New Jersey, United States
America's original East Coast casino destination
Atlantic City was America's second major casino destination when New Jersey legalised gambling in 1978, and it remains the East Coast's primary gaming market. Nine operating casinos sit on and near the famous 10km Boardwalk on the Atlantic Ocean shore, 130km south of New York City.
Borgata is Atlantic City's most awarded casino resort — MGM's flagship East Coast property with the largest poker room on the Eastern Seaboard and AAA Four Diamond hotel.
Hard Rock Atlantic City is the crown jewel of the Boardwalk — a music-themed resort with 2,000 hotel rooms, state-of-the-art gaming, and one of the best concert venues on the Jersey Shore.
Ocean Casino Resort is Atlantic City's most modern casino, occupying the former Revel site at the north end of the Boardwalk with stunning ocean views from every angle.
Caesars Atlantic City is the iconic Roman-themed palace of the Boardwalk — one of Atlantic City's original luxury casino hotels and home to the renowned Caesars Rewards loyalty program.
Harrah's Resort Atlantic City is a massive convention and entertainment complex in the Marina District, owned by Caesars Entertainment, with over 2,590 hotel rooms and one of AC's best conference facilities.
Tropicana Atlantic City is one of the Boardwalk's largest resorts, renowned for The Quarter — a unique Havana-inspired indoor entertainment complex with shops, restaurants, and nightlife under one roof.
Bally's Atlantic City is one of the original 1979 casino hotels on the Boardwalk — a historic property with a newly revitalized gaming floor and hotel under Bally's Corporation ownership.
Resorts Casino Hotel holds the distinction of being the first legal casino to open in Atlantic City and in the entire Eastern United States, launching the modern New Jersey gaming industry on May 26, 1978.
Golden Nugget Atlantic City is a marina-side resort in the heart of the Atlantic City Marina District, offering a full casino, luxury hotel, spa, pool, and one of Atlantic City's best waterfront dining scenes.
The Boardwalk
Marina District
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Craps
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Poker
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Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa
Integrated Resort
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City
Integrated Resort
Ocean Casino Resort
Integrated Resort
Tropicana Atlantic City
Integrated Resort
Bally's Atlantic City
Commercial Casino
Golden Nugget Atlantic City
Integrated Resort
Poker room availability verified from public casino listings. Always confirm schedules directly with the venue.
Beyond the gaming floor — discover nightlife, shows, bars, and entertainment at Atlantic City's premier venues.
Nightlife
Nightclubs, late-night venues, and the after-hours scene.
Shows & Live Entertainment
Concerts, residency shows, and theatrical productions.
Bars & Lounges
Cocktail bars, rooftop bars, and casino floor drinks.
Nightclubs
Premier DJ clubs, dayclub scene, and bottle service.
Pool Parties
Dayclub pool parties and outdoor resort entertainment.
Entertainment Districts
The casino precincts, neighbourhoods, and free attractions.
Gentlemen's Clubs
Licensed adult entertainment venues. 21+ ID required.
21+ · ID RequiredAdult Clubs
Legal adult clubs near the casino district. 21+ only.
21+ · ID RequiredAge-restricted venues require valid government-issued photo ID. Must be 21 or older. Venue-specific age rules apply at international destinations.
Premier Nightclub at Borgata
Atlantic City – Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa
Premier Nightclub at Borgata is Atlantic City's premier nightlife venue, a 25,000 sq ft club hosting nationally recognized DJs and live performances. Borgata's flagship nightclub draws weekend visitors from Philadelphia and New York City who come to Atlantic City specifically for the Premier experience, making it the most consistent nightlife draw in the casino corridor.
Villain & Saint at Ocean Casino
Atlantic City – Ocean Casino Resort
Villain & Saint at Ocean Casino Resort is a 16,000 sq ft nightclub on the Boardwalk featuring a world-class DJ booth, LED production, and live entertainment. Ocean Casino's premier nightclub space offers a sophisticated alternative to the longer-established Borgata clubs, with a younger demographic and focus on EDM and live DJ events.
Borgata Nightclub
Borgata Nightclub is one of Atlantic City's most prominent nightlife venues, bringing Las Vegas-caliber DJ bookings and nightclub production to the New Jersey shore gaming market. The club's partnership with Borgata's luxury hotel operation brings hotel access and premium service to Atlantic City's best nightclub experience.
Boogie Nights at Tropicana
Atlantic City Boardwalk – Tropicana
Boogie Nights at Tropicana is a throwback 70s and 80s-themed nightclub inside Tropicana Atlantic City, featuring retro décor, period music, and a dance floor that celebrates the golden era of classic rock, pop, and disco. A campy, fun contrast to the EDM-forward clubs at Borgata and Ocean, Boogie Nights draws an older demographic looking for nostalgia-driven nightlife.
