Atlantic City Casinos
Visitors to Atlantic City can enjoy a huge variety of slot machines, live gaming tables, poker rooms, and sports betting lounges. The city also boasts modern hotels, sprawling entertainment centers, hundreds of restaurants, bars, nightclubs, shopping malls, and spas.
This page explains how Atlantic City emerged as one of the latest casino gaming markets in the world. We will highlight the gaming options and amenities available at each Atlantic City casino, and we will also discuss how to get to the city and how to stay safe at AC casinos.
Atlantic City retail casinos – 2024
There are now nine retail casinos in Atlantic City. The former Trump Plaza was demolished in 2021, marking the official end of the former president’s presence in the city, but AC is now starting to find its feet again, as revenues are ticking up and fresh investment has boosted the city’s amenities.
The casinos were initially constructed along the Boardwalk, but there are now three resorts in the nearby marina district too: Borgata, Harrah’s, and Golden Nugget. The other six casinos are located in the Boardwalk area of the city.
Bally’s Atlantic City
Bally’s Atlantic City opened in December 1979 on the site of the three former hotels: the Marlborough, the Blenheim, and the Dennis Hotel. It is now owned by Bally’s Corp., a company based in Rhode Island, which purchased the Bally’s brand from Caesars Entertainment in 2020.
This resort features more than 1,100 slot machines and 80 table games spread across an 83,000 sq. ft. gaming space. The games include craps, blackjack, baccarat, and Blaze Roulette, while there are more than 150 video poker terminals too.
The Bally Bet Sportsbook features a 25-foot LED video wall, which allows bettors to watch sporting events in style. There is also a high limit room.
Aside from the casino, this resort hosts a popular beach bar, various indoor bars, five restaurants and a food court. Live entertainment is sometimes available at The Showroom, and the hotel has more than 1,200 rooms.
Borgata
Borgata is the largest and most luxurious casino in Atlantic City. The resort boasts a 161,000 sq. ft. gaming space, with approximately 4,000 slot machines and 180 table games, including blackjack, craps, roulette, and poker-style games.
This casino also features the largest poker room in New Jersey. The 21,000 sq. ft. room hosts more than 50 cash game tables, along with a nine-table tournament area.
The Main Tower contains 1,997 hotel rooms and suites, while the MGM Tower features another 800 guestrooms, plus a two-story spa, 8,000 sq. ft. of meeting and event space, five pools, and various stores. Meanwhile, the 2,400-seat Borgata Event Center hosts regular concerts and events.
Borgata is now owned by Vici Properties and operated by MGM Resorts International. There are 15 restaurants, from B-Prime Steakhouse and Angeline by Michael Symon to casual eateries, and visitors can also explore lots of different bars and a nightclub.
Caesars Atlantic City
Caesars is an Atlantic City stalwart, which brings a dash of Ancient Rome to the New Jersey shore. The casino is huge, with more than 2,000 slot machines and 100 table games on a 145,000 sq. ft. gaming space.
This resort is also renowned for hosting some of the best restaurants in Atlantic City. They include Nobu, Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen, Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill, and Superfrico.
Visitors can take in marble columns, ornate statues, and marble floors when heading to the various restaurants and bars. The venue also hosts regular shows, and there is a large Caesars Sportsbook too at this casino, which is owned by Vici Properties and operated by Caesars Entertainment.
Golden Nugget Atlantic City
This famous resort was previously known as Trump Castle and then Trump Marina. Landry’s purchased the property in 2011 and renamed it Golden Nugget Atlantic City.
The property features a 74,000 sq. ft. casino, which includes around 1,500 slot machines and 100 table games. There is also a 24/7 sportsbook with self-service kiosks and five video walls.
There are eight restaurants, including Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse and Chart House, plus a couple of bars, a retail corridor, a spa and salon, and live music in the entertainment center.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino opened on the site of the former Trump Taj Mahal in 2018. The Seminole Tribe of Florida, which owns Hard Rock International, purchased the facility after its parent company went through bankruptcy.
