Top Atlantic City Casino Executive Predicts ‘Renaissance’ for New Jersey Beach Town
Posted on: April 6, 2025, 12:08h.
Last updated on: April 6, 2025, 12:08h.
- Atlantic City is gearing up for a busy summer season
- A top casino official is predicting a renaissance of the casino town
- Atlantic City is returning its annual airshow this July
President Donald Trump’s tariffs imposed on countries worldwide caused a global selloff last week, with investors in the United States seeing trillions of dollars in wealth wiped out.
Tariffs are expected to create higher costs for nearly all goods and products. While that will increase operating overhead for the nine casinos in Atlantic City, there could be a silver lining for the resorts.
“I think a lot of people will consider Atlantic City because it is close as a destination,” Mark Giannantonio, president of the Casino Association of New Jersey and Resorts Casino Hotel, told Casino.org.
Giannantonio explained that tariffs could result in consumers reigning in a bit of their spending and being more budget-conscious. That could result in some gamblers opting for closer casinos than say a trip to Las Vegas.
It’s an easy drive [for many]. Gas prices have been relatively stable. And our room rates, relative to some of the bigger non-gaming markets, are really of value to people who are paying cash,” Giannantonio continued.
According to the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, the average casino guestroom in Atlantic City last year went for about $183. Ocean Casino Resort was by far the highest at $281. Golden Nugget was the cheapest at $111.
Giannantonio says the resorts are “better capitalized” than they’ve been “in decades” and he’s anticipating “a true renaissance” in the coming months and years.
Atlantic City Value
Giannantonio says Atlantic City remains a premier destination for leisure travelers and business events. He says along with its ocean and abundance of slot machines and table games, Atlantic City is primarily known for its value.
We’re really perceived as a value,” Giannantonio said. “Our restaurants provide a great, significantly high experience for the price we charge compared to New York or Philadelphia.”
Giannantonio says an abundance of non-gaming entertainment also remains in Atlantic City. Atlantic City will also welcome a new airshow after last summer’s event was canceled.
“I’m encouraged. I’ve seen the entertainment lineup for the summer and I think it will be stronger than last summer,” Giannantonio said. “Boardwalk Hall will have a number of shows that can draw 13,000 people.”
Giannantonio also says Atlantic City guests looking for rest and relaxation can once again recharge on the beach after millions of dollars were spent to rehabilitate the sand on the Boardwalk’s northern end where his Resorts, Hard Rock, and Ocean stand.
“Last summer, we had no beach on the north side. We have a brand new beach. It’s beautiful,” he added.
New Marketing Agency
In February, Visit Atlantic City and DO AC merged to create a cohesive destination brand and message that “resonates with both leisure and business travelers.”
Visit Atlantic City was Meet AC until its 2022 rebranding. The agency, a public-private partnership by the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, was founded to promote economic development through leisure tourism, conventions, sports, and film production. Visit Atlantic City now includes DO AC, a marketing campaign established in April 2012.
Visit Atlantic City says a few notable entertainers coming to the shore this spring include Jerry Seinfeld (Borgata, April 11), Zac Brown Band (Hard Rock, April 25-26), Kelly Clarkson (Hard Rock, May 10), MJ Live (Resorts, May 24), Lynyrd Skynyrd (Ocean, May 30), and David Foster, Chris Botti, and Katharine McPhee (Caesars, June 14).
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Last Comments ( 16 )
Seperatly, this city needs some darn help and I'm tired of these casinos making/taking all this money and not putting it back into the community. Truly it's a sad thing to see these people living next to paradise but somehow in terrible poverty. We give back to the people every time we drive into the city. There are also many small businesses around to shop at which we always do instead of buying over priced items at the casino. The roads are actually worse than Philadelphia and thats saying a lot. Like another person commented there definitely needs to be activities held. The amount of people the casinos attract could easily help support the community with fundraising activities on the boardwalk or beach. Get over yourselves and do something for the people who actually live there.
STAY AWAY FROM OCEANS CASINO! Me and my partner are locals and have played here for over 2 years mainly because the rooms are nice and it's separated from the casino. However, things are constantly breaking there including elevators (this is unfortunately often) a little girl has even gotten stuck on our floor while we were there it was terrible. We are prime members and use to be able to upgrade to suites in the slow season but we were told that's no longer true because oceans would rather keep them open for someone who wants to pay (typically late night drunks, the manager informed us this). While the rooms are nice they aren't usually fully clean, we've encountered many rooms with trash, hair, unclean surfaces, and dust mountains. Summer is a NIGHTMARE here with the amount of kids crawling around this place, you will also have a hard time sleeping because theyre next door or upstairs. If you're going to gamble the tables are filled with business people who carelessly throw their money away...this is often because Oceans hosts conferences literally every week. The dealers are miserable, some very entitled. My partner dropped the f bomb, not loud or aggressively or toward anyone he simply lost a hand and the dealer said she would stop the game because she doesn't tolerate that language and actually wouldn't deal the cards! This was our last time playing here because the dealers are absolutely out of their mind. The pit boss checked her but we were already so over this place. No one wins big or for long on their tables. Lastly, our biggest turn off is the rewards. The kiosks were nice and we noticed we got more perks when they were around. Now you have to play slots to even get most of the free gifts no matter how much money you drop in that place. We were playing with thousands of dollars and our comp dollars would go up PENNIES but when we first started coming we were getting very nice comps. Stick to the Caesers locations a lot of them have updated their rooms and that was about the only thing keeping us at Oceans. Hard rock is decent. Overall you get the most out of Trop, Harrahs and Caesers.
AC is terrible: Boardwalk is terrible, restaurants on boardwalk is terrible, parking is terrible ($20), casinos slots are tight, casino workers are rude, hotel rooms are expensive. Nothing but dinosaurs in gaming. I hope they make it family friendly town with boardwalk and ocean.