Gypsy Bar
Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa
Gypsy Bar at Borgata is Atlantic City's premier cocktail lounge — a rich, moody space with regular DJ entertainment that serves as the lower-key companion to Borgata's Premier Nightclub. Popular with casino guests for pre-dinner drinks and late-night cocktails without the full nightclub commitment.
DetailsThe Darkroom
Resorts Casino Hotel
The Darkroom is a cocktail bar at Resorts Casino Hotel — Atlantic City's oldest operating casino resort (opened 1978). The venue's photography-themed décor and craft cocktail focus offer a sophisticated alternative to the casino floor, popular with hotel guests and Boardwalk visitors seeking something beyond standard resort bars.
DetailsBar 32
Ocean Casino Resort
Bar 32 at Ocean Casino Resort occupies the 32nd floor with panoramic Atlantic Ocean views — the highest bar in Atlantic City. Craft cocktails, live music on weekends, and unobstructed views of the ocean and Boardwalk make it the most elevated cocktail experience on the New Jersey gaming coast.
DetailsCasbah
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City
Casbah at Hard Rock Atlantic City is a music-themed bar central to the property's Boardwalk entertainment offering. Live performances, DJ nights, and a cocktail programme themed around rock and roll give Casbah a distinct personality within the Hard Rock Atlantic City entertainment complex.
DetailsWater Club Bar
Water Club at Borgata
The Water Club Bar at Borgata's boutique Water Club hotel is a refined rooftop lounge with pool views and Atlantic City's most elegant cocktail atmosphere. Open to Borgata casino guests and Water Club hotel residents, it draws a more mature, upscale crowd than Borgata's other nightlife venues.
DetailsBar Anticipation Lake Como NJ
Bar Anticipation in Lake Como NJ (near Belmar) is one of the Jersey Shore's most beloved entertainment bars, a massive multi-room complex with multiple bars, outdoor stages, and dance floors that presents live music and DJs year-round. Bar A is particularly famous for its summer concerts on the outdoor stage and its role as a central gathering spot for the Belmar Shore community.
DetailsAtlantic City Marina District
Renaissance Pointe
Atlantic City's Marina District is the upscale gaming precinct separate from the historic Boardwalk, anchored by the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa and the Water Club. Accessible via the Atlantic City Expressway, the Marina District offers a more enclosed, resort-style gaming experience with premium dining and hotel amenities targeting a higher-end demographic than the Boardwalk corridor.
DetailsBoardwalk Hall Atlantic City
Atlantic City Boardwalk
Boardwalk Hall is Atlantic City's most historically significant entertainment venue — a 14,770-seat Art Deco arena on the Atlantic City Boardwalk that has hosted the Miss America Pageant, championship boxing from Joe Louis to Mike Tyson, and major concerts since 1929. Its extraordinary Art Deco interior (housing the world's largest pipe organ, with 33,000 pipes), its extraordinary history as the home of the Miss America Pageant, and its continued role as the primary entertainment anchor for the Atlantic City resort market make it one of America's most historically significant entertainment venues.
DetailsHard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City
Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena is a 7,000-seat multi-purpose arena at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on the Boardwalk — the premier major-event venue on the East Coast gaming corridor between New York and Philadelphia. Named for casino executive Mark Etess, the arena hosts headline concerts, boxing cards, and sporting events serving the AC market.
DetailsAtlantic City Boardwalk
Atlantic City's Boardwalk is a 5.5-mile wooden promenade along the Atlantic Ocean beach — one of the oldest boardwalks in the United States, established in 1870. The majority of Atlantic City's casino resorts are directly on or adjacent to the Boardwalk, making this stretch the backbone of America's oldest gaming destination and a National Historic Landmark in its own right.
DetailsBoardwalk Hall
Atlantic City Boardwalk
Boardwalk Hall is a National Historic Landmark built in 1929 — Atlantic City's historic 14,770-seat arena and former home of the Miss America pageant for over 80 years. Still hosting major concerts, ice hockey, and sporting events, Boardwalk Hall remains the most storied large-scale entertainment venue in the Atlantic City gaming district.
DetailsAtlantic City Boardwalk Entertainment District
Atlantic City Boardwalk
The Atlantic City Boardwalk is one of America's most famous entertainment strips — a 5.5-mile wooden promenade stretching along the Atlantic Ocean, lined with casino hotels, restaurants, entertainment venues, and amusement attractions. Home to Caesar's, Harrah's, Resorts, and the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, the Boardwalk concentrates some of the East Coast's largest concert venues and nightlife destinations.
DetailsAtlantic City's iconic wooden Boardwalk runs 10km along the Atlantic Ocean beach, connecting Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Ocean Casino Resort, Tropicana, Caesars, Harrah's, Resorts, and Bally's. The Steel Pier amusement attraction marks the Boardwalk's historic midpoint. All Boardwalk casinos are walkable between each other; the Jitney flat-fare bus service runs the length 24 hours.
Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa is consistently rated the best hotel-casino in Atlantic City — located in the Marina District about 1.5km from the Boardwalk. Borgata offers higher-quality restaurants, a premier poker room hosting World Poker Tour events, and a more upscale atmosphere than Boardwalk properties. It is further from the beach but considered the destination's flagship property.