The resort now features a giant guitar out front, while music memorabilia lines every wall. The standout pieces include Elvis Presley’s 1963 Rolls Royce Phantom, Michael Jackson’s glove, and John Lennon’s handwritten lyrics to “Imagine.”
The Etess Arena has hosted the likes of Carrie Underwood, Maroon 5 and Rascal Flatts, and up-and-coming artists and comedians often perform at the smaller Sound Waves venue. The Daer Nightclub and Scores Gentleman’s Club offer superb views of the Atlantic Ocean, and the best restaurants include Council Oak Steaks & Seafood, Kuro, and Il Mulino New York.
Hard Rock’s casino floor features more than 2,300 slot machines and 130 table games. Video keno and video poker are available too, and there is also a Hard Rock Sportsbook.
Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City
Harrah’s is one of three Atlantic City casino resorts run by Caesars Entertainment, along with Caesars Atlantic City and Tropicana. It features one of the largest hotels in New Jersey, with more than 2,500 rooms in the city’s marina district.
The casino stretches across 150,000 sq. ft. and features around 1,800 slot machines and 140 table games. There is also a 28-table poker room, which hosts Hold’em, Omaha, and 7 Card Stud cash games.
In 2008, Harrah’s completed construction of the Waterfront Tower, which includes a pool and spa, in a bid to compete with the nearby Borgata. There are three restaurants run by celebrity chefs too: Gordon Ramsay Steak, Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay, and Chicken Guy!
Harrah’s Atlantic City is the top nightlife destination in the region too. The 3,500 sq. ft. Pool After Dark dome features poolside entertainment from the hottest DJs, cabanas, hot tubs, and VIP bottle service, plus a rooftop deck, making it a high-energy, immersive nightlife experience like no other in Atlantic City.
Ocean Casino Resort
Ocean Casino Resort is the tallest building in Atlantic City. There are LED lights at the top of the 718 ft. tower, and they display a wide variety of designs and colors in the night sky.
This venue was initially known as Revel when it opened in 2012, but it was rebranded as Ocean Casino Resort following a grand reopening in 2018. Ocean is the northernmost casino on the Atlantic City Boardwalk, with a 130,000 sq. ft. gaming space that features more than 1,800 slot machines, 130 action-packed table games, and a sportsbook. There is also a high limit table games area, which allows high rollers to enjoy blackjack, roulette, baccarat and other games.
This resort hosts the largest TopGolf Swing Suite in the country. There are 11 bays, a virtual putting machine, interactive multi-sport games, plus a bar and restaurant.
The hotel features 1,860 guest rooms, many of which offer superb views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Atlantic City skyline. Restaurants include Amada, Linguini by the Sea, and Ocean Steak, while HQ2 Nightclub and Nola’s Bar & Lounge are the main nightlife hubs.
Resorts Casino Hotel
Resorts became the first legal casino outside of Nevada when it opened in 1978. The resort has undergone several renovations and expansions in the ensuing decades, and it has featured a Roaring Twenties theme since 2011.
DMGB Casinos now owns the venue, which is operated by Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment. Resorts Casino has an 80,000 sq. ft. gaming space, with more than 1,300 slot machines, over 60 live table games, virtual table game terminals, and a DraftKings Sportsbook.
There are 942 guest rooms spread across two historic hotel towers. Resorts also features 10 restaurants, a food court, and two theaters.
Visitors can enjoy the Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville complex, which includes the Margaritaville restaurant, the 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar, and a year-round beach bar called LandShark Bar & Grill. AC Jokes Comedy Club also features performances from up-and-coming comedians.
Tropicana Atlantic City
The Trop is one of the most popular casino resorts in Atlantic City. The glitzy casino features more than 2,600 slot machines and over 130 table games in a vast space. There is also an 18-table poker room and a sportsbook.
Visitors are drawn to The Quarter at Tropicana Casino in Atlantic City. This Old Havana-inspired shopping district sells everything from cheap souvenirs and salt-water taffy to luxury wines and dazzling jewelry.
