July 4 will bring the traditional fireworks displays (see below), but on July 1 Sam Hunt, Kane Brown and Conner Smith will headline Atlantic City’s first summer BeachFest concert. Demi Lovato, with special guest Lauv, follows July 26 with her only East Coast show of the summer. The Chainsmokers’ only area appearance takes place July 29. They’re joined by Bazzi and Gryffin. For complete information and to purchase tickets visit AC Beach Concerts.

Meanwhile, Resorts Casino Hotel will host two free beach concerts this month from 7 to 9 p.m.: Rubix Kube (July 6) and Boogie Wonder Band (July 19). Pre-party on the beach starting at 5 p.m.

The Independence Day fireworks will take place beginning at 9:20 p.m. between the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa and Harrah’s Resort in the Marina District. The Boardwalk fireworks begin at 10.

The Borgata will open its surface parking lot (north entrance) for free viewing and for all ages. The Beer Garden also will be open for viewing, but you must be 21. Harrah’s will have a free viewing area at its Waterfront Conference Center parking lot. Another prime spot to view the action is the top floor of Golden Nugget Atlantic City self-park garage.

To add to the celebration, Resorts will host a free concert beginning at 5 p.m. at Landshark Bar & Grill, and another at 7 at Margaritaville.

Resorts free concerts continue this month with Bands in the Sand at Landshark Beach from 7 to 9 p.m. Pre-party on the beach starting at 5 p.m. Rubix Kube performs July 6 and the Boogie Wonder Band plays July 19.

Bon Voyage!

Bally’s and Caesars Atlantic City and Harrah’s are giving away trips all month. Enter daily at a promotional kiosk between noon and 5:45 p.m. to win a getaway to a Total Rewards destination. Drawings will be held daily at each casino’s Total Rewards Center. Winners will be contacted within 72 hours of the drawing.

Showtime!

The Edwards Twins will perform at 8 p.m. and New York’s Best Comedians (Headliner Zach Pickert with Elon Altman, Jen Kay, James Camacho and Usama Siddique) will perform at 10 p.m. July 6, 7 and 8 at The Claridge Hotel. A portion of the proceeds from the 10 p.m. show will be donated to Military Veterans of Foreign Wars Funds. Get $10 off the 8 p.m. show at EventBrite.com using code word Cher; for the 10 p.m. show, use ACWeekly10.

Happy Birthday, Borgata!

Hosted by Iron Chefs Michael Symon and Geoffrey Zakarian, an outdoor Birthday Bash July 7 will mark Borgata’s 15th birthday, complete with festival games and activities, carnival-style food and drink, and music by Lost in Paris. The event features family-friendly entertainment throughout the day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. General admission tickets are $5 per person. Tickets are available at TheBorgata or the box office.

The night before, July 6, Old Homestead Steak House at Borgata will celebrate its 15th birthday with a multi-course prix-fixe menu paired with wines, live music and the chance to take home some great gifts. Seatings are at 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $150 per person, and include taxes and gratuity, and all guests must be 21 or older. Cocktail attire is suggested.

Visit TheBorgata for details and to purchase tickets.

Broadway on the Boardwalk

Casts from Broadway’s hottest musicals will perform at 8 p.m. on the Boardwalk at Kennedy Plaza between Mississippi and Georgia Avenues. Bring a chair and enjoy selections from Chicago, Waitress and Sponge Bob Squarepants on July 9, Anastasia, A Bronx Tale, Summer and Gettin’ the Band Back Together on July 16, and Wicked, School of Rock, Beautiful and Kinky Boots on July 23. For more information visit DoAtlanticCity Events.

Christmas in July

Golden Nugget will present My Big Gay Italian Christmas at 8 p.m. July 28. The show is a follow-up to the “Big Gay Italian Trilogy” (My Big Gay Italian Wedding, My Big Gay Italian Funeral and My Big Gay Italian Midlife Crisis). For tickets call (646) 220-3912.

Playing with matches

Most Atlantic City casinos are offering to match a competing Atlantic City casino’s player loyalty club card. For example, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City will upgrade Total Rewards Seven Stars and Diamond cardholders to its Wild Card Rock Royalty card. Click here to check your card level at your favorite casino(s) to see which other casino(s) will match your level with theirs. In addition, visit the casinos’ websites or ask at the players card desk about other eligible casino cards, when their promotions expire, and other restrictions.

