It's great to be back, said Tony Revaman of Atlantic City, who visited the casinos at least twice a week before they shut down March 16. Then, a pandemic hit. They drove past billboards on the Atlantic City Expressway advertising concerts by 70s pop acts that were never held. Yet as grim as the situation is in Atlantic City, the cautionary tale hasn't persuaded other states or localities to abandon gambling as an economic development strategy. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, The Current of Linwood NorthField and Somers Point, Amy S. Rosenberg In 2 1/2 hours on the gambling floor of the Hard Rock casino, an Associated Press reporter did not see a single customer without a face mask. I come multiple times a week. Sign up for a digital subscription to The Press of Atlantic City now and take advantage of a great offer. Welcome to Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City. The lack of dining would be enough for me to stay home, our annual summer visit was cancelled..Will re-evaluate in the fallthanks for the report Great - thanks for the tips. The party starts right at the entrance, where there's another massive guitar hanging from the ceiling, the escalators are flanked by wraparound LCD screens, and live music beckons from the lobby bar at seemingly any time of day. But it's been lapped by most other casinos in the area. Patrons for the most part observed social distancing guidelines as well, helped along by plexiglass dividers between seats at card, craps and roulette tables, and slot machines turned off at certain intervals to create distance between players. (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? <..(ta && ta.queueForLoad ? By night, you'll see a a deluge of ready-to-rage young'ns en route to The Pool After Dark -- perhaps the most universally popular nightlife option in all the city, with a full hotel pool at the club's center (the spaceunderwent a multi-million dollar renovation in 2017). "When we closed in the past, it's been for a short time. He joined the staff in 2008. Statistics for May and June were similarly dire. What's prime time look like at Atlantic City casinos? Borgata was up over 31% to $94 million; Harrah's was up nearly 31% to $28 million, and Caesars was up nearly 17% to over $25 million. Three others, Caesars, Ballys and Harrahs, will reopen Friday, after allowing their highest rollers a one-day head start Thursday. They have their work cut out for them. And so far the industry has averted a shutdown of late-night gambling. You can go for one of the aging classics to say you did it, or you can go to the best casino in Atlantic City. Smoking, drinking and eating will all be prohibited when Atlantic City's casinos reopen after being shut for three months due to the coronavirus outbreak under rules imposed by New Jersey. Only thing missing was there was no ice cream. "This is great for our generation; I love it," she said. You did not have to look long or far to find someone not wearing a mask. / CBS Philadelphia. More than a year into the Covid-19 pandemic, this desert city is looking bigger, bolder and better than ever. "This is Governor Murphy forcing businesses to die; businesses that just spent months investing and preparing to open at a time he gave his word to them on," Van Drew said. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-110155000', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Caesars into something entirely different. Oh, and did we mention Trop has an IMAX movie theater? Figures released Thursday by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement show the nine casinos and three horse tracks that offer sports betting won $427.6 million in August, compared with $326.3 million in August 2020, the first full month of restored casino operations after a 3 1/2-month shutdown due to the virus. The Ocean Casino Resort was up nearly 32% to $35 million. Alternatively, you may use, Days Inn by Wyndham Atlantic City Oceanfront-Boardwalk. We returned to the entrance so the camera could take our temperature. ), especially for a business that typically peaks between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m. Its going to be a long, slow winter, Lupo said. Visitors returning to Atlantic City noticed some changes since the casinos were last open in March. Fine dining options like Old Homestead Steak House and Wolfgang Puck American Grille abound, but the casino's basement food court is plenty good for a late-night bite. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Melonie Johnson took over as president of MGM's Borgata in Atlantic City, NJ in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic. They drove past billboards on the Atlantic City Expressway advertising concerts by 70s pop acts that were never held. The older the customer, the less frequent they have visited since reopening post-COVID, especially those over 60 years of age, said Nikki Balles, a Hard Rock spokesperson. In the meantime, casinos and their guests will have to adapt starting with a 25 percentoccupancy cap on the gaming floor. "We were here three times a week probably before it shut down," Wilsman said through a Philadelphia Eagles mask. The bill does not affect the state taxes casinos must pay on internet gambling revenue (15%) and online sports betting revenue (13%), nor the 9.25% tax on in-person casino revenue. The novel coronavirus derailed much of the progress that the city's gaming industry had made since the 2008-09 economic collapse and many local families and residents are, again, dealing with life-changing decisions as a result. The in-house steakhouse, Vic & Anthony's, is a great spot for upscale dining, but the Friday seafood buffet had the same cheap feel that you would expect at a Golden Corral and food that wasn't much better -- it was maybe the most disappointing meal we had in Atlantic City. Wilsman, like all guests attempting to enterthe casino, was subject to a thermal imaging screening to make sure his temperature did not exceed 100.4 degrees. All nine casinos posted revenue increases in August compared to a year earlier, led by the Golden Nugget, which was up over 70% to $15.8 million. He was one of the first casino operators to open sports books 24/7. Only the Borgata, the city's top-performing casino, will remain shut. Last call had come and gone at the almost comic pandemic hour of 9:50 p.m., and the exodus had begun, as gamblers carrying their takeout noodles in brown bags headed for the escalator. The industry hoped for some kind of carve-out from the governor regarding late-night food and drink, but there would be a howl of disapproval, McDevitt said. It would reduce payments for some casinos, including the Borgata, while imposing higher payments onto others, including Hard Rock. