. In February 2012, it was rebranded as a locals casino and renamed The Atlantic Club Casino Hotel. By the end of the year, the parent company of online gaming giant PokerStars entered into discussion to buy the property.
Its eye was on legalized online gambling in New Jersey. A purchase agreement was struck in January 2013, but PokerStars pulled out after having difficulty obtaining a casino license.
The casino shut its doors on January 13, 2014. Caesars Entertainment soon bought the property and Tropicana bought all the gaming equipment.
Caesars Entertainment then sold to TJM Properties in 2014. TJM made plans to reopen it as a non-gaming property. The company announced in 2017 another developer would be purchasing the property and turning it into an indoor waterpark.
The financing for this project ultimately fell through.
Showboat Atlantic City (closed Aug. 31, 2014)
The Showboat Hotel, Casino and Bowling Center opened in March 1987 on land leased from Resorts International right beside where the soon-to-be Trump Taj Mahal was under construction. The Showboat featured a 60,000-square-foot casino and a 60-lane bowling alley.
A 1995 renovation brought in a Mardi Gras theme. Three years later, Harrah's Entertainment, which is now Caesars Entertainment, bought the Showboat's parent company and took ownership.
The bowling alley became a buffet in 2001. In 2003, Showboat built a new hotel tower and remodeled the original. It also constructed a third hotel tower. But by June 2014, Caesars Entertainment made plans to close down the Showboat. The company looked to sell, but after failing to find a suitable buyer, the Showboat shuttered on Aug. 31, 2014.
In December of that year, Richard Stockton College bought the property with plans to turn it into a college campus.
They later sold it to Philadelphia developer Bart Blatstein, who reopened it as a non-gaming hotel in July 2016. Plans currently include an indoor water park on the parking lot next door to Showboat.
Trump Plaza (closed Sept. 16, 2014)
The $210 million Harrah's at Trump Plaza opened up as the biggest casino in Atlantic City history on May 14, 1984. It was a joint partnership between Donald Trump and Holiday Inn's gaming division Harrah's. It originally featured 614 rooms, seven restaurants, a 750-seat showroom, and a 60,000 square foot casino.
Competitor Hilton was soon denied a casino license on its $320 million Atlantic City Marina casino project under construction nearby. Trump came in and bought out Hilton, finished construction and opened it up as Trump Castle. Harrah's sued Trump, claiming a conflict of interest. Trump bought out Harrah's interest in Harrah's at Trump Plaza and renamed it Trump Plaza.
Trump continued building an empire in Atlantic City over the next decade, buying up existing casinos and construction projects. However, when he opened up the even larger Trump Taj Mahal in 1990, business at Trump Plaza suffered.
The property went through a bankruptcy in 1992. Trump's publicly-traded Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts ultimately gained ownership. A new East Tower opened in early 1996 as did a connection to the new Trump World's Fair.
In 2011, with Trump almost completely divested in the company, Trump Entertainment Resorts announced it was looking to sell Trump Plaza or find a financing partner for a new renovation. At least one deal to sell fell through. By July 2014, the company said it would soon shut Trump Plaza down.
In August 2014, Trump filed a lawsuit demanding the property remove his name. On Sept. 16, 2014, Trump Plaza shut down.
In June 2020, the AC mayor announced that Carl Icahn submitted a plan for the Trump Plaza demolition to take place in 2021.
A brief history of Atlantic City
New Jersey voters amended the State Constitution in 1976 to allow casino-style gambling. It became the second state after Nevada to legalize casinos. They were restricted to Atlantic City. No other parts of the state could build casinos.
On May 28, 1978, Resorts International opened as the first casino in Atlantic City. There are currently nine hotel-casinos located in the resort city.
Borgata is by far the biggest winner in terms of casino revenue. It was built in 2003. Only one casino has been built since Borgata. Revel opened in March 2012. But it fell into bankruptcy within a year after it failed to attract gamblers with its attempt to be a resort first and casino second.
New Jersey has fallen on hard times as neighboring states have legalized casinos. Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun began drawing gamblers from New York City in 1992. Today, casinos are now found in all states that border New Jersey.
This has forced New Jersey out of the second-place spot in terms of gaming revenue. Pennsylvania now has that honor.
NJ online gambling goes live
Former Gov. Chris Christie signed online gambling into law on Feb. 26, 2013. This legalized NJ online poker and online casinos in the state. Any player located within New Jersey at the time of login will be able to play interactive real money games.
Christie had twice vetoed legislation before finally signing it into law.
In March 2011, Christie outright vetoed similar legislation after citing that he felt it would take a change to the New Jersey Constitution to allow gambling outside of Atlantic City, regardless of where the actual servers were located.
On Feb. 7, 2013, Christie apparently changed his mind. While he still vetoed the bill in front of him, it was only a conditional one. He instructed the legislature to raise the tax rate from 10 percent to 15 percent and add more funds to the problem gambling services provided under the law.
The legislature approved his wishes.
Latest Atlantic City casino news
In 1977, New Jerseylegalized gambling within the confines of Atlantic City. In that time, numerous casinos have come, gone, or rebranded themselves on the Jersey Shore.
