Atlantic City
Casino InsiderTM
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Atlantic City casinos are open 24
hours a day, waiting for you to try
your luck. The casinos offer more than just the games. You'll find headline
entertainment in Atlantic City. Top stars consider Atlantic City a
must-stop on any tour -- and that makes our casinos a must-visit
destination for you. Sports fans won't want to miss any of the
championship bouts that take place in our arenas.
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The Uncensored Atlantic City Casino Rating Guide
If you think all casinos in Atlantic City are pretty much the same, you're not that far off the mark. Aesthetics, cosmetics and architectural themes aside, there isn't much that really sets one apart from the other in terms of excitement and energy. Still, there are some differences that can be measured...so we did. For the past six months we have gone to each casino to find out how they rate... you may be surprised at our findings.
Each month we share a few snippets from e-mails, notes and letters we receive from readers about Atlantic City's casinos. If you've got a comment that you'd like published, send it to Casino Insider, PO Box 829, Ocean City NJ 08226 or e-mail the copy to info@acinside.com
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READER Sniplets
We Had A Blast In AC, Margate & Somers Point...
...Thanks for the e-mail answer to our request for some good places to go for fun while in Atlantic City. We started at AC Bar & Grillle then took a cab down to Robert's Place (great wings by the way) and then went over to Charlie's in Somers Point. What a great time we had. Thanks again and we'll be back real soon.
Bill,
Las Vegas, Nev.
Casinos should provide more information on area
..I'm gettin' tired of the same old, same old, in Atlantic City. Every time my husband and I come to town (about six times a year) we have to hunt for information about what's going on in the area. My husband and I like to gamble but we also like to explore other entertainment options, whenever we go away. In Vegas they provide over night guests with plenty of in-room magazines and publications... BTW - Your magazine would be perfect...
Melanie,
Myrtle Beach,SC
Editor's note: We couldn't agree more.
Buffet at Showboat Not Worth the Wait...
..My wife and I waited over an hour and a half to get into the French Quarter Buffet at the Showboat recently. The buffet was nice and the price was good but none of it was worth the wait. On top of that there is nowhere to sit down during the wait. I have a bad back and can not stand in one place for any length of time...
Al,
Cleveland, OH
***
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The fourth installment of the "Unbiased, Uncensored, Raw Look at Atlantic City's Casinos" (and how they operate) Rating Guide, features some more ingenious commentary on what to expect at each of Atlantic City's casino properties. The properties are rated according to specific categories, as well as their overall experience. Ratings are sometimes shown with a decimal point to more accurately reflect the rating for the casino in that category, as well as its overall performance. A "Dan Klein's South Jersey Insider Magazine"
Good =  Needs A Kick =
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Still... THE Best Of The REST
Trump Plaza... We like a company that doesn't take its success, its customers, or its South Jersey Insider Magazine's three and a half diamond rating for granted. A rating which represents the "Best" of the rest for the purposes of this column. As far as Atlantic City goes, Trump Plaza still reigns. Watch for the Plaza (via Trump Casinos) to get more involved in entertainment at the Boardwalk Hall. The Beach Boys concert will be the first of approximately four or five big shows yearly, according to our sources. Other "Plaza Pluses" are the fabulous richly appointed design, and exciting casino floor, an experience which allows you to carry on a conversation and not fake that you are actually able to discern the words of your partner. It's a delight! We also like the 1400 new slots. And, another reason the Plaza has garnered such a rating is their employees are the most professional we've encountered. Intelligent and freindly customer interactivity with a dash of personality. The reasons keep growing as to why the "Plaza" is, without a doubt, Atlantic City's classiest, and most sophisticated casino. At Trump Plaza, It's your pleasure that counts most... Four months in a row as our top casino. It's a pleasure.
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TheRest
Resorts... Drops a whole half a diamond in October to 2.9, from 3.2 out of four in September. Where we once saw a budding star at North Carolina and the Boardwalk, we're seeing more of the same. Even with a new hotel tower on order, Resorts seems to be falling into the same trap as many of the other properties in town. It seems they become a victim of their own success. It happens all the time in both small and big businesses. Companies make huge market gains because of initiative, superior service & better quality, then stop doing the things that got them there. No one really knows why it happens, but it does. All the time. To their credit, there's a new restaurant planned at the site formerly occupied by the famous "La Palais," and they've added a novel "Oxygen Bar" at the Boardwalk Lobby, but it will take a better attitude to lift this puppy up past three stars again.
Entertainment - .5 Overall - .8
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Trump Casinos (Marina & Taj Mahal)... Both The Marina & The Taj Mahal remain at 2.6 Diamonds, but it "remains" to be seen how long that will hold. When Borgata opens, both of these casinos can expect to see a surge in business just because of their convenient proximity to what will be a "bulging" Borgata. Come to think of it, those motels on the White Horse Pike (Route 30) can probably expect to see an increase in business as well. It's called spill over. And if you really put a pencil to it, Trumps' Properties are all located in current AC "Hot Zones." Trump Marina will flourish (almost accidently) under the shadow of Borgata and Harrah's. Nothing wrong with that. The Plaza is comfortably nestled next to Boardwalk Hall and just shy of the corridor project. The Taj actually is off the path somewhat. At one time there were big plans for what is known as the Uptown area. Here again it's proximity to Boragta and the boardwalk via Virginia Avenue makes it a viable alternative. Stay tuned...