Atlantic city came close to being what they were hoping as far as revitalizing in the very beginning then it became nothing other than the bottom line, all of the executives that were brought from Vegas and knew how to run a casino were fired and their assistants and managers were promoted for less money. That was the beginning of the toilet flush. Less and less customer appreciation began and only high rollers were paid attention to. All the tax money has disappeared with no revitalizing. Homeless and addicts are all over the boardwalk. Since legalization of Marijuana, there's a dispensary every 5 blocks. Just as Mark thinks people will stay closer than traveling to Vegas, people will stay closer to Pennsylvania. When New York opens, it will be the end of Atlantic city.
The city need to focus on fixing Atlantic Ave that road is the most important in the city and is the worst road. Need to fix it cause the city all they think about it is making money but how about are city streets are so bad that it ruined people's vehicles. I really don't know what the city mayor do with the money. Plus the city need to enforced the homeless issue too many people are living in the street of Atlantic City. Why don't the city or the state focus on getting a shelter that would be safe for just the homeless people. build a shelter for this people to feel free somewhere that they can stay and goes in and out freely without having too much restrictions like it the mission is not a good place cause. You need a place that can be monitored by acpd and have beds and kitchen. Health care. And the homeless that got mental illness. Should be under special care. and focus on fixing the abandoned buildings around the city. Make Atlantic City a better city. Make it pacific Ave a better place. Make it more bright like putting lights that changed colors through out the city. And buildings like it the casinos all the casinos should have the entire casinos building changing colors just like Harrah's casino back in the days. Make it Atlantic City a city that people wanted to visit at night cause they wanted to see how beautiful it looks with the entire city lighting up with different colors and sides effects. Make it pacific Ave only a commercial zone. And better view to the board walk. We need a city that can out looks the rest of the others casinos surrounding states. And make it everything more affordable for the community. And enforced the city laws so anyone's that trying to commit any crimes to are tourism would faces the maximum penalty of the laws. And every public place like it bus station and train station should have 24/7 police security and metal detector on every public places in the city. Including casinos. And also if the city have any families history criminals on our city living in are city would be mandatory force to move out of the cities. Would be banned from entering the city. That way I'll keep the city more safe and a better city. Plus anyone catch with a weapon or gun. Or any used of illegals guns or drugs. Would be face the maximum penalty of the law. And would be banned from Atlanta city. We should keep a drugs free city and crime free city. By getting every criminal out of are city. And person with criminal records would be mandatory moved and placed some where always from the city at least 20 miles away. Would be banned from take it are public transportation into the city. And the city also needs around the beach or near the beach urgent cares facility s. And fixing all the street through out the city. Opening more casinos. And make it Atlantic City the city that it should be. Well that's my plan for a better Atlantic City.
Hilarious who is in charge of the city? -why don't we have a real mayor that actually changes this city? -why is there activities, gyms, athletics beach volleyball ETC. -why is there no youth attractions more go karts rides, fun things to do -why do stores not sell beach toys who the hell wants to buy lingerie on the boardwalk before they go build sandcastles -why aren't there any food carts or vendors with lower/mid cost food options for families / everyone -i could go on and on maybe I should run
I'm just here to write a comment without using approximately 47,325 exclamation points. Like everyone else already mentioned here, I agree people will return if they feel safe and find value in making the trip. Overcharging for weekend rooms and parking without reinvesting that money in safety, renovations/development, or non-gaming options just cements Atlantic City's bad reputation among casual travelers. And that's a shame, because where else in America can you gamble across the street from the ocean?
Atlantic City is a bummer. Has been for decades. I like Vegas because parking at the casinos is free and they are very family friendly. If people are coming to AC strictly to gamble, they can go gamble closer to home. Philly, New York, Connecticut, Delaware, etc.
Who wrote this article?? No way this seedy hole ever has a Renaissance...
Atlantic City is the only casino resort in the WORLD with an ocean-beach- and boardwalk !!!!!! Since day one the casino operators have had blinders on. They did away with major National conventions Tried to keep you inside 24/7 instead of letting people enjoy the total package that AC has to offer This is not a desert!!!! Every beach resort in New Jersey is successful without gambling They are clean and offer what beach resorts should!! I have a business on the boardwalk and as a family run business we have been on the boardwalk for 75 years…. Since 1950!!! I haven’t seen many of my customers for up to 15 years or more and it’s not because of competition!!!! The city is dirty- streets are full of potholes—and the streets and boardwalk are full of numerous crazies- druggies- and panhandlers—- Plain and simple!!!! Besides that…. The pier opposite Caesars used to be a great amusement pier back in the days before casinos Change that back to a first class pier to rival Wildwood and Ocean City!!!!! The West Wing part of the boardwalk hall which has been vacant forever should become a sporting entertainment venue Tennis.. bowling.. archery… hatchet throwing.. corn hole etc They need to get their heads out of their asses and realize the potential that had always been there!!!!
If your room is comped in Connecticut you pay nothing, zero! High table mins will continue to hurt AC. Executives don't want to hear the truth, cuz the truth hurts. You get an offer for comped rooms, call to book, they tell you no more rooms available. Really just a memorial to labor day trip. New York will severely hurt AC. Wake up execs.
Once the NY casinos come online, AC is toast. Wall Street already said this. It will revert back to a total slum..
When people feel safe to walk the boardwalk at night they will consider AC a place to bring their families. This has been the issue for 5 decades.
Atlantic City need to invest again in the train from New York/Newark to increase attendance. Also increase Casino/Beach buses from that area.
What about the Children...The Opportunities are grand ...But not explored...Back off the Adult Vices and get on The Wagon with entertainment for our youth up and down the A C Boardwalk!!!!