How Many Casinos Are In Atlantic City
The city’s nine casinos generated $1.5 billion in sales last year, although online casino games and sports betting delivered another $1.4 billion in revenue statewide. Tilman Fertitta bought the.
- How Many Casinos Are In Atlantic City
- How Many Casinos Are Left In Atlantic City
- How Many Casinos Are Still In Atlantic City
- How Many Casinos Are There In Atlantic City New Jersey
- Atlantic City, often known by its initials A.C., is a coastal resort city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, known for its casinos, boardwalk, and beaches.In 2010, the city had a population of 39,558.
- Whether a first time visitor or a long-time fan, we are excited to welcome you back to Atlantic City to enjoy some of the many amenities we have to offer. The nine destination Casino Hotels and Resorts are now open. The Boardwalk and beaches are open for your enjoyment!
Though there were some rough times leading up to it, Atlantic City had its toughest year ever in 2014. This former East Coast gambling monopoly saw four of its 12 casinos close that year. This occurred in the wake of a slow eight-year decline in gaming revenue that started in 2007 which can be blamed on both the recession and new competition from just about every state in the region.
Much of this decline was attributed to the legalization of table games in Pennsylvania which launched in July 2010. Pennsylvania passed New Jersey to become number two in gaming revenue in the U.S. in 2011, the first full year it spread table games. Nevada is the highest grossing state in terms of gaming revenue. On top of this, in 2011 a brand new property, Resorts World Casino, opened up right near New York City, in Queens.
Atlantic Club Started the Market Contraction
It all started with the Atlantic Club. The former Atlantic City Hilton, later called ACH, had established itself as a locals casino for low rollers. It seemed like it had found its niche.
PokerStars seemed to think so, too. The world’s largest poker room put the property under contract for $15 million in December 2012. It also paid $750,000 a month to keep the doors open. The contract called for PokerStars to close the deal by April 30, 2013, and it was unable to receive a gaming license by that date. Atlantic Club decided to call off the sale, but the agreement allowed the property to keep the deposit paid by PokerStars.
It seemed that Atlantic Club thought its value would skyrocket thanks to recently legalized online gaming in New Jersey. It was wrong. The Atlantic Club fell into bankruptcy in November 2013. It was unable to find a buyer and ceased operations in January 2014. Caesars Entertainment acquired the physical property. Tropicana bought the gambling equipment.
Showboat Second Atlantic City Casino to Close
Showboat was the next Atlantic City casino to close. This was unusual as it was a profitable resort under the Caesars Entertainment umbrella. The motive behind closing Showboat was to try and draw patrons from it to the other Atlantic City casinos operated by Caesars Entertainment. Those resorts are Bally’s, Caesars, and Harrah’s. This lowered the company’s overhead in Atlantic City as the company fought to avoid bankruptcy. Showboat closed on August 30, 2014.
It was the second Caesars Entertainment casino in the U.S. to close in 2014. Harrah’s in Tunica, MS closed its doors in June of that year.
Revel Was Atlantic City’s Catastrophic Failure
Revel was the biggest disaster in Atlantic City history. It cost $2.4 billion to build and five years to complete construction. It opened in April 2012 to much fanfare. Revel attempted to bring Las Vegas to Atlantic City by concentrating on dining and nightclubs. Gaming was an afterthought. That was evident by its arrogant entry into the market.
Revel did not feel that offering a players card program or offering comps was necessary. They had the attitude that guests would pay top dollar for a room, even if they gambled substantially. Revel also did not offer a smoking area or reasonably priced dining options. These all contributed to its inability to stay out of the cellar of the Atlantic City gaming market.
New management came in and attempted to turn it around. It was too little, too late. Revel closed on September 2, 2014. It tried to close earlier but could not receive approval to do so from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.
Revel has even been a disaster in its afterlife. Brookfield Asset Management attempted to purchase the casino out of bankruptcy. A dispute with the power plant built solely for Revel made that transaction fall through. Glenn Straub was next in line to acquire Revel. His attempt failed after the closing date passed and issues with existing tenants were not resolved. It seems Revel cannot find a buyer, even for less than a nickel on the dollar.