The Quarter also features lots of bars and restaurants, so it is a great place to spend the day. Some of the best restaurants at Tropicana include Ossu Asian Tavern, Il Verdi, and Carmines, while party animals can visit the Las Vegas-style nightclub Anthem, Kiss Kiss Nightclub, Gin Rickey’s, Planet Rose Karaoke Bar, The Royce, or Boogie Nights, a dance club that plays music from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.
More about New Jersey gambling
An Atlantic City history
Atlantic City is now firmly established as the second-largest commercial casino market in the United States. The latest figures from the American Gaming Commission show that Atlantic City trails only Las Vegas, leaving it ahead of Chicagoland, Baltimore-Washington DC, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
How did this 17 square mile strip of New Jersey coastline become widely known as the “Las Vegas of the East Coast?” Let’s delve into a brief history of Atlantic City.
The early days
Atlantic City gained a reputation as “the world’s playground” in the 1920s. Gambling was rife in the back rooms of speakeasies and restaurants during the Prohibition era, as chronicled in the HBO series Boardwalk Empire.
However, its fortunes began to wane after the Prohibition ended, and it became plagued with poverty and crime after World War II. Tourists were flying to Miami Beach and the Bahamas instead of driving to Atlantic City, and the city was desperate for revitalization.
It was handed a lifeline in 1976, when New Jersey voters approved a constitutional amendment legalizing casinos in Atlantic City. Two years previously, they had rejected the chance to legalize casinos on a statewide basis, but they were happy for Atlantic City to become a gaming destination.
Gov. Brendan Byrne signed the New Jersey Casino Control Act on June 2, 1977. The following year, Resorts Atlantic City became the first casino to open in the eastern United States.
At the time, Nevada was the only state with casinos, but Atlantic City quickly emerged as a major rival to Las Vegas. Caesars Boardwalk Regency, now rebranded as Caesars Atlantic City, launched in 1979, followed by Bally’s and then by Harrah’s in 1980.
The peak of Atlantic City’s popularity
Atlantic City enjoyed a major resurgence in the 1980s and 1990s. Donald Trump played a key role in shaping its economic fortunes, launching Trump Plaza, Trump Castle, and then Trump Taj Mahal.
The latter was branded the “eighth wonder of the world,” and it was significantly larger than any other casinos in the city. Trump’s arrival helped elevate the status of the city, as he presided over concerts, boxing cards headlined by Mike Tyson, and events featuring A-list celebrities.
However, Trump Taj Mahal was partially financed by junk bonds, and the debt load became unsustainable, leading to bankruptcies and other financial issues.
Borgata opened in 2003, sparking renewed hope for Atlantic City’s future. However, the city was dealt a major blow the following year, as Pennsylvania passed the Race Horse Development and Gaming Act.
That allowed racetracks in the Keystone State to add slot machines, turning them into racinos, and they were eventually permitted to launch table games too. Atlantic City casinos were heavily reliant on players from Pennsylvania, and that trade began to dry up, sending the city into decline.
New Jersey legalized online casino gaming in 2013. The land-based casinos in Atlantic City were handed master licenses, allowing them to host online casino “skins,” which provided them with a vital new source of revenue, but it contributed to a further decline in visitors to physical Atlantic City casino resorts.
Non-casino reasons to visit Atlantic City
Many of the best amenities in Atlantic City are located inside the casino resorts. However, there are lots of other things to do and see in the city. Here are five more reasons to visit Atlantic City:
Free access beach
Unlike most beaches in New Jersey, it is free to access the Atlantic City beach. You can relax in the powdery sand, soak up the sun, take a refreshing dip in the Atlantic Ocean, or enjoy kayaking, fishing, or parasailing.
Boardwalk
Walking down the famous six-mile Boardwalk is a must for visitors to Atlantic City. You can buy salt-water, enjoy classic amusement rides, including a swing carousel and The Wheel, which is the third-largest observation wheel in the United States, and visit the historic Steel Peer.
