Atlantic City July 2021
Casino Smoking Ban Ends
The casino smoking ban ends. New Jersey’s ban on smoking in Atlantic City casinos ended Sunday, July 4. However, Gov. Phil Murphy indicated he would look favorably on a measure lawmakers are considering to permanently end smoking in New Jersey’s casinos. Casinos are exempted from a state law banning most indoor smoking, while an Atlantic City law limits smoking to no more than 25 percent of the casino floor.
Casino Association Of New Jersey – Opposes Permanent Smoking Ban
The Casino Association of New Jersey opposes a permanent smoking ban, saying it could cause long-term financial implications. “Going completely nonsmoking would place Atlantic City casinos at a competitive disadvantage with other nearby casinos that allow smoking,” the group said in a statement. Such a ban would lead to fewer customers, fewer casino jobs and lower tax revenue, it said.
The casinos say they have spent considerable sums on cleaning and air filtration systems to protect customers. And a considerable amount of gamblers say that smoking is an integral part of their gambling experience. But nonsmokers like Tom Cushion, who visits casinos once or twice a week, has loved the smoke-free atmosphere for the past year. “You can feel the difference,” said Cushion, “It’s time to go smoke-free.”
This Month In AC – July 2021
Free parking
Sign up for a Bally’s Players Card, earn 10 Tier Credits in a gaming day and swipe your card at any kiosk. Then present your voucher and parking ticket to the garage cashier to receive free parking. For more information, visit Bally’s Atlantic City.
Alternatively, spend $50 or more at one of Bally’s fine dining restaurants – Jerry Longo’s Meatballs & Martinis, Guy Fieri’s Chophouse, Noodle Village, Harry’s Oyster Bar and Bally’s Beach Bar & BBQ – and self-park the same day for free with a Bally’s Player’s Card. Visit the Player’s Club for details.
Motown Forever
The Motown Tribute concert Motown Forever is performed at 4 and 8 p.m. every Saturday through Sept. 4 in Bally’s Atlantic City’s Grand Ballroom. Tickets – $39 and $49 – are available at Ticket Web or at the ballroom three hours prior to showtime.
Ocean introduces new loyalty program
The Ocean Casino Resort Ocean Rewards player loyalty card program has been reimagined with four new tiers. New perks and benefits include Ocean’s new cruise partner MSC Cruises, and two new players lounges. All Ocean Rewards cardholders can visit the Ocean Rewards Desk to pick up a new card with their updated tier status. For details, click here.
Rent a seat
Bally’s offers daily beach rentals from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. All rentals are collected at 6 p.m. Rentals include chairs ($12), umbrellas ($15) or a package including two chairs and one umbrella ($35). Firepits and cabanas are available on a first-come first-served basis.
Veg out!
VegFest is returning to Atlantic City from noon to 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 17, and Sunday, July 18, on the Boardwalk near the Showboat Hotel and Ocean Casino Resort. Billed by organizers as New Jersey’s No. 1 homegrown food festival, it will feature vegan food and plant-based clothing from more than 100 chefs and local businesses from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland and Washington, D.C. There also will be live entertainment.
Raw Bar opens at Dougherty’s
The Raw Bar at Dougherty’s Steakhouse and Raw Bar in Resorts Casino Hotel has opened in the space formerly occupied by the Burger Bar. Dougherty’s has uncovered the windows and created an expansive new bar and raw bar featuring herringbone tile details and a fresh, indoor/outdoor feel.
The Raw Bar features six different oysters daily, shucked fresh before your eyes from the tiered raw bar display. The Raw Bar is the more casual counterpart to the Steakhouse and offers salads, sandwiches and burgers, along with the raw bar selections and appetizers designed to be shared.
Happy Hours
Happy Hour has returned to Guy Fieri’s Chophouse bar and lounge at Bally’s from 5 to 6:30 p.m. seven days a week. Specials include half-price draft beers, wine by the glass and a 23-ounce draft beer for $6.
There also are daily happy hours at the L Bar from 3 to 5 p.m. Specials include: Half price cocktails, beer and win
Circus, circus
The circus is in town through Labor Day, with performances every weekend next to the Showboat Resort and Convention Hotel. Two shows – one family-friendly, the other more adult-oriented – will be offered. Visit Super American Circus for tickets and more information on the family-themed show; for the adult show, go to Cirque Risque.
Come, fly with me
Travelers from up to 75 U.S. departure cities now can fly to Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa with flight service from markets such as Cincinnati, Buffalo, Charlotte, Houston, Detroit and others. Borgata’s charter flights to Atlantic City International Airport will operate on a Sun Country 173-seat 737-800 aircraft.
