Atlantic City Casino Guests Express Frustrations, Argue Resorts Out of Touch
Posted on: March 21, 2025, 12:52h.
Last updated on: March 21, 2025, 08:57h.
- Atlantic City casinos are facing criticism from their loyal guests
- Poor odds, dirty rooms, and little entertainment are top grievances
- Players say room comps have largely disappeared
Executives of Atlantic City casinos might be wise to sit quietly for a moment and hear from their guests, many of whom have become increasingly upset over how the businesses have continually increased fees, tightened slots, and worsened table game odds.
Earlier this week, Casino.org covered February gross gaming revenue numbers for the nine casinos in Atlantic City. The monthly data filing revealed that in-person gaming win for the nine properties contracted by over 4%, a loss of over $8.1 million compared with February 2024.
Our coverage sparked dozens of comments from Atlantic City patrons who dished their opinions on why the New Jersey casino town is struggling. Nearly all of the comments expressed outrage over being nickel-and-dimed, disappearing perks and room comps, escalating fees for parking and room stays, and poorer odds on the casino floors.
“The casinos better get smart. The real gamblers know when they are being ripped off,” one commenter on our coverage warned. “Everybody understands what gambling is, but when the minimums on the felt are $25 and the machines are not paying at all, that is bloodsucking.”
“I’ve gone to Borgata since it opened. They now act like they don’t know me. Nothing as far as comps. The whole place has changed,” said Joe.
“I have been going to AC from Connecticut for 30 years — three to four times a year when we get comped rooms. Always used to get comped two nights and buffet vouchers from Borgata. Well, no more, so we don’t go,” added Dan F.
Caesars Flak, Dirty Rooms
The dozens of comments expressed an array of frustrations about Atlantic City, with Caesars’ three properties — Caesars, Tropicana, and Harrah’s — bearing the brunt of the critiques.
Anthony B. and Kelly both took issue with Tropicana, a property they said they patronized for years until it went downhill. Anthony said the Boardwalk casino is now “roach-infested.”
“They can’t even give the rooms away. Invest some money in the town and the first thing to do is get rid of the corrupt mayor,” Anthony said. “He [Marty Small Sr.] won’t give out permits unless you give him a payoff.”
Kelly said during her last stay at the Tropicana that her room “looked clean but the bathroom smelled like a urinal.” She added that she’s since taken her business to Caesars but “can’t win there.”
The three Caesars properties got stingier with the comped rooms. I go about 70% less than I used to,” added JD.
“Harrah’s is a total ghetto dump,” opined Dan F. “Oh, and stop the nonsense with the $25 and $50 table minimums at 7 am on a weekday — total idiot executives.”
Poor Payouts
Others expressed disappointment with Atlantic City casinos taking a page out of the Las Vegas playbook by implementing 6:5 odds for blackjack. The change from 3:2 increases the house’s odds and lowers a player’s payout.
Before COVID, Atlantic City had decent blackjack table. Now blackjack is 6:5. They cram tables. Minimal side bets. They intentionally shut tables to cram them to decrease a player’s chances of winning. And they wonder why casinos are turning back into ghost towns,” declared Ronald.
“Since MGM bought Borgata, my winning has stopped,” added Mike G. “‘Wheel of Fortune’ machine prices are out of control. You have to bet at least $7 to get the wheel. FanDuel [Online Casino] is constantly giving free bonuses. I used to go to AC for summer vacations. Not anymore.”
“Everything is too expensive in AC. I was at Golden Nugget last night. Paid $20 for a small cheeseburger and $5.50 for a Diet Coke. Hard Rock is even more expensive. It’s just not practical to gamble in AC,” said Don M.
Little Entertainment, Much Smoke
People go to Atlantic City not only to gamble. Nongaming offerings, however, have become increasingly scarce.
Right now, there is only one show to see. Most of us are not gambling addicts. We include gaming as part of our experience along with dining, shows, and in the summer the Boardwalk and the beach,” said RMX. “AC better get smart and start treating their patrons better.”
Indoor smoking on the Atlantic City gaming floors has also turned some off.
“AC casinos are pathetic. As soon as you walk in, they stink like an ashtray. When will the executives realize most people don’t smoke and don’t want to be exposed to a toxic environment?” asked Joseph.
I enjoy Parx in Pennsylvania and being able to breathe,” Joseph continued. Parx is a smoke-free casino north of Philadelphia.
“I lose time after time. I’m a mid-level gambler. I waste $1,000 a visit and I’m done in an hour, two if I’m lucky,” said Ron, who added that his money seems to last longer gambling online. “Why expose myself to smoking and people hacking and sneezing?”
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Last Comments ( 96 )
The comments about the Borgata changing for worse since MGM Resorts took over are right on the mark. As a 20 year employee, I (and other long term employees, the few who haven't quit) can state that the Borgata went from the best place I've ever worked in my 45 years of steady employment, to the absolute worst. Under the previous management, employees were proud to represent the Borgata, as they were the reason for it's success as the #1 resort on the east coast. Management recognized this and showed their appreciation, encouraging us and giving us the tools to continue doing so. The good vibes and positive attitudes were in turn picked up on by customers who responded in kind, and with one feeding of the other, it created a cycle of enthusiasm and satisfaction. Then came MGM, who operates solely on systems and software that reduces customers and employees alike to digital data, and leaves no room for personality or individual ititiative to shine. Morale has plummeted, and most of those who made the Borgata what it was have left, disgusted at what it has become, and the fact that they're prevented from being as good as they know they can be because their operating systems can't accommodate initiative when it comes to customer service. And the customers can sense this, because they're not as stupid as MGM seems to think. The irony of the situation is the endless training employees are forced to undergo to learn customer service skills, when they should be the ones leading the way. The few originals that are left, like myself, are only still there because we're too close to retirement to jump ship now. We're the front line, the ones who actually interact with our customers and can tell that a lot of once familiar faces are no longer coming, and the ones that do are not happy, for the reasons I've mentioned and those in other comments. But try to relay customer beliefs that the Borgata experience has suffered under MGM management to one of their execs, like I did once, and the answer you'll get is, "that's just perception". I guess the customer's not always right after all. And no, I'm not a disgruntled employee, I'm a frustrated one.