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. . Hotel-casinos in downtown and suburban Las Vegas were first to open right after midnight. I dont feel normal, but I have to try to feel normal, said Kelly Hart. We have had enough of this overblown hype surrounding a virus where 98% of those infected have asymptomatic or mild cases and where 99.7% survive. ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) Atlantic City's casinos and racetrack sports betting outlets are bouncing back convincingly from financial woes brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, taking in 31% more in August than they did a year earlier, after COVID-19-related closures ended. Diane Grieco waited outside her white stretch limousine for a group of teenagers and a mom from Howell, Monmouth County, celebrating a Sweet 16 at Hard Rocks Sugar Factory. "These results demonstrate the casino hotels made strides building customer confidence since reopening.". Joe Reader, left, and Mike Prettyman install a partition on a roulette table at the Golden Nugget Casino in Atlantic City, N.J., Thursday, July 2, 2020. The bill would change an existing law enabling the casinos to make payments in lieu of property taxes to Atlantic City, Atlantic County and the citys school system, in return for not appealing their property taxes. Casinos that offer outdoor dining still have that to lean on, but the halt on indoor restaurants means less employees returning to work. Im a smoker and Im trying to find some way around this.. Prospect senior editor and award-winning journalist Gabrielle Gurley writes and edits work on states and cities, transportation and infrastructure, civil rights, and climate. "It's not at all troublesome, bothersome. Excellent entertainment options abound (this is the Hard Rock, after all) with big names at the Etess Arena (Carrie Underwood, Maroon 5 and Rascal Flatts among them) and others at the smaller Sound Waves space, which does double-duty as the Howie Mandel Comedy Club. Erin Downey, newly 16, gave the experience a thumbs up. Phil Murphy ordered the closure of the citys nine casinos on March 16 as New Jersey continued to grapple with how best to minimize the s, Democrats and Republicans in New Jersey's congressional delegation agree on one thing: Party politics cannot stand in the way of immediate aid, OCEAN CITY The city has spent millions on flood prevention in recent years, and is in line to spend $25 million more, city Administrator Geo, Hoping to combat the high unemployment rate in Atlantic County due to the COVID-19 pandemic, dislocated or qualified unemployed residents are , In the waning days of 2020, a bill to update New Jerseys massive corporate tax credit programs is barreling through the state Legislature, 18, ATLANTIC CITY The city is poised for a development boom this year, including a new African American museum and recording studio to be built . The bottom line: The new, young and edgy Hard Rock is just what this weathered strip needs. Yet those closest to the pulse of Atlantic City are concerned about the governor's move. He reeled off several new job-creating and revenue-generating projects: a Stockton University satellite campus; a South Jersey Gas headquarters; a call center that will provide 300 new jobs. While the PM's roadmap did not include a specific mention of casinos, a Downing Street spokesperson confirmed to iGB that the venues can expect to open their doors in three months. A couple of observations besides the ones in the OP. The commenting option is not going away, however, readers will need to register for a FREE site account to continue sharing their thoughts and feedback on stories. Opening day crowds were small. It's time to go spend this.. Here are my impressions of the four casinos I visited during my 30 hours in town. Im a gambler; this is what I do., Were ready to hit it up, go big and hit it hard, and bring home cash, said his friend, Johnny Solis, also of Willow Grove, as he slipped off his sneaker and pulled out a damp wad of $1,000 in cash. NBC10's Matt DeLucia has the details. For Hard Rock, that means 3,000 patrons gambling instead of a potential 12,000. In-person gambling revenue was $262.4 million, up nearly 32% from Aug. 2020; internet gambling revenue was $113.2 million, up 29% from a year earlier; and sports betting revenue was $52 million, also up nearly 32%. Mayor permits open alcohol on Boardwalk, other areas, Gov. The Borgata said all full-time employees will be paid for two weeks,. I haven't been to Oceans yet but I agree with your overall assessments. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. I understand that no indoor dining is not a casino decision but rather a state mandate, but there are not enough eating options for large numbers of people. Now, as few as 30% may go back because restaurant and beverage workers will not be needed. "The people at the table need to change.". Now's the time, folks, especially since there was been a sizable shakeup in A.C. in 2018: both Trump Taj Mahal and Revel closed, were extensively renovated and reopened last summer as the new Hard Rock Hotel and Casino (formerly Taj Mahal) and Ocean Resort (formerly Revel). The extra precautions were not an inconvenience to the Atlantic City regular. "Instead of investing in real forms of economic growth that produced wealth for everybody, they invested in the biggest vulture that there is," says Bernal. I wish Cafe Roma would open. But that rosy scenario never materialized. Each property will operate with specific safety measures in place, the biggest being the requirement of masks for staff and guests. The new version would reduce the overall amount of payments to $110 million next year, down by about $55 million, although that would be partially offset by other payments. And many laid-off casino workers including some who until Monday night expected to be back at work within days will remain without a job. Sign up for NBC Philadelphia newsletters. Risk takers by definition, the people inside Hard Rock dont need reminding they were rolling the dice. Give me hope for Sunday in july!!! Hard Rock had a lot of take-out restaurants but we had to take our food to the boardwalk to eat. The city's best performer, BorgataHotel Casino & Spa, put its plans on hold entirely in the wake of Murphy's order. "Casinos promised economic renewal," Nero says. In 1976, visions of dollars sloshing into municipal and state coffers lured New Jersey voters into establishing casino gambling into Atlantic City. That rocked Atlantic Citys casinos, forcing them to abandon reopening plans they had spent months making. