Alternatives to Las Vegas East of the Mississippi River
If Las Vegas is the national capital of gambling, Atlantic City is still the East Coast capital and one of the best gambling cities in the world. Visiting Atlantic City is a great alternative to Las Vegas, especially for those of us 2,000+ miles away from Sin City.
Atlantic City generally has lower hotel prices than the Las Vegas Strip and dining options that make for a more economical trip. There is still no other Las Vegas Strip. But you can stay in a major casino resort, walk between multiple properties, drink for free while gambling, and build a full weekend around more than just the casino floor.
The Benefits of Staying in Atlantic City.
The obvious plus is being able to drive instead of fly, making the cost for most of us on the East Coast immediately cheaper. But wait, there’s more!
Atlantic City moves at a slower pace without compromising classic casino excitement with properties like Caesars Palace and Tropicana Resort. Newer casinos and major renovations on both the Boardwalk and the Marina have brought a refreshing change to the impoverished doldrums of the 90’s.
One of the biggest differences is the ocean breeze and beach-town atmosphere. Atlantic City embraces that nostalgic Boardwalk charm, especially during the warmer months. But summer is high season, and prices do rise during that time.
Celebrity Chefs currently provide luxury dining experiences in almost every casino, like AC’s western counterpart. With its local specialties and varied casino cuisine, Atlantic City is now a culinary destination. You can find upscale steakhouses and diverse Asian eateries like YOUYU Noodle Bar or Macau Kitchen. Angeline by Michael Symon offers exceptional, upscale Italian cuisine.
What is Atlantic City cuisine? Fresh seafood, Boardwalk comfort food like White House Subs, and Italian American Family Style traditions. And don’t forget that local AC Saltwater Taffy!
The Nightlife and Casinos
Many AC casinos make it easy never to leave the property. Tropicana and Borgata are super fun to stay at, with plenty of nightlife. Ocean Casino Resort, the tallest property in AC, is very impressive with ocean views. Its casino is comfy and airy. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City is another solid option with lots of live music and nightlife.
The best casino resort lives in the Marina. Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, an MGM property, is well-known for its luxury accommodations, a huge poker room with top-tier poker tournaments, the energetic BBar, luxurious spa facilities, and a vibrant nightlife.
Atlantic City’s Recent Upgrades
Several Atlantic City casinos have recently undergone significant upgrades.
Along the Boardwalk
- Bally’s Atlantic City finished $100 million in renovations two years ago and more recently opened a new steakhouse, Park Place Prime
- Hard Rock Hotel and Casino – A $50 million renovation is currently in progress, focusing on the North Tower and new dining options, with completion expected by the end of 2026.
- Caesars Atlantic City Hotel & Casino – an extensive $240 million makeover. The work renovated 750 guest rooms and suites in the Centurion and Ocean towers and added Nobu Hotel Atlantic City, an 80-room boutique hotel within the property, which opened in March 2024.
- Ocean Casino Resort has invested $75 million in upgrades, including 12 floors of new hotel rooms and suites, for a total of 1,860 rooms. Also new: Fanatics Sportsbook opened within The Gallery Bar.
- One of the newest attractions in Atlantic City, Island Waterpark at Showboat Resort, opened in summer 2023. The $100 million venue has a retractable roof, 11 slides, a 1,000 square-foot surf simulator, a lazy river and more.
- Spiegelworld, a comedic theater company, opened The Hook, a permanent live show, and Superfrico, an “Italian-American-Psychedelic restaurant,” at Caesars Atlantic City. (Unfortunately, The Hook was recently announced to be ending its run at the end of the summer, with Superfrico also recently closing.)
Marina
- Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa has finished a $55 million renovation and rebranding of The Water Club in its MGM Tower.
- Golden Nugget AC – Undergoing a multimillion-dollar renovation that includes upgraded rooms and revamped dining options.
- Harrah’s Atlantic City is revamping the 20,000-square-foot Atlantic City Ballroom in its Harrah’s Waterfront Conference Center and has most recently fully renovated its Waterfront Tower, which offers 900 rooms and suites.
Smoking Policies
Although the 2006 New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act banned smoking in public places, an exemption was made for Atlantic City casinos, whereby up to 25% of the casino’s gaming floor space could be designated as smoking areas. This exemption is still in place today.
Takeaway
Nothing will ever replace all that is Las Vegas, Nevada. There are many things that Vegas does better than anyone else. However, I prefer keeping my bankroll for gambling, not fees. And the 6-hour flight or more it takes to get there is just too long to visit America’s Land of Bean Counters.
Atlantic City By the Numbers
| Property | Hotel Rooms | Gaming Space sq/ft | # of Slots & VP | Table Games | Sportsbook & Noteworthy Information |
| Bally’s Atlantic City Hotel and Casino Bally’s Corp | 1110 | 83,000 | 1100 | 80 | Bally Bet® Sportsbook; direct access to the beach; 8 Rest |
| Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa MGM | 2802 | 161,000 | 4100 | 200 | BetMGM Sportsbook; 14 Rest; Buffet |
| Caesars Atlantic City Wild Wild West Caesars Ent. | 1114 | 145,000 | 1700 | 100+ | Caesars Sportsbook in Wild, Wild West; 10 Rest |
| Golden Nugget AC Fertitta Ent. | 700 | 74,252 | 1000 | 80 | Golden Nugget Sportsbook; Manages the neighboring Farley State Marina; 8 Rest |
| Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Seminole tribe | 1900 | 120,000 | 2400 | 130 | Hard Rock sportsbook; extensive music memorabilia; two large arenas; 10 Rest; Buffet |
| Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City Caesars Ent | 2500 | 113,000 | 1800 | 120 | Caesars Sportsbook; pet-friendly; iconic glass-domed pool; 10+ Rest |
| Ocean Resort Casino AC Beachfront | 1300+ | 36,000 | 1800 | 130 | Fanatics Sportsbook; Tallest building in AC; 15 Rest |
| Resorts Casino Hotel DGMB Casinos | 900+ | 80,000 | 1200 | 75 | DraftKings Sportsbook; 3 pools; 7 Rest |
| Tropicana Caesars Entertainment | 2300 | 122,000 | 1600 | 80 | Caesars Sportsbook; 4 pools; IMAX Theater; 18+ Rest |
*Statistics from PlayNJ.com