Looking ahead:
Through Sept. 9 (select dates): Magique, Tropicana
Aug. 1: Stone Temple Pilots, The Cult & Bush: Revolution 3 Tour, Hard Rock
Aug. 2: 7 Bridges, Resorts
Aug. 3: Yanni – 25th Anniversary Tour, Borgata
Aug. 3: Craig Shoemaker – The Lovemaster, Borgata
Aug. 4: Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, Hard Rock
Aug. 4: RBRM (Ronny, Bobby, Ricky, Mike), Hard Rock
Aug. 4: Championship Boxing; Kovalev vs. Alvarez, Hard Rock
Aug. 4: Jim Gaffigan, Borgata
Aug. 4: Thompson Twins, Borgata
Aug. 4: Boy George and Culture Club, Tropicana
Aug. 4: Todd Rundgren, Golden Nugget
Aug. 5: Motor City Live – A Motown Tribute, Hard Rock
Aug. 5: Kings of Leon, Borgata
Aug. 8: Blake Shelton, Hard Rock
Aug. 9: George Thorogood, Hard Rock
Aug. 9: Dark Star Orchestra, Tropicana
Aug. 10: ABBA the Concert, Resorts
Aug. 10: Trombone Shorty Threauxdown, Borgata
Aug. 11: The Million Dollar Quartet, Hard Rock
Aug. 11: The Piano Guys, Borgata
Aug. 11: Preacher Lawson, Borgata
Aug. 11: Deckstock, Golden Nugget
Aug. 11: Dom Irrera, Tropicana
Aug. 11: Tropicaliente AC 2018 with Victor Manuelle, El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, Hector Acosta and Olga Tanon, Hard Rock
Aug. 12: Motor City Live – A Motown Tribute, Hard Rock
Aug. 16: Mike DelGuidice & Big Shot, Resorts
Aug. 17: Phil Vassar, Hard Rock
Aug. 18: Blake Shelton, Hard Rock
Aug. 18: Brass Transit, Hard Rock
Aug. 18: The Platters with The Drifters and Cornell Gunter’s Coasters, Golden Nugget
Aug. 18: Anthony Jeselnik, Borgata
Aug. 18: Frankie Z, Resorts
Aug. 18: Top Rank Boxing: Parker vs. Dimitrenko, Ocean Resort
Aug. 19: Motor City Live – A Motown Tribute, Hard Rock
Aug. 19: 3 Doors Down – Collective Soul, Borgata
Aug. 19: Big Shot, Resorts
Aug. 20: Taste of the Quarter, Tropicana
Aug. 20: WWE Live, Hard Rock
Aug. 22: Atlantic City Air Show: “Thunder over the Boardwalk”
Aug. 23: Counting Crows with Live, Hard Rock
Aug. 23 and 24: Impractical Jokers, Borgata
Aug. 24 and 25: International Winefest, Golden Nugget
Aug. 25 and 26: Stevie Wonder, Borgata
Aug. 25 and 26: Red Bull Global Rallycross, Bader Field
Aug. 25: Jim Breuer, Borgata
Aug. 25: Dweezil Zappa, Harrah’s
Aug. 25: The Magic of Adam Trent, Caesars
Aug. 26: Motor City Live – A Motown Tribute, Hard Rock
Aug. 26: Toby Keith & Trace Adkins, Hard Rock
Aug. 31: Gabriel Iglesias, Borgata
Aug. 31: Cassadee Pope, Hard Rock
Aug. 31: Jackie “The Joke Man” Martling, Hard Rock

Here are other “insider” tips about what’s happening in Atlantic City’s casinos during July:

Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa

Promotions
Every 15 minutes from noon to 7 p.m. July 1 Borgata will award 1,500 Bonus Slot Dollars. Players need to insert their M life Rewards card into any slot machine or open any table games rating from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. for a chance to win.