Marina
Casino Promotions - Customer Service - Restaurants - Overall - .6 Taj Mahal
Casino Promotions - Gambling Experience - Restaurants - .5 Overall - .6
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Park Place Entertainment... No change in diamond status for the 900 pound gorilla of Atlantic City gaming. Park Place tossed the hard working shop keepers of Ocean I early, and only four have been approached about staying on after the conversion to a "Monopoly" themed high-end shopping complex. Many casino industry insiders are already speculating on who will be hurt by Borgata's opening. Park Place and Hilton look vulnerable.
Bally's Park Place
Atmosphere -
Casino Promotions -
Customer Service -
Entertainment -
Gambling Experience -
Restaurants -
Overall - .3
Caesars
Atmosphere -
Casino Promotions -
Customer Service -
Entertainment -
Gambling Experience -
Restaurants -
Overall - .8
Claridge
Atmosphere -
Casino Promotions -
Customer Service -
Entertainment -
Gambling Experience -
Restaurants -
Overall - .5
Hilton
Atmosphere -
Casino Promotions -
Customer Service -
Entertainment -
Gambling Experience -
Restaurants -
Overall - .5
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Harrah's & Showboat... Harrah's goes up four tenths of a diamond to 2.5 on the strength of a brand new hotel tower that reflects beautifully off of the Atlantic City skyline at sunset, and then lights it up like no other casino at night. Very cool. No change at Showboat as the casino gets an "under construction" pass for its new hotel tower. It's definitely too long of a wait for the "French Quarter Buffet." Needless to say, Harrah's (already killing last year's numbers) and Showboat will also benefit by the opening of Borgata.
Harrah's
Atmosphere - .4
Casino Promotions -
Customer Service -
Entertainment -
Gambling Experience -
Restaurants -
Overall - .5
Showboat
Atmosphere -
Casino Promotions -
Customer Service -
Entertainment -
Gambling Experience -
Restaurants -
Overall -
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Tropicana... They are making a bid to be the locals' casino. They may be three years and a few marbles short. Most locals currently go to the Hilton. Mainly because it is easily accessible from the downbeach area (which also covers Ocean City, Somers Point and other points south) and west from Albany Ave (Rt. 322) and the AC. Expressway. When folks wonder who will be hurt by the Borgata opening, Tropicana, The Sands and Hilton come to mind.
Atmosphere -
Casino Promotions -
Customer Service -
Entertainment -
Gambling Experience - .5
Restaurants - .4
Overall - .3
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Sands... "All they need is a miracle" should be the theme song of this, forever in search of a leader, casino. Actually, the Sands should be able to make a nice living "cherry picking" off the other casinos it is surrounded by. That is, if they could stick to a strategy or President long enough to allow things to gel. Carl Icahn can't catch a break with the casino he had big plans for, so we figure he's due for a turn of the "Good Fortune" wheel in AC. Anything can happen here.
Atmosphere -
Casino Promotions -
Customer Service -
Entertainment -
Gambling Experience - .5
Restaurants -
Overall -
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InTown
The following headliners are scheduled to appear in their respective casino venues. Additional shows will be booked through the period; check our web site at www.shorelinker.com for showroom updates. All casino entertainment is subject to scheduling changes. An asterisk(*) denotes an Atlantic City debut. Tickets to most shows are available through the individual box offices or through Ticketmaster at (800) 736-1420.
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OCTOBER
- 4th - Bowzer's Doo-Wop Party, Trump Taj
- 4th-6th - Randy Travis, Claridge
- 4th-6th - Howie Mandel, Caesars
- 4th-6th - Shirley Jones, Harrah's
- 11th-12th - Trisha Yearwood, Caesars
- 11th-13th - Michael Amante, Sands
- 11th-13th - Al Martino, Showboat
- 12th-13th - Joy Behar, Hilton
- 17th-20th - Tony Bennett, Caesars
- 20th - Charlie Daniels Band, Tropicana
- 22nd-25th - The Smothers Brothers, Hilton
- 25th-27th - Don Rickles, Tropicana
- 26th - Diamond Rio, Caesars
- 26th - The Disco Biscuits, Trump Marina
- 26th - Joan Rivers, Trump Plaza
- 26th-27th - Kenny Rogers, Hilton
- 27th - Regis Philbin w/ Susan Lucci, Resorts
- 27th-31st - James Darren, Caesars
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NOVEMBER
- 1st-2nd - Johnny Mathis, Caesars
- 2nd 0 American Idol, Trump Taj
- 8th-10th - Little Anthony & Imperials, Sands
- 8th-10th - Engelbert Humperdinck, Tropicana
- 9th - Tim McGraw, Trump Taj
- 11th-15th - Neil Sedaka, Hilton
- 15th-17th - Sesame Street Live, Boardwalk Hall
- 15th-17th - Paul Anka, Caesars
- 23rd - Ward vs. Gatti, Boardwalk Hall Boxing
- 15th-17th - Tom Jones, Resorts
- 16th - Joe Cocker, Tropicana
- 29th-30th - KC & The Sunshine Band, Resorts
- 29th-30th - Hall & Oates, Trump Taj
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NEWS
Local - South Jersey
It's only a short drive from Atlantic City to escape to the casual elegance that Bay Head offers...
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