Best Casinos In Atlantic City [2023 Data!]

Atlantic City, often considered the Las Vegas of the East Coast, has a rich history as a destination for gambling. They don’t call it America’s Playground for nothing! Its famous boardwalk, beautiful beaches, and top-notch casinos have attracted crowds of tourists and gamblers for many years. Still, you will be surprised to know that there are only 12 casinos in Atlantic City, and they are struggling to put COVID-19 behind them. Despite facing challenges, Atlantic City has been consistently recovering and reinventing itself. If you want to learn about the fascinating history of Atlantic City, its famous casinos and sportsbooks, and its online gambling status, read on. 

But Did You Know These Wacky Facts About Atlantic City?

Atlantic City has a long and storied history of gambling, which has played a significant role in the city’s development and economy. But when the COVID pandemic hit the city, the gambling industry declined dramatically due to reduced revenue, labor shortage, increased expenses, and most of all, a dramatic shift to online gambling. 

In the face of adversity, casinos in Atlantic City have been striving to adjust to the changing times and bounce back from the effects of the pandemic. Some have even reported an increase in operating profits in 2022 compared to 2019. 

Here are some key points you most probably did not know about Atlantic City’s gambling history:

• The history of gambling in Atlantic City can be traced back to the late 19th century when the city started drawing in tourists and vacationers in search of leisure activities.
• Although poker rooms and gambling venues were illegal during the Prohibition Era(from 1920 to 1933), they thrived in Atlantic City. 
• In 1974, a proposal to permit casino gambling throughout New Jersey was turned down by voters. However, two years later, a new referendum was passed that allowed casinos to operate, but only within the confines of Atlantic City.
• You can learn Atlantic City’s street names by playing the Monopoly game, streets like Oriental Avenue, Atlantic Avenue, and Boardwalk.
• Monopoly is a board game inspired by the city’s streets. The game was created in 1903 under the name The Landlord’s Game. In the 1930s, the board game was updated to include street names from Atlantic City and was widely manufactured by Parker Brothers starting in 1935.
• People call Atlantic City “AC”. It is the most common abbreviation and nickname for the city. You may also hear other nicknames, like America’s Playground, The World’s Famous Playground, and The Monopoly City.
• Atlantic City’s sister cities are Cabourg in France and Zhanjiang in China.
• The city had the first boardwalk in the world.
• Steel Pier, a well-known amusement park in the United States, was once referred to as “The Showplace of the Nation.” It is located on the Atlantic City Boardwalk.
• Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is located in front of Steel Pier. It was originally the Trump Taj Mahal, which was built for $1 billion and then fined $10 million for money laundering. Later, Hard Rock International bought the hotel because the parent company went bankrupt.
• The inaugural Miss America pageant took place in Atlantic City in 1921.

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10 Most Famous Casinos and Sportsbooks In Atlantic City 

The city has a mere 38,500 residents, and roughly 3% of all New Jerseyites live in the Atlantic City region. The city has faced several ups and downs throughout the years. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic deflated a 21-month winning streak for the city’s gambling industry, which was gaining momentum and evolving rapidly. But its long and rich history, coupled with fascinating seasides and stunning casinos, helped the city to leave the devastating impacts of the pandemic behind. Below is a breakdown of the top 10 casinos in Atlantic City to help you decide where to stay during the next Labor Day Weekend!

1. Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa

Opened 20 years ago, on July 2003, Borgata is the largest hotel in New Jersey and a top-grossing casino located in Marina District, AC. The complex is owned by VICI properties and leased to MGM Resorts International. 

This opulent hotel, casino, and spa boasts over 2,000 rooms and a casino floor spanning 161,000 square feet. It features 4,100 slot machines and 200 table games such as poker, blackjack, roulette, Baccarat, novelty games, Racebook, and less common games like Pai Gow tiles and Sic Bo. Borgata’s top-notch poker program is gaining momentum, with daily tournaments held in its Poker Room, the biggest in Atlantic City. High-stakes tournaments are also held in partnership with the WPT(World Poker Tour).

In addition, Nightly Comedy Club, Gypsy Bar, Premier Nightclub, European-style Spa Toccare, luxury skincare Immersion Spa, and fine dining restaurants within the casino are some key entertainment and luxury services Borgata offers.

Borgata also offers online casino games, which is a big plus allowing those who cannot visit the casino to experience the thrill.

2. Caesars Atlantic City Casino and Resort

Opened more than 40 years ago(1979), Caesars Resort, Spa, and Casino, with its ancient Roman and Greece theme, has been committed to treating each and every guest like Roman royalty. Its owner is VICI Properties, and it was renovated three times in 1997, 2006-2008, and 2021-2023.

Caesars Casino has 145,000 sq ft of gaming space featuring more than 3,000 slot machines, video poker, and 135 table games. The casino is divided into various areas featuring unique themes and designs, including:

• Asian Gaming Area: Palace East
• The main casino floor that was redesigned recently: Slots(2nd Floor Casino)
• Table Games
• Poker Room: As of 01/03/2022, Caesars Atlantic City poker room is closed until further notice.

The complex license holder is Caesars Entertainment. There are various restaurants, permanent shows, Spas, and a Sportsbook which is the biggest in Atlantic City. The sportsbook is located at Caesars in the Wild Wild West Casino.