Every seven minutes from noon to 7 p.m. July 4 Borgata will award 777 Bonus Slot Dollars. Players need to insert their M life Rewards card into any slot machine or open any table games rating from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. for a chance to win.

Earn 15X Slot Dollars playing with your Mlife Rewards card from 3 to 8 p.m. July 26.

Details on all promotions are available at the Mlife Rewards Center.

Entertainment
Borgata Comedy Club (check for dates in July), Sebastian Maniscalco (July 1), Barry Manilow (July 6 and 7), Michael Carbonaro (July 7), Kathleen Madigan (July 14), Halsey (July 14), Britney Spears (July 19 to 21), Human Nature (July 20 and 21), Jeff Dunham (July 22), Jerry Seinfeld (July 27 and 28), Bill Floyd (July 28), Camila Cabello (July 30). For tickets visit The Borgata Shows or call (866) 900-4TIX (4849).

Caesars Atlantic City

Promotions
Win your share of Cleopatra’s Treasures in drawings for $100,000 on July 28. Receive one daily entry by swiping at a promotional kiosk and receive another entry for every 25 tier credits earned. Plus, play every Tuesday in July to earn 5X entries.

Entertainment
Dirty Dancing (July 1), Gavin DeGraw (July 20). For tickets, visit Ticketmaster.com.

Golden Nugget Atlantic City

Promotions
$10,000 Bingo Bonanza July 2, 16, 23 and 30 at 2 and 7 p.m. in The Grand. Free entry for all Elite and Chairman cardholders. All others must earn at least 20 tier credits that day for the player and one guest

Through 5:59 p.m. Sept. 2 get one entry for every 25 base tier credits earned – 5X entries every Sunday and Tuesday – for a chance to win a 2018 Porsche Panamera and free play. Drawing is at 6.

In addition, every Saturday in June, July and August 11 winners will be drawn for a share of $6,000 in free play and a chance to be a finalist for the Porsche and free play drawings.

Golden Nugget is giving away $30,000 in restaurant comps. The comp dollars will be accepted at more than 600 restaurants in 34 states – from Vic & Anthony’s and Chart House to Dos Caminos and Oceanaire. Through July 8, for every 25 base tier credits players earn using their 24K Select players card, they will get one entry – five times entries every Tuesday. Accumulated entries must be activated between noon and 6:59 p.m. on July 8. From 2 to 7 p.m. in the Main Atrium 20 winners will be selected every hour. Participants must be present to win.

For details on all promotions, visit the 24K Select Club or Golden Nugget Atlantic City.

Free self-parking continues.

Entertainment
Frankie Avalon, Fabian and Bobby Rydell (July 7), Fakefest (July 12 to 15), My Big Gay Italian Christmas (July 28). For tickets, visit Ticketmaster.

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City

Promotions
Sign up for Wild Card Rewards card to be entered to win a 2018 Tesla Model S. Earn additional entries by playing your favorite slots and table games. Drawing will be held at 11 p.m. Sept. 1. Must activate entries on Sept. 1 and be present to win. Details at the Wild Card Services Desk.

Entertainment
Motor City Live – A Motown Tribute (July 1, 15, 22, 29), Howie Mandel (July 3 and 4), Third Eye Blind (July 5), Jon Lovitz (July 5), Kellie Pickler (July 8), Ted Nugent (July 12), Florida Georgia Line (July 13 and 14), Here Come The Mummies (July 14), Maroon 5 (July 15), Love & Theft with Hudson Moore (July 20), MMA Pro League (July 20), Gin Blossoms (July 21), Chris Young (July 21), Pat Benatar, Neil Giraldo and Rick Springfield (July 26), Rascal Flatts with Special Guests Dan Shay and Carly Pearce (July 26:), A Thousand Horses (July 27), Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons. For tickets, visit Ticketmaster.com.

Related: Everything you need to know about Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City

Harrah’s Resort

Promotions
There’s $250,000 in prizes at stake in Harrah’s Summer of Jackpots promotion through the final drawing day, Sept. 8. Receive one daily entry, one free entry upon activation and earn one entry for every 25 tier credits throughout the promotional period. Receive 5X entries on Tuesdays in July and Wednesdays in August and September.

