Atlantic City is New Jersey’s biggest attraction tourism-wise, and for many great reasons. The City has it all – from dining places to exclusive casinos with versatile entertainment options. In general, the gambling business in the US in particular is extremely strong as it can easily compete with new online gaming formats.
This is in stark contrast with countries like Australia where online casino websites dominate the market. Gamblers down under mainly opt for digital pastime, and so they frequently explore the new list of best paying pokies with profitable bonuses followed by standout jackpots. But the situation in Atlantic City is completely different since the locals – as well as tourists – look for more traditional, offline entertainment forms.
In this post, we are going to explore the unprecedented growth of the entertainment industry in A.C. Let’s dig deep into it!
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Though it sounds like a cliché, it is true that Atlantic City has come a long way from its days as a sleepy seaside retreat. The City used to brag about sandy beaches and its iconic boardwalk (America's first, by the way), but not much else.
During pretty much the entire 20th century, Atlantic City was merely a summer getaway for families hoping to spend some quiet time away from bigger urban environments such as Philly or New York. The A.C. vibe was decidedly laid-back: A true contrast to the dynamic energy that defines the city today.
Generally speaking, things took a U-turn in the 1970s because gambling was legalized in this decade. And that was, quite literally, a game-changer for the entire city. Back at the time, gambling companies launched Caesars and Resorts International. That way, Atlantic City essentially became the East Coast’s version of Las Vegas.
However, it would not be fair to say that gaming is the only thing there is to do in A.C. because the city’s recent growth goes far beyond the casino floor. Today, it often features everything from concerts to ballet performances.
For instance, the legendary Morrissey (better known as the frontman of The Smiths) had an incredible performance at the Ocean Casino Resort this November. Caesars Atlantic City, on the other hand, hosted Atlantic City Ballet with the “It's A Shore Holiday” show.
The idea of creating an East Coast gambling epicenter in the 1970s proved to be extremely beneficial for the entire city. Yes, casino operators earned the most, but the decision to create a brand new gambling empire took the whole place to another level since casinos brought jobs, tourism, and a newfound energy that transformed the local economy.
Only a decade later, Atlantic City was already in its heyday as it was capable of rivalling Las Vegas in terms of visitor numbers. It helped the local community expand beyond the boardwalk, so much so that the City quickly launched new resorts (Borgata and Harrah’s, to name just a couple). Borgata was particularly important because it introduced celebrity-chef restaurants as well as entertainment offerings previously unknown to the local community.
In a nutshell, the casino business soon turned into the backbone of the city’s economy.
It doesn’t take a genius to conclude that casinos will naturally attract all kinds of other entertainment forms and events. That’s exactly what happened with Atlantic City: It has become the go-to destination for live entertainment.
For example, the legendary Boardwalk Hall alone hosted countless events. This venue is where the 1991 boxing match between Holyfield and Foreman took place, and it also hosted The Rolling Stones two years prior. Even today, Boardwalk Hall attracts superstars like Kane Brown or Mary J Blige.
But there are seasonal events, too. For instance, A.C. is popular for its free summer concerts on the beach. There’s also the Atlantic City Comedy Festival that comes as a phenomenal addition to people who just want a nice comic relief. The list of A.C. events goes on, but you probably get the overall picture already.
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Atlantic City proves that there can be no change without innovation. As a matter of fact, the City is doing a fine job combining its super-rich history with truly innovative tech solutions.
From the gaming perspective, it is worth noting that A.C. leaned heavily into online gambling to become one of the nation’s leaders in digital gambling platforms. The same can be said for sports betting because New Jersey embraced the possibilities that interactive bookmakers add to the traditionally strong sports betting market.
On the other hand, this city also heavily invests in green energy initiatives (for instance, offshore wind farms) as well as tech-focused events, esports tournaments, smart-city upgrades, and so on.
The bottom line is that entertainment was and still is the main driver of the Atlantic City’s entire economy. Just take a look at this figure: Last year, the A.C. casino business generated as much as $467 million in gross gaming tax revenue. This makes for a 12% increase compared to the previous record year (2006).
This doesn’t even take into account ancillary businesses that traditionally supplement gaming operators. Together, all these companies help make Atlantic City what it is today.
A.C. is truly unique. It is difficult – if not straight-out impossible – to find a single place in the US that went through such a major change in little over 40 years. It took some clever planning and a lot of ambition to design a modern city that most people now tend to compare with Las Vegas.