With so much flux in America's Playground, it's important to keep a running list of what options are available to Atlantic City residents and visitors.
Top Atlantic City Online Casinos
See below for the most up-to-date information about which casinos are open in Atlantic City.
Total gambling options at Atlantic City casinos
| Casino | Slot Machines | Table Games | Poker Tables | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bally's | 1,775 | 122 | 42 | Caesars Entertainment |
| Borgata | 2,995 | 188 | 79 | MGM Resorts |
| Caesars | 1,878 | 132 | n/a | Caesars Entertainment |
| Golden Nugget | 1,456 | 88 | 10 | Landry's |
| Hard Rock | 2,103 | 152 | n/a | Hard Rock International |
| Harrah's | 2,129 | 133 | 37 | Caesars Entertainment |
| Ocean Resort | 1,907 | 107 | 8 | Luxor Capital Group |
| Resorts | 1,475 | 68 | n/a | DGMB, LLC |
| Tropicana | 2,476 | 112 | 18 | ElDorado Resorts |
Open casinos
Bally's Atlantic City
Bally's Atlantic City began life in 1979 as Bally's Park Place. It later expanded to include the Claridge and Hi-Ho casinos.
Bally's is one of three casinos in Atlantic City owned by Caesars Entertainment. It is located on the southeast corner of Michigan and Pacific avenues and backs up to the Boardwalk.
Bally's has no NJ gambling site or online sportsbook to its name. However, it shares an NJ online gambling license with its sister casinos, Caesars and Harrah's. As such, the following sites are nested under Bally's license in New Jersey:
Online casinos
Online Poker
Online Sportsbooks
Borgata
Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa opened in 2003. Its proposition was unusual for Atlantic City in that it sought to create a Las Vegas-type feeling inside the casino, rather than jamming the floor with slot machines.
Borgata featured 200 table games and a 34-table poker room. Its timing could not have been better for the latter, as Chris Moneymaker's WSOP Main Event win generated unprecedented interest in poker.
Borgata expanded its poker room to 85 tables (at the time) and became the dominant poker venue on the East Coast. The success carried over to the rest of the property.
It emerged as the New Jersey revenue leader in 2005 and has never relinquished that title. As of January 2019, the entire property's year-to-date revenue far exceeds that of any other Atlantic City casino.
MGM Resorts International owns Borgata. The casino is located at the northwest corner of Huron Avenue and Brigantine Boulevard. It is one of three AC casinos in the Atlantic City Marina District.
Online casinos
- BetMGM
- Scores Casino
Online Poker
- Borgata Poker
Online Sportsbooks
- Borgata Sports
Caesars
CaesarsAtlantic City opened in 1979 as the Boardwalk Regency. At the time, it was only the second legal casino in Atlantic City.
Since then, its name has changed twice, going from the Boardwalk Regency to the Caesars Boardwalk Regency before settling on its current appellation.
The casino is located at the southwest corner of Pacific and Arkansas avenues. It is also on the Boardwalk and adjoins its sister property, Bally's.
NJ gambling sites connected to Caesars are nested under the Bally's online gambling license. However, one site carries Caesars' name: Caesars Casino & Sports (online sportsbook and casino).
Golden Nugget
The Golden Nugget name in Atlantic City is somewhat unusual in the sense that it has applied to different casinos over time. The first incarnation was on the Boardwalk and ended its life at Atlantic Club Casino Hotel when it closed in 2013.
The current version, properly known as Golden Nugget Atlantic City, is in the Marina District. It grew out of the former Trump Marina.
Landry's, the parent company of Golden Nugget, applied the name to the former Trump property after its purchase in 2011. Landry's also spent $150 million to renovate the facility into its present condition.
Golden Nugget Atlantic City is located at the eastern end of Huron Avenue in the Atlantic City Marina District.
While Borgata is the leader of land-based gambling revenue, Golden Nugget and its partners rule NJ online gambling. Monthly revenue for Golden Nugget is often double that of its closest competitor.
Online casinos
- Golden Nugget
Online Sportsbooks
Hard Rock
Hard Rock Atlantic City is a brand-new property. It opened its doors on June 28, 2018.
The casino hotel occupies the former Trump Taj Mahal. The Seminole Tribeof Florida bought the defunct property in 2017.
After its purchase, Hard Rock spent $500 million renovating the entire property. The new ownership erased any vestiges of its India-themed predecessor.
Hard Rock is located on Pacific Avenue and straddles Virginia Avenue. The property backs up to the Boardwalk.
Online Casinos
- Hard Rock online
- Bet365 Casino
Online Sportsbooks
- Hard Rock Sports
Harrah's
Harrah's Atlantic City was the first AC casino built away from the Boardwalk. The fact that the property has endured for all these years is a testament to Harrah's management.
Harrah's is home to five different hotel towers — Atrium, Bayview, Harbor, Marina, and Waterfront. The most recent, Waterfront, was completed in 2008. However, Harrah's renovated the Bayview Tower in 2017.