Trump Plaza Latest Closure
Trump Plaza was the fourth Atlantic City casino to close in 2014. It was the worst performer in the Atlantic City gaming market when it was shuttered. The property had fallen into disrepair. It ceased operations on September 16, 2014. Betfair, its internet gaming partner, broke the partnership in October 2014.
Trump Taj Mahal, its sister property in Atlantic City, has flirted with closing several times since its parent company Trump Entertainment filed for bankruptcy. Carl Icahn infused Trump Taj Mahal with $20 million to keep it open. Ultimate Gaming, Trump Taj Mahal’s internet gaming partner, ceased operations in October 2014. Ultimate Gaming cited nonpayment for online gaming royalties as the reason for bailing on the agreement. The company eventually closed after ceasing its Nevada operations a month later.
Sands Atlantic City
The Sands in Atlantic City closed under better terms than the casinos that closed in 2014. It opened in 1980 and ceased operations in 2006. Pinnacle Entertainment acquired the Sands Atlantic City out of bankruptcy in 2006 and planned to develop a new resort on the property. The Sand was imploded, the first of its kind in a gaming market on the East Coast.
The new resort fell through as the economy tanked and competition from other markets eroded Atlantic City. Pinnacle abandoned its plans to build the proposed resort in 2010. The property of the former Sands still sits vacant.
The Claridge Hotel
How Many Casinos Are In Atlantic City
The Claridge Hotel originally opened in 1930. It was an immensely successful resort long before legalized gaming hit Atlantic City. In 1981, it was converted into a casino-hotel. In 2001, The Claridge was acquired by Park Place Entertainment, owner of Bally’s Atlantic City at the time. By 2002, the hotel was merged into Bally’s and now operates under that brand.
Playboy/Atlantis/Trump’s World Fair
The Playboy Casino opened in 1981 in Atlantic City. The property struggled from the beginning. It all started with difficulties in obtaining a gaming license. The Playboy name was abandoned due to these issues in 1984. It was re-branded as Atlantis Hotel and Casino. The casino filed for bankruptcy in 1985 and continued to suffer difficulties in its operations. Trump acquired it in 1989.
It was renamed Trump Regency, but without gaming. The casino was relaunched in 1996. This only lasted until 1999, when it was closed due to construction defects that were discovered. It was razed in 2000.
Kevin King is a former professional gambler and casino expert from Las Vegas who now shares his expertise in the form of casino guides and reviews.
Donald Trump has a long history in Atlantic City. During the big boom period of New Jersey's gambling capital, Trump built the Taj Mahal (now the Hard Rock Casino and Resort) and also ran the Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino.
At the time, the Taj Mahal was one of the most impressive casinos on earth. Trump invested $1 billion in the monstrous casino, and it was poised to be the most luxurious casino in the U.S.
Both of Trump's casinos went bankrupt. And many contractors and employees fell on hard times as a result.
But how much of this has to do with the up-and-down nature of the casino industry, and how much with Trump's business practices?
Read to get the details below.
Table of Openings and Closings of Trumps Atlantic City Properties
| Venue | Opening | Closing | Trivia | Current Status of Building |
Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino | May 15, 1984 | September 16, 2014 | Place of inspiration for Scorsese's Casino (1995); host of WrestleMania IV and V | empty; scheduled to be demolished |
| Trump Castle/Marina | June 19, 1985 | May 23, 2011 | Renamed Trump Marina in June 1997 after nearly closing. Father Fred Trump tried to make a loan in the form of chips at the casino. | Golden Nugget |
| Trump's Taj Mahal | April 2, 1990 | October 10, 2016 | Fined $10 million for 'significant and long-standing money laundering violations.' | Hard Rock |
Trump Plaza (1984-2014)
Trump Plaza (a casino and hotel) was Trump's first and more successful business venture in Atlantic City. Trump Plaza would grow to have 906 hotel rooms. The casino contained over 86,000 square feet of gaming space.