Tanger Outlets
Atlantic City offers tax-free shopping on clothes and shoes. The standout destination is Tanger Outlets, which features a collection of more than 60 outlet stores, covering famous names such as Nike, Chico’s, American Eagle, Pandora, and Kate Spade New York.
High-quality restaurants
There are also lots of famous restaurants located outside of the casino resorts in AC. Perhaps the most noteworthy is Tony Baloney’s, which is Instagram-famous for its unusual creations, such as Taco Taco Taco, Jersey Fist Pump, and Lobsta Roll pizzas.
If you’re looking for something a little more old-school, Chef Vola’s has served up classic Italian dishes in an intimate setting since 1921.
Absecon Lighthouse
This is the third-tallest masonry lighthouse in the United States. You will need to climb 228 steps if you want to visit the top of this 171 ft. lighthouse, but it’s worth the effort for the spectacular views.
Traveling to Atlantic City
It is easy to reach Atlantic City from major cities like New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington. Here are the best ways to get there:
New York City
Take the Garden State Parkway if you are driving to Atlantic City, as it should take approximately 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take 319 bus from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan, which takes around 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Philadelphia
It will take around an hour to drive from Philly to Atlantic City via the Atlantic City Expressway. Alternatively, you can take the bus from 199 Spring Garden, which will take 1 hour and 15 minutes to reach Atlantic City. The Atlantic City Rail Line also offers a daily service from Philadelphia 30th Street Station to Atlantic City Rail Terminal, which takes 1 hour and 35 minutes.
Baltimore
Head northeast on I-95 towards Philadelphia and then take the Atlantic City Expressway, which will take about 2 hours and 30 minutes in total. If you need to take a bus, it will take 3 hours and 20 minutes. Head to Baltimore Downtown Bus Station at 2110 Haines Street to catch the bus.
Washington DC
It will take around 3 hours and 20 minutes to drive from Washington DC to Atlantic City via I-95 and the Atlantic City Expressway. If you do not have a car, you can use Greyhound, FlixBus, or OurBus from Union Station, which will take just under 5 hours.
Stay safe in Atlantic City
Atlantic City has one of the highest crime rates in America, according to figures released by the FBI. However, the criminal activity is largely clustered away from the Boardwalk and the marina, where the casino resorts are located.
The casinos and attractions highlighted in this page are located in relatively safe areas, but it is always important to stay vigilant. Stick to the touristy areas and don’t wander too far off the beaten path, especially after dark.
Pickpockets operate in the casino districts, so it is advisable to secure your wallets, purses, cash, cards and other valuables safely. Pockets with zips can be helpful, and it is also important to keep an eye on any bags you are carrying.
Atlantic City FAQ
There are currently nine casinos in Atlantic City: Bally’s, Borgata, Caesars, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock, Harrah’s, Ocean, Resorts, and Tropicana. They are all licensed and regulated by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, so all of the slot machines and gaming equipment has been independently tested and verified for fairness and accuracy.
Resorts Casino Hotel is the oldest casino in Atlantic City. The casino opened on the Atlantic City Boardwalk in May 1978, 11 months after former Gov. Brendan Byrne signed the New Jersey Casino Control Act. Caesars Atlantic City opened the following year.
Yes, the original Monopoly game was based on locations in Atlantic City. It has now been adapted for a wide variety of cities across the world, but the first game was inspired by the segregated Atlantic City of the 1930s.
It takes approximately two hours to drive from New York City to Atlantic City via Garden State Parkway. If you do not have a car, the best option is to take the 319 bus from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan, which takes two-and-a-half hours to reach Atlantic City.
New Jersey voters rejected the chance to legalize casinos on a statewide basis in 1974. Two years later, they approved a separate proposal legalizing casinos in Atlantic City, but not in other parts of the state. That led to the Casino Control Act, which only covers Atlantic City.
Meet our team