Harrah's Atlantic City is located northwest of Brigantine Boulevard just before it crosses the Absecon Inlet. It is in the Atlantic City Marina District.
Like its sister casinos (Caesars and Bally's), Harrah's shares its online gambling license. But it does have an online casino with its name on it.
Ocean Casino
Ocean Resort Casino opened its doors on June 28, 2018. The new casino is a renovated version of the defunct Revel, which closed after two years of operation.
Unlike its predecessor, Ocean Resort emphasizes the customer experience for mid-level bettors and visitors. The resort boasts a TopGolfSwing Suite facility, a Wahlburgers, six pools, and a state-of-the-art NJ sports betting facility.
However, in January 2019, just seven months after opening, the casino changed hands again. Former owner Bruce Deifik turned over ownership to Luxor Capital Group.
The rebranded Ocean Casino is located at the southwest corner of Oriental and Metropolitan avenues. It is on the Boardwalk, and management has removed the wall that used to separate the property from the famous walkway.
Online casinos
- Parx Casino NJ
Online Sportsbooks
Resorts Atlantic City
Resorts Atlantic City is a property with an unmistakable claim to fame. It was the very first casino built in Atlantic City.
On May 26, 1978, Resorts opened its doors and became the first legal casino in the United States outside of Nevada. It was the only casino outside Nevada until Bally's opened the following year.
Still, Resorts has kept chugging along while other properties have fallen by the wayside. It added a new hotel tower in 2004 and nearly doubled its number of available rooms.
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In 2011, the hotel and casino underwent a major renovation and adopted a Roaring Twenties theme. The buildings, personnel, and culinary offerings changed to recall the time period.
Resorts Atlantic City is one of the smaller casino properties on the Boardwalk. It is located between North Carolina and Pennsylvania avenues, next door to the new Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
For online gambling, Resorts has picked a full slate of partnerships with recognizable names. As such, its online market share has improved considerably over the years.
Online Casinos
- Resorts Casino
- PokerStars Casino
Online Poker
Online Sportsbooks
Tropicana
The Tropicana Casino & Resort Atlantic City is one of the older properties in America's Playground. It opened its doors in 1981 as the Tropicana Atlantic City.
Since then, the property has undergone several facelifts and name changes. In 1988, it opened an entertainment area called Tivoli Pier and changed its name to Tropworld Casino and Entertainment Resort.
Eight years later, Tivoli Pier closed, and management renovated the entire property and changed the name to its current label. In 2004, the property renovated further, creating a Cuban-themed shopping mall called The Quarter at Tropicana. It also owns the Chelsea Hotel next door.
The Trop was recently sold along with a few other properties to ElDorado Resorts and Gaming and Leisure Properties. Tropicana Casino & Resort Atlantic City is located at the southeast corner of Pacific and South Brighton avenues.
Online casinos
- Tropicana Casino
Online Sportsbooks
- William Hill NJ (shares its license with Ocean Casino)
Repurposed casinos
The Showboat
100 bet on. The Showboat opened its doors as the Showboat Casino, Hotel, and Bowling Center in March 1987. In 1995, the property renovated to use a Mardi Gras theme.
In 1998, Showboat became part of the Caesars Entertainment portfolio. The property built two additional towers in 2003 and 2004, but alas, the property shut its doors in 2014.
After changing hands twice, Philadelphia developer Bart Blatstein reopened the Showboat in July 2016. However, the new version of the property had no casino.
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The future for the non-gaming hotel actually looks bright. The hotel recently opened a slew of new and renovated attractions.
Showboat will benefit from its unique location. The hotel is sandwiched between the two newest Atlantic City casinos — Ocean Resort Casino and Hard Rock Atlantic City.
Showboat may find lasting success as an overflow location or backup options for these properties. The property is located at the southwest corner of Pacific and Delaware avenues.
Closed casinos
The Atlantic Club Casino Hotel
The Atlantic Club Casino Hotel closed its doors on Jan. 13, 2014. The shutdown concluded 34 years of operation for the property at the corner of Providence and Pacific avenues.
The Atlantic Club, which opened in 1980, was the city's first Golden Nugget. Owner Steve Wynn ultimately sold the property seven years later to Bally Manufacturing, which renamed it to Bally's Grand Hotel and Casino.
Financial woes led to multiple changes of ownership and multiple names. At various times, the property operated as the Atlantic City Hilton, the ACH, and finally, the Atlantic Club Casino Hotel.
Its current owner is TJM Properties. Despite plans to reopen the hotel, first as a nongaming facility, then as a waterpark, the property remains empty and dormant.
Trump Plaza
Trump Plaza opened its doors in 1984 as a joint venture between Harrah's and Donald Trump before he was elected president. The property originally had 614 rooms and a 60,000-square-foot casino.
Trump then opened Trump Castle, and his business partner claimed a conflict of interest. So, Trump bought Harrah's interest in the property and changed the name to its final incarnation.
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After 30 years of operation and a bankruptcy, Trump Plaza closed its doors in 2014. The property sits dark to this day.