Breaking ground, then filling it, then breaking it again
Trump seized upon the opportunity during the height of the casino boom in Atlantic City. He struck a deal with the Holiday Inn company to build the casino and hotel buidling. Harrah's was already at the marina and looking to expand, so the deal was made that Harrah's new casino would be in Trump Plaza.
Despite the fact that Trump was having his building constructed by Holiday Inn and the casino organized by Harrah's, he was slow to break ground. In his Art of the Deal, Trump wrote that had his builders dig a hole, to satisfy Holiday Inn inspectors, and then fill it again when they left.
Trump Plaza's First Years
Trump Plaza cost $210 million to build. When it opened on May 15th, 1984, it was the largest casino in Atlantic City.
While it had a rather strong beginning, by 1990 Trump Plaza was having serious financial problems. In part, this was due to competition from none other than Trump's Taj Mahal.
After seeking a backer for years, the Trump Plaza closed in 2014, laying off around 1,000 employees.
Trump Plaza and Scorsese's Casino
Gambler Akio Kashiwagi lost $10 million in baccarat at Trump Plaza in 1990. Not long after, Martin Scorsese's made it the subject of his film, Casino (1995).
Trump's Taj Mahal (1990-2016)
Trump's Taj Mahal opened with some serious publicity. It was declared the Eighth Wonder of the World. Indeed it was covered with marble, enormous glass walls, and onion domes. Modeled after the white marble Taj Mahal in Agra, India, Trump's Taj Mahal was no less visually spectacular.
Funding the Taj Mahal
The Taj was financed with $700m worth of 'junk bonds.' Junk bonds are high-risk, high-yield loans given to companies with low-credit ratings. This meant the Taj had to come up with $94m a year just to pay off its debts, and $1m a day to be profitable
Trump and Unpaid contractors
“You have to be very rough and very tough with most contractors, or they’ll take the shirt right off your back.” --- Donald Trump: The Art of the Deal
'Atlantic City fueled a lot of growth for me'
- Donald Trump, to New York Times (June 11, 2016)
At the opening of Trump’s Taj Mahal in 1990, he owed $70 million to various contractors. While the casino was not a complete failure, it did not make the kind of money it needed. By 2016, the casino had closed completely bankrupt.
Trump's bankruptcy meant that several contractors were never paid for their work and materials. Below are some claims for unpaid debts to contractors:
- $2 million to Robert Morrison of the Molded Fiber Glass Co. for creating onion domes
- undisclosed amount to Michael MacLeod, sculptor of elephant statues
- $1.2 million for the paving stones leading up to the Taj to Mario Paone
- $1.1 million to Marty Rosenberg for floor-to-ceiling curtain walls of glass
- $3.9 million owed to John Millar, marble supplier
- more than $500,000 owed to landscaper Herman Caucci
- $580,000 owed to Frank Lundy for overseeing construction clean-up
- $232,000, George Jenkins, the bathroom partition man who had to lay off his brother
The contractor who made the Taj's eye-catching onion domes claimed $2 million in losses. The contractor who supplied the Carrara marble from Italy ended up filing for personal bankruptcy. The contractor who put in the bathroom partitions had to lay off his brother.
How Many Casinos Are Left In Atlantic City
Marty Rosenberg, who was installing floor-to-ceiling curtain walls of glass, was owed $1.1 Million.
Competing Atlantic City Casinos
Although the Trump Taj Mahal was deeply in debt and filed for bankruptcy, thus leading to Trump losing many of his assets, Atlantic City continued to boast huge revenues. By the early 2000s, revenues hit $4 billion.
Trump’s reign in Atlantic City came to an end in 2004, when his consolidated company Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts filed for bankruptcy, with Trump resigning as chairman.
How Many Casinos Are Still In Atlantic City
Many other Atlantic City casinos' revenues saw constant growth throughout Trump’s public battle against bankruptcy. These revenues would only see a decline following the 2008 recession.