New Jersey was the first state to legalise online casino gambling (2013) and among the first for sports betting (2018). Atlantic City's physical casinos hold the licences for NJ's major online brands — DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and Caesars all operate NJ online casino and sportsbook sites through their AC properties. Players must be physically located in New Jersey to play online.
NJ Transit operates frequent express bus service from New York City's Port Authority Bus Terminal (approximately 2 hours, ~$35 round trip). Driving from Philadelphia takes 60–75 minutes via the Atlantic City Expressway. Most casino operators run complimentary bus packages from northeast cities with gaming credits and meal vouchers included.
Best Time to Visit
May–June and September–October offer comfortable beach weather without peak summer crowds. July and August bring the highest hotel prices and weekend queues. Winter weekdays have the lowest rates — some entertainment is scaled back but gaming floors run 24 hours year-round.
Getting There
NJ Transit bus from NYC Port Authority Bus Terminal costs ~$35 round trip and takes under 2 hours. Driving from Philadelphia takes 60–75 minutes via the Atlantic City Expressway. Most casinos offer free coach buses from major northeast cities with gaming credits included.
The Boardwalk Jitney
A free-to-walk wooden Boardwalk connects all Boardwalk casinos across 10km. The Jitney — AC's flat-fare private bus system — runs 24 hours, making it easy to move between casinos. Check the Jitney app for current schedules and fares.
Beach Access
Atlantic City's beaches are free and open to the public, directly behind the Boardwalk casino hotels. No beach badges required (unlike most NJ shore towns). The beach is walkable from every Boardwalk casino.
Legal Gambling Age
The legal gambling age in New Jersey is 21. Valid government-issued photo ID is required before accessing casino floors, sportsbooks, or gaming areas. This applies to NJ online casino and sports betting accounts as well.
Online Gaming in NJ
New Jersey was the first US state to fully legalise online casino gambling (2013). All major platforms (DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars, FanDuel) are licensed through Atlantic City properties. You can play from anywhere in New Jersey.
Entertainment
Borgata's Event Center and Hard Rock's concert venue host the biggest touring acts. Check casino event calendars 4–8 weeks ahead — weekend headline shows sell out quickly. Most Boardwalk properties offer regular free or low-cost lounge entertainment.
Responsible Gambling
New Jersey has strong problem gambling resources overseen by the NJ Division of Gaming Enforcement. For confidential support: 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537), available 24 hours.
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Event listings coming soon
Casino events, poker tournaments, shows, and nightlife schedules for Atlantic City will appear here.
The legal gambling age in New Jersey is 21. Valid government-issued photo ID is required before accessing casino floors, sportsbooks, or gaming areas. This also applies to NJ online casino and sports betting accounts — age and identity are verified at account registration.
Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa is in the Marina District, about 1.5km from the Boardwalk. It is considered the best hotel-casino in Atlantic City — higher quality restaurants, a premium poker room hosting World Poker Tour events, and a more upscale atmosphere. Boardwalk casinos (Hard Rock, Ocean, Tropicana, Caesars, Harrah's) offer the traditional oceanfront Atlantic City experience with easier beach access.
Yes. New Jersey was among the first US states to legalise sports betting (2018), and Atlantic City casinos hold the licences for all major NJ sportsbooks including Caesars Sportsbook, BetMGM, DraftKings, and FanDuel. All major casino properties have physical sportsbook areas on-site.
Borgata's poker room is widely considered the best in Atlantic City and one of the top East Coast poker destinations. It hosts World Poker Tour Atlantic City and WSOP Circuit stops. Hard Rock and Ocean Casino Resort also have active poker rooms with regular tournament schedules.
Yes. New Jersey was the first US state to fully legalise online casino gambling (2013). Major platforms including DraftKings Casino NJ, BetMGM Casino NJ, Caesars Casino NJ, and Golden Nugget Online Casino are all licensed through Atlantic City casino properties. You must be physically located in New Jersey to play, verified by geolocation.
NJ Transit operates frequent express bus service from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan (approximately 2 hours, around $35 round trip). Most casino operators also run complimentary bus packages from New York and Philadelphia that include gaming credits and meal vouchers — check individual casino websites for current offers. Driving takes 2–2.5 hours via the Garden State Parkway and Atlantic City Expressway.
Atlantic City's casino district — the Boardwalk, Marina District, and indoor casino areas — is generally safe and heavily monitored by casino security. As with any urban area, visitors should remain aware of their surroundings when moving away from the main casino precinct, particularly at night. The Boardwalk itself is well-patrolled and covered by CCTV.
Atlantic City hotels generally charge lower resort fees than Las Vegas — some properties charge no resort fee at all. Always confirm total room costs when booking; fees vary significantly between properties. Hotel rates are substantially lower on weekdays and in off-peak months (November–March excluding holidays).