3. Harrah’s Atlantic City Casino

Owned by VICI Properties- Caesars Entertainment, Harrah’s Hotel and Casino offers luxury services of more than 2,000 hotel rooms, fine and casual dining, including a restaurant by the famous Gordon Ramsay. The casino has a 160,000 sq ft gaming space featuring video poker, table games, and slot machines with varying themes and denominations. The casino is well known for its Marina Waterfront theme, the Pool, and the Waterfront Shops. There is also a brand-new sportsbook offering stadium seating and private fan caves.

4. Hard Rock Casino

In 1990, the casino opened as the Trump Taj Mahal, but after Trump Entertainment Resorts’ bankruptcy, the casino was closed in 2016. Two years later, Hard Rock International took over, renovated, and reopened the casino as Hard Rock. The casino is located on the Atlantic City Boardwalk. Since reopening, the casino has become the city’s go-to entertainment destination, offering a wide variety of games, top-notch dining options, and world-class entertainment. In addition, the casino has adapted to the fast-growing online gambling industry and provides an online casino and sportsbook for those who want to feel the thrill of Hard Rock online. But the online casinos may not be available in some US states. 

5. Tropicana Casino Atlantic City

Tropicana Casino Atlantic City, named the luckiest casino in Atlantic City by Casino Player magazine for several years in a row, opened in 1981 with Old Havana, Modernism. It features over 2,600 slot machines with varying themes and paylines. With traditional table games like Blackjack, Craps, Roulette, and Mini Baccarat, as well as poker-style games such as Caribbean Stud Poker, Four-Card Poker, Texas Hold ’em Bonus, and Let It Ride, they provide non-stop table action at its best. You can enjoy fine dining restaurants within the casino after spinning some reels. They also offer one of the hottest AC nightclubs, theaters, and over 30 shops, including brands like Swarovski. 

6. Bally’s Atlantic City Casino

Bally’s Atlantic City is owned by Bally’s Corporation, was opened 43 years ago, and offers stunning views of the Atlantic City beach and Boardwalk. Following over $100 million in renovations, this oceanfront property boasts more than 1,200 rooms, 83,000 square feet of gaming space with over 1,300 slot machines (with new ones arriving daily), over 80 table games, including but not limited to Blackjack, Craps, Baccarat, Spanish 21, Let it Ride, and Pai Gow, more than 80,000 square feet of meeting space, and both valet and self-parking options. 

7. Resorts Casino Hotel Atlantic City

A Mohegan Property and running with Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment as the operating license holder, Resorts Casino opened as Chalfonte-Haddon Hall Hotel in 1904. In 1978, the casino started operating. 

This prime location spans 21 acres at the northern end of the famous Atlantic City Boardwalk, with 310 feet of frontage overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Resorts Casino has 942 rooms and suites in two hotel towers, a casino spanning 80,000 square feet, two theaters, and ten restaurants. It also has a food court with six eateries, two VIP lounges, two bars, an indoor-outdoor pool, a health club and spa, a salon, and retail stores.

The casino features over 70 table games, including Blackjack, Craps, and Baccarat. More than a thousand varying slot machines are ready to spin 24 hours a day. The DraftKings Sportsbook with 5k square ft space is a notable feature, offering an exceptional customer experience. It offers 18 betting stations, five betting counters, high-resolution LED displays, stadium-style seats with charging outlets, electronic slot machines at the bar, and an exclusive section with food and bottle service. In addition to all these, you can play online and experience Resorts Casino gaming.

8. Golden Nugget Casino, Hotel, and Marina Atlantic City

Initially opened in 1985 under the name Trump’s Castle, the casino was renamed Trump Marina in 1997. In 2011, Trump Entertainment Resorts sold the property to Landry’s, Inc., with the sale being approved in late May. The casino saw three renovations in 1997, 2006, and 2011. Golden Nugget Casino has been awarded the prestigious AAA Four Diamond Award.

Golden Nugget Casino has 74,252 square feet of gaming space with popular slot and video poker machines, table games, and a poker room. The casino also offers 717 deluxe rooms, top-notch restaurants like Chart House and Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse, nightly entertainment, and shopping.

9. Ocean Casino Resort

As Atlantic City’s tallest building, the tower boasts 1,399 guest rooms and suites with breathtaking views. Ocean Casino has a 138k square feet gaming area with live entertainment, ocean views, nearly 2,000 slot machines, and 125 table games. It also has the top Sportsbook on the East Coast, in partnership with William Hill. Guests can enjoy a variety of entertainment options, including over 15 fine dining restaurants, the Exhale Spa plus Bathhouse, three pools, a nightclub, a beach club, the Topgolf Swing Suite, shopping, and more.

10. Wild Wild West Casino 

Operated by Caesars Entertainment, WWW is a small casino attached to Caesars and Bally’s. It features a room with slot machines and video poker, as well as another room with a small table game area, a stage, electronic table games, two bars, one quick food option, and a sportsbook with over 100 seats, five fan caves, and VIP seating. 

Wrap Up

Atlantic City is home to old and nostalgic casinos, each offering its unique blend of gaming, entertainment, dining, and amenities. From the historic Boardwalk to the bustling Marina District, visitors can experience the thrill of the casino floor, enjoy world-class entertainment, and indulge in top-notch dining options. Leaving the devastating impacts of Covid-19 behind, Atlantic City’s casinos continue to attract visitors from near and far, solidifying the city’s reputation as a premier gaming destination.

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