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Bobby Olivier may be reached at bolivier@njadvancemedia.com. Gary Royster of Atlantic City holds up cash he used to gamble at the Hard Rock casino in Atlantic City on July 2, 2020, the day the casino reopened after being shut down for months amid the coronavirus outbreak. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-107503642', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Bally's, will alway's be Bally's>. All rights reserved, drastically changed things both inside and outside the casino walls. #FlattenTheFear #UnMaskTheHealthy. You can cancel at any time. Please subscribe to keep reading. The rooms here are spacious and neat, Gordon Ramsay's Pub and Grill is a less financially intrusive option with lighter fare, but Caesars remains very much an old-guard party palace. The machine next to her was turned off to promote social distancing a new standard around the gaming floor. There were security guards by the elevator foyers preventing too many people from waiting in that confined area. But that was when there was a limited supply of casinos and gamblers had to travel to Las Vegas or Reno or Atlantic City to play. I'm going to assume that it is based on the individual establishments rules. The bottom line: Old and getting older quick. In fact, everything. By. Outside Hard Rock, smokers forced outside under pandemic restrictions gathered alongside limos and taxicabs. The city's best performer, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, put its plans on hold. Five of the nine casinos Hard Rock, Ocean, Resorts, Tropicana and Golden Nugget reopened their doors Thursday morning, the first day New Jersey allowed them to. ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (CBS/AP) - For the first time in 108 days, slot machines will beep, dice will tumble and cards will be dealt at Atlantic City's casinos Thursday as they reopen amid a. If you've been going there for decades and love it -- or swear by the expansive Palace Buffet -- who are we to stop you, but if you visit Caesars simply because you don't know where else to go, please keep reading. ATLANTIC CITY, New Jersey (WPVI) -- American casinos are on track to have a record-breaking year according to the American Gaming Association, making a big comeback after the pandemic. Im not able to travel. Having opened way back in 1978, Resorts is the oldest casino in Atlantic City -- and it shows. ATLANTIC CITY It was Saturday night at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, and all Joe Lupo could do was grimace. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. that is degrading to another person.Be Proactive. I'm a smoker and I'm trying to find some way around this.. Bobby Olivier and Jeremy Schneider | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino (formerly Taj Mahal). I'm sure they are renovating Cafe Roma at (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. The 3 1/2-month shutdown has been devastating to the casinos finances, as well as those of the thousands of people who work in them. A few wore full face-covering hoods that extended to their chests. Patrons for the most part observed social distancing guidelines as well, helped along by plexiglass dividers between seats at card, craps and roulette tables, and slot machines turned off at certain intervals to create distance between players. ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) Eager to hit the slot machines and table games after a 108-day absence, gamblers wore face masks and did without smoking and drinking Thursday as Atlantic City's casinos reopened amid the coronavirus pandemic that has drastically changed things both inside and outside the casino walls. * Of the three Caesar property outdoor restaurants, Guy Fieri's was my least favorite. ATLANTIC CITY It was Saturday night at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, and all Joe Lupo could do was grimace. It's now been a number of months since I've last been up to AC; earlier Feb. as a matter of fact. Now, as few as 30% may go back because restaurant and beverage workers will not be needed. Only the Borgata, the citys top-performing casino, will remain shut. Craps players and dealers are seperated by partitions at the Golden Nugget Casino in Atlantic City, N.J., Thursday, July 2, 2020. Im just trying to keep my spirits up.. Report inappropriate content jerry s Springfield, Vermont Neros Sunday Brunch will open with a new format, stay tuned. TheDraftKings Sportsbook at Resortswas under construction when we visited (it has since opened), though it definitely looked promising with stadium-style seating and HD video walls. These Valuable Pennies Are Worth Thousands. For eats, make a reservation at Amada -- celebrity chef Jose Garces' Spanish tapas masterstroke -- or the upscale steakhouse American Cut. The casinos have been closed for nearly nine weeks - the longest closure in Atlantic City's history. In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, we're taking every step necessary to ensure that you can stay focused on what matters most and leave the rest to us. Inside the Plum Lounge, a dining area for X Card holders, a step up from the music-themed casinos Rock Royalty, Raymond Saleeby, 75, of South Orange, Essex County, leaned back in his chair and pondered what he was doing spending Saturday night at the Hard Rock during a pandemic.