Golden Nugget Atlantic City Brings Back Free Parking, Will Fellow Casinos Follow?
Posted on: February 24, 2025, 09:27h.
Last updated on: February 24, 2025, 10:06h.
- Self-parking is again free at Golden Nugget
- Atlantic City casinos ditched free parking in 2023
- Golden Nugget is trying to bring back players to the Marina District property
The Golden Nugget in Atlantic City has started what many gamblers in town hope will become a new trend: free parking.
Effective last Friday, the Golden Nugget’s self-parking garage is complimentary. The casino in the city’s Marina district implemented a daily $10 charge in August 2023. Valet is now $10 Monday through Thursday and $15 on the weekends.
Golden Nugget ranked third among the nine casinos last year with gross gaming revenue (GGR) of $836.3 million. The bulk of the revenue came via the casino’s iGaming operations totaling $688.9 million.
The physical casino’s 1,100 slot machines and more than 50 live dealer table games accounted for just $147.1 million of the resort’s overall GGR.
Golden Nugget Prospecting for Players
Returning free parking garages could help Golden Nugget attract visitors.
Through three quarters of 2024, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement’s (DGE) most recently disclosed quarter, Golden Nugget’s 717 guestrooms were occupied just 55% of the time on a measly rate of $111. During the same three quarters in 2023, those rooms were occupied 56% of the time on a nightly rate of $134.
For comparison, neighboring Borgata’s 2,727 hotel rooms were booked 77% of the time at a $178 nightly rate. Borgata charges $10 to self-park and $15 for valet. Self-parking is free for MGM Rewards members at the Pearl or higher level.
At Golden Nugget, valet parking is free for 24K Select rewards members who reach the Chairman level. The tier is initiated with 10K points.
Harrah’s, the other casino in the Marina District, charges $15 a day for self-parking for nonrewards members Monday to Thursday, and $20 on the weekends.
On the Boardwalk, noncardholders pay $15 per night to self-park or valet. Hard Rock charges for self-parking based on demand, but typically ranges from $10 to $20. Resorts is $10 for hotel guests, with valet at $15.
Caesars is $20 per day through the week and $25 on the weekends. Tropicana is $15 and $20. Bally’s is $10 weeklong.
Many of the parking rates can be reduced or eliminated by participating in rewards programs.
Atlantic City Parking
Las Vegas has faced criticism of late for seemingly gouging customers with exorbitant costs for everything from hotel room resort fees to a slice of pizza. Atlantic City hasn’t been immune from upcharging and implementing fees for services previously free.
In 2016, MGM Resorts ended the perk that was made available to gamblers of all tier levels and statuses when it folded on complimentary valet and self-parking. Caesars Entertainment followed suit, prompting nearly all other Strip casinos to ditch free parking. Nevadans were afforded some free parking for nonovernight visits, and higher rewards members continued to receive complimentary parking.
The trend flew east to Atlantic City, and by September 2023, all casinos in the New Jersey casino hub charged guests to park their vehicles. Despite brick-and-mortar gaming being flat last year and occupied room nights down, the casinos didn’t welcome travelers with free parking garages.
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Last Comments ( 4 )
Parking fee at Golden Nugget a non-issue. I never go there.
Parking is free if you earn 10 points on your players card at Bally's, Caesars, Tropicana, or Harrah's. Swipe your card at a kiosk and print out a voucher. Parking is $5 at Ocean with a player's card. Hard Rock is a total rip, they charge at entrance and on weekends, it is usually $20. Resorts is inconsistent with earning points for free parking. For the pickup driving patron, Borgata and Resorts both have surface lots. Where there's a will, there's a way. The height limit at Ocean is 7', Hard Rock is kind of low at 6"4", Caesars is 7'. Harrah's is 7'.
All Atlantic city casinos needs to open up there garage parking for Pick up trucks, that is one reason my husband and I stopped going we refuse to Valli parking. lift those garage barriers back up instead of only being 6.2 feet height. Losing alot of customers that just don't own compact cars.
I used to be diamond player, then went down to platinum, I'm from Baltimore, and loved going to AC(Atlantic City), sometimes I drove or get on the Greyhound, which now is not as reliable trying to get to AC. We have the Horseshoe( which Caesars owns), then down the street about 10miles down 295 to Ann Arundel county you have Maryland Live! Casino, I parked for free in horseshoe, and the garage for Maryland Live was for casino and the mall, in AC when I parked I had diamond card so I just parked there and took the jitney( at Ceasers). Since I lost my job can't afford to play like I used to and can't afford to drive, now I get Mta mobility, so I'll start taking that to Maryland Live casino, or take the bus, don't have to worry about parking and they Mta mobility picks me back up in a 30 minute window, sometimes there late, beats taking bus, because bus don't drop me off where I live the Mta mobility does, and the Greyhound don't drop u off where u live either.