The in casino smoking for me is a deal breaker. Plus now everytime I walk the boardwalk someone asks me for money. Plus the resort fee is bullshit. Foxwoods and Mohegan sun waive it if room is comped. Not like it used to be. I'll stay home
I had been going to the Borgata since it opened. I probably traveled from Pennsylvania to Atlantic City to the borgata about seven or eight times a year I've always had a high level card. April 2021 when smoking was still not allowed in the casino because of the pandemic, I went right out front in the valet area to have a quick cigarette before we took our food from the noodle bar up to our room to eat. I tripped walking back in and ended up in the emergency room when I got there $2,000 out of my purse and a $600 voucher were missing. I ubered back to the hotel about 2:00 in the morning by myself with a concussion and stitches. The next day I went down to security to report my theft and my injuries and they treated me like I was crazy refused even though I opened up a case to find my money and my voucher they never contacted me they could care less also the same night a 70year-old woman was robbed in the elevator. Since MGM bought it it is horrible it's not safe it's not clean and they don't care what happens I will never go back again if they can afford to lose all this money they deserve it. now I go up to Mohegan Sun in the Poconos and they treat you like royalty so nice beautiful clean rooms great restaurants and lots of comps. It's not like we don't have casinos closed to my home as I have one a couple miles away called Hollywood casino where they still haven't learned anything, they have been open 10 plus years and still don't know how to treat people The food is horrible they can't comp rooms it's not a hotel and they expect you to go out there for $10 lol
I love AC. However, it costs almost the same for me to go to Vegas
A disgrace, this Atlantic City is a disgrace, the whole city is a disgrace, always has been, always will be
I also like to go down to AC it's time spent with my dad but he spends $1,000 I spend a couple hundred . But it's ridiculous that a big win is $12 and a huge win is 45 bucks back in the day they used to give you much better payouts and as everyone else has said in order for you to even get bonuses or have the opportunity for a jackpot you have to have Max bet which is outrageous most people who go down AC are just regular people looking to enjoy themselves and possibly make a few bucks. Understanding the few dollars they have they're willing to lose just to enjoy themselves but it's not enjoyable anymore hard Rock used to give us free play and food comps they don't give that anymore so we don't go there anymore and will probably stop going all together at some point it's a shame because we used to have fun
I got sick of how rigged the online slot at at retrievers, mgm and Caesars. I switched to the sweeps casinos and outside of payouts taking a day or two are heads and shoulders above the big boys. I know they are lobbying states to get the sweeps shut down. The sweeps give daily bonuses. And when you buy coin packages like I did this morning I paid 25 and got 50 it's only one play through. The casinos gonna go the the way of the dinosaurs
I keep detailed gambling records. Since MGM took over control of the Borgata, the slot payouts have plummeted. Not just me, I've talked to other customers and employees and theycall agree.
Yes i agree. I used to get free rooms at oceans, hard rock and caesars. Not any more. Me and my wife go to ac 2-3 times monthly and we gamble and lose almost every single time to the point we just started staying home and betting on fan duel. Better chances there and sports betting. Also yes the smoking stinks and sucks. They should force you to go outside to smoke!! Everything is over priced. We used to have a good time no matter if we hit or not but now we dont get nothing for losing. Not even a comp room ever!!! So guess until its gets better we gonna take a break as well
Worst is the parking fees. No other casinos charge no wins on slots and way over priced horrible food. No problem with out of state casinos. No parking fees. Better food and once in a while win in slots. At least enough to keep playing
Honestly Resorts has the Best Comps anymore as well as a Reasonably priced food court with a lot of options. I go 1-2 per month and Always enjoy it there. The Only downside is going on the boardwalk there because it feels like a zoo out there. There’s too many bums and criminals there
I live in New York I went to resorts world Jake 58 they all suck in New York's the tax laws stink $600 you're paying tax on and they take the taxes right out of your winnings it's run by the lottery commission that's why I always love going to Atlantic City Plus there is no free drinks and you cannot smoke in any other places the way the Atlantic City casinos think just like Mohegan Sun and foxwoods we don't have to give you anything there's no competition that's the problem call Chris Downey at the Tropicana and tell him how you feel he's the vice President of operations
I've been going to Atlantic City for about 20 years the Tropicana used to be great until Caesars took it over they got really tight on the comps I can't and praying for meals you cannot win there anymore I've been going for a long time just in the past 3 years I haven't won anything you got to get really lucky to hit a big jackpot or a jackpot at all corporate greed that's the problem they worry about the stockholders and the CEO's big salad but without us they don't have a casino we keep it going
Gonna just stay in state at the Incredibly still popular , Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun. Not driving 8 hours round trip for a negative experience. And wait until New York has real tables and normal games in the near future. We will get their cards and start getting comped at those casinos, with only half the driving distance. Even the JITNEYS are wacking everyone more now. Hope AC can survive from Memorial to Labor Day. Start marketing back to people with offers to entice us to come back. YOU need us, we don't need you.
Go to colorado and gamble, its 100% smoke free everwear Its the LAWWWWWWWWW......