Borgata is offering nonstop jet service packages starting at $553 per person including round-trip airfare, deluxe accommodations for three nights, and round-trip ground transportation between the airport and Borgata. Reservations for these travel packages may be made by calling 866-755-7117.
Meanwhile, Hard Rock Air getaways include:
• Charter service on an exclusive 30-seat jet
• Private charter check-in at the airport
• Complimentary airport parking
• Overnight accommodations at Hard Rock Atlantic City
• Ground transportation to/from Atlantic City International Airport
To find out more about Hard Rock Air, or to book a flight package, contact a Hard Rock Air VIP Specialist at 609-449-5757 or email HardRockAir@hrhcac.com.
In the cards
Blackjack players at Bally’s will find wider aisles, new gaming tables, more room at the tables and comfortable seating. Among the new options is an exclusive $25 blackjack pit offering eight games and no mid-shoe entry. Players cannot join the table until the current players have played through the shoe.
In addition, Blackjack Surrender – for players who prefer to fold their hand and surrender – is offered to every player. Players also can “re-split” aces, which allows for up to three hands. As a result, three hands can be created from one.
Another option is available to players who dine at Jerry Longo’s Meatballs & Martinis in Bally’s. Players can play blackjack at one of two tables offered before or after they dine.
This has a nice ring to it
Philadelphia’s Hard Hitting Promotions has announced a 12-fight boxing series at Showboat Atlantic City. The series, dubbed Boardwalk Boxing, begins Saturday, July 31, and will include Christian Tapia, a Super Featherweight from Puerto Rico with an 11-0 record and 10 knockouts, Dylan Price, of Philadelphia, a Bantamweight with a 13-0 record including 10 knockouts, and Atlantic City’s own Anthony Young a Welterweight with a record of 21-2 that includes eight knockouts.
The matches will be held either upstairs in the Bourbon Room – the former House of Blues – or in the Carousel Room. The next show will be Saturday, Aug. 28, with another at the beginning of November. The series will begin again in February.
Gone fishing
The “Quest for the Ring” Championship Fishing Week is coming July 12 to 17 to the Frank S. Farley State Marina at Golden Nugget Casino, Hotel & Marina. Hall of Fame football coach Jimmy Johnson’s annual fishing tournament offers a grand prize starting at $1 million for teams, but it will be increased by $200,000 for every additional 15 boats past 85. Parties will be held every night during the tournament. For more information, visit Quest For The Ring AC or call 305-255-3500.
That’s entertainment
Through Aug. 4: Masters of Illusion, Harrah’s
July 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25, 31: The Rat Pack: Back in Town, Hard Rock
July 3: High Noon (Lynyrd Skynard tribute), Hard Rock
July 3: Brian McKnight, Ocean Casino Resort
July 9: Sister Sledge, Tropicana
July 10: Draw The Line (Aerosmith tribute), Hard Rock
July 15: Rock & Roll Hall of Famer: Dion, Borgata
July 16: Little River Band, Tropicana
July 17 and 18: Bert Kreischer: The Berty Boy Relapse Tour, Borgata
July 17: Rockin’ the Paradise (Styx tribute), Hard Rock
July 21 to 25: Legends In Concert, Tropicana
July 16: Jim Breuer, Borgata
July 17 and 18: Bert Kreischer – The Berty Boy Relapse Tour, Borgata
July 23: The Drifters, The Cornell Gunter Coasters, The Platters, Hard Rock
July 23: Dierks Bentley, Hard Rock
July 24: Wanted DOA (Bon Jovi tribute), Hard Rock
July 24: Air Supply, Borgata
July 30: Joe Gatto: Traffic Cam Live, Hard Rock
July 31: Nightrain (Guns N’ Roses tribute), Hard Rock
That’s Entertainment – Plus. . .
Dueling pianos every Friday night starting at 9 p.m. at Hard Rock Cafe.
Hard Rock, in collaboration with North Beach, offers live entertainment and specials every Monday throughout the summer. Stop by the Beach Bar and Balcony Bar for a bucket of domestic beer for $30 from 5 to 7 p.m.
Island vibes and $14 perfect margaritas are offered every Thursday for the summer at the Beach Bar at Hard Rock.
The Hard Rock Lobby Bar offers free live entertainment plus drink specials every Saturday and Sunday.
Council Oak Steaks & Seafood has free entertainment from 5:30 to 11:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Recreational gambler Darryl D. McEwen is the publisher of the Seven Stars Insider – both the website (SevenStarsInsider.com) and the monthly newsletter. For a free subscription to the newsletter, email him at SevenStarsInsider@gmail.com 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 Corp. and Caesars 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. The companion website is MrACCasino.com and the matching Twitter account is @MrACCasino. 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.