Entertainment
Theory of a Deadman (July 6), Andrew Dice Clay (July 14), Sea Turtle Recovery Event Charity Concert by Allie Colleen (July 16), Legends In Concert (July 24 to Sept. 2). For tickets, visit Ticketmaster.com or call (800) 736-1420.

Ocean Resort

Promotions
Ocean Premier cardholders can earn comp and tier multipliers based on their tier level. For details, restrictions and valid dates visit the Ocean Premier players club desk.

Related: [EXCITING! Soft Opening] Ocean Resort Casino Atlantic City
Related: [Initial Details + Pics Studio Suite] World of Hyatt at Ocean Resort Casino Atlantic City

Resorts Casino Hotel

Promotions
Win two show tickets, two buffets and a room at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut in drawings at 6 p.m. July 8, July 29, Aug. 19 and Sept. 2. Through 5:45 p.m. Sept. 2 Star cardholders will get five entries for every tier point they earn. On drawing dates guests will earn 10 entries.

Bingo, 8 p.m., July 26, Ocean Ballroom. For reservations, call (800) 772-9000. Registration 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Promotions Booth. Star cardholders only. Red Carpet cardholders receive two cards. Only invited guests are eligible to win prizes.

2018 Ford Mustang Convertible Guaranteed Sweepstakes. Earn entries – one for every tier point earned – through 3:55 p.m. Aug. 26. Drawing at 4 p.m. Aug. 26.

Entertainment
Flip Orley comic/hypnotist (Tuesday to Saturday through Sept. 1), That ‘70s, ‘80s & More Show featuring Jon Ciotta (July 3, 10, 25 and 26), Brad Garrett (July 14). For tickets, visit Ticketmaster.com, the Resorts Box Office, or call (800) 745-3000.

Tropicana Atlantic City

Promotions
With daily drawings and the chance to win $1 million, Tropicana has brought back its Winning Ticket game. Through Sept. 9, Trop Advantage cardholders will receive one free ticket through any comp machine. Players can choose their own numbers or select a quick pick option. Five drawings will be held daily, with an extra 11 p.m. drawing on Fridays and Saturdays.

Entertainment
Primal Men Male Revue (every Saturday at Boogie Nights), Magique Grand Illusions (select dates through Sept. 9), Creedence Clearwater Revisited (July 6), #Yes50 (July 14), Jesse Garron’s Tribute To Elvis (July 28). For tickets, visit Ticketmaster.com, call (800) 745-3000 or check with the Tropicana Box Office.

Another entertainment option at Tropicana is Atlantic City’s only IMAX® Theatre. Moviegoers receive a discounted parking rate of $5 to park in the enclosed Tropicana self-park garage, but first must obtain a parking voucher from the IMAX Box Office at the time of ticket purchase.

“Pandas 3D,” “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom: An IMAX 3D Experience” and “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom: The IMAX Experience” run through July 5, “Ant-Man and The Wasp: An IMAX 3D Experience” and “Ant-Man and The Wasp: The IMAX Experience” run from July 6 to July 19, “Great Barrier Reef 3D” runs from July 6 to Dec. 31, “The Equalizer 2: The IMAX Experience” runs July 19 to July 26, and “Mission: Impossible – Fallout: The IMAX Experience” runs July 26 to Aug. 9. For show times and tickets, visit Tropicana.net/Entertainment/IMAX-Theatre/. Tickets can be purchased at the IMAX Box Office, through Ticketmaster.com or by calling (800) 745-3000.

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Recreational gambler Darryl D. McEwen is publisher of the Seven Stars Insider – both the website (www.SevenStarsInsider.com) and the monthly newsletter. For a free subscription to the newsletter, join the mailing list at Seven Stars Insider and tell him how you heard about it. You also can download the newsletter from the website where he frequently updates news about Caesars Entertainment and Total Rewards under “Latest News” on the home page. In addition, be sure to follow @7StarsInsider on Twitter.

Darryl also writes a bi-weekly column, Mr. AC Casino, for the Atlantic City Weekly. A former professional journalist, based in Wilmington, Delaware, Darryl is president of his own consulting firm that manages several small national and international trade associations, and provides public relations and fundraising services for a number of charitable organizations.