Atlantic City May 2021

New Bus Service Atlantic City

OurBus, a new intercity bus service, now offers departures four times a day connecting New York City with Galloway, N.J., and three casinos – Resorts Casino Hotel, Caesars Atlantic City and Tropicana Atlantic City. Part of a new regional transportation network, OurBus brings together many of the existing independently owned and operated bus lines into a cohesive network.

Founded in 2016, OurBus has developed a network of intercity and commuter bus services that connect more than 100 cities and towns across the United States. Travelers can search schedules and buy tickets by clicking here, or use the OurBus app.

• OurBus service will drop off and pick up passengers directly at the casinos (with casino bonuses).
• Customers can change or cancel their tickets up to 30 minutes prior to departure with no fee.
• Seats are reserved, guaranteeing that no one will be left at the gate due to overcrowding.
• Pricing is based on demand – if you book earlier, you’ll get a lower fare.

OurBus also offers service for South Jersey residents going to New York with a stop at the Atlantic City Service Area in Galloway.

Take 10 percent off your first round-trip ticket to/from Atlantic City using this discount code: MISTERAC10. Book and travel by Wednesday, June 30.

Twice as good

While New Jersey’s casino and sports betting revenue more than doubled in March compared to a year ago, it was because of the pandemic shut down during the second half of the month last year. According to the state’s Division of Gaming Enforcement, Atlantic City’s nine casinos and three horse tracks that offer sports betting won $359.2 million last month – an increase of nearly 120 percent. The reason for the statistical increase is the fact that the casinos and tracks were open for a full month this year, but – due to the coronavirus – were shut down mid-March last year. The casinos and tracks handled $859.6 million worth of sports bets in March, compared with less than $182 million last March. After paying out winning bets and covering other expenses, they kept $60.7 million as sports betting revenue.

What’s new at Harrah’s

This month Harrah’s Resort will debut a new spa, as well as three new dining, nightlife and entertainment concepts. Formerly the #BarWithNoName, the Lobby Bar will be expanded and upgraded. New to the resort will be The Baywalk at Harrah’s, an outdoor, bayside container bar with dining and live music, and a dining and nightlife experience at The Pool. Rum Point Crab House, located in the former Veracruz, opened April 30.

This follows the announcement that Caesars Entertainment Inc. has committed $400 million for capital investment and improvements into its Atlantic City resorts. Over the next three years look for upgrades to guestrooms and suites in Harrah’s Atrium Tower, the Centurion and Ocean Towers at Caesars, and at Tropicana. The first phase of the Atrium Tower project is scheduled to be completed by the end of this summer.

Rock and roll

Harrah’s Resort is the first Atlantic City casino to feature Roll To Win Craps. This hybrid table game allows players to shoot live dice across a large LED playing field and place all their bets electronically.

New Showboat arcade

Also opening this month is a new 100,000-sq. ft. arcade – the largest in the state – located at the Showboat Hotel in the area which formerly housed the casino. Dubbed The Lucky Snake at Showboat, this family-friendly entertainment venue is scheduled to debut Saturday, May 15. Also part of the facility will be a sports bar, performance stages, a speakeasy and improved meeting spaces.

Indoor Water Park

The venue also will complement Showboat’s proposed $97 million 103,000-sq. ft. indoor water park. The arcade will feature such games as a large crane, classics from the 1980s, virtual reality, basketball, pinball and Skee Ball. Prizes will range from candy to designer purses, jewelry, cars, motorcycles and all-inclusive vacations. The 25,000-sq. ft. sports bar will include an eSports gaming area and a boxing ring. Live entertainment will be programmed seven days a week at the indoor entertainment venues, which will have host areas for music performances and street performers. In addition to the water park, plans include a domed outdoor concert hall next to the hotel, along with a beer garden and a sun deck. These projects should be open by summer 2022.

Caesars acquires William Hill

Caesars Entertainment Inc. has completed its acquisition of William Hill PLC for approximately $4 billion. The transaction gives Caesars ownership of “one of the world’s leading betting and gambling companies and gives Caesars the ability to maximize the opportunity within sports betting and online gaming in the United States,” according to a news release issued by Caesars. The combined companies currently operate sports betting in 18 jurisdictions in the United States, 13 of which offer mobile sports betting. Caesars expects to be operational in 20 U.S. jurisdictions by the end of 2021.

The transaction also provides William Hill customers access to Caesars Rewards, including the ability to earn tier status that can be used at all of Caesars land-based and online properties. “This combination also enables [Caesars] to further enhance its services to customers by providing a single-wallet offering of sports betting and online gaming products across the enterprise in the future,” the statement continued. As previously disclosed, Caesars intends to sell the non-U.S. businesses currently owned by William Hill, including the U.K. and international online divisions and the retail betting shops.

Official Sports Betting Partner

As part of an agreement that extends the partnership in which Caesars Entertainment Inc. became the League’s first-ever casino sponsor, Caesars will become an Official Sports Betting Partner of the NFL. For details, click here. Caesars will be joined by DraftKings and FanDuel.

Legends Lounge opens on Thursdays

Legends Lounge in the Seminole Ballroom at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City is now open from 4 to 9 p.m. on Thursdays.

Spending spree

Ocean Casino Resort is spending $15 million, mostly on renovations. The work will include upgrades to the casino floor, with new pathways to be installed throughout the casino so guests can more easily navigate between games. The property also will open a new Asian gambling space, add 250 new slot machines, and open two new lounges for holders of its loyalty card. In addition, the casino said it is earmarking more than $1 million for raises and bonuses for employees this year.

Saluting the troops

Hard Rock Atlantic City is saluting the troops throughout May by partnering with Bridging The Gap for Veterans Inc. and featuring the organization’s coffee collection in cocktails and desserts. Bridging the Gap opens career doors to the military community and offers career coaching to prepare candidates for future employment. Programs are funded through the sale of Bridging the Gap’s coffee collection. Veterans who enroll in the free Veterans Cardholder Program are offered free parking, a complimentary car wash and coffee at Rocktane Gas and Wash, and a $20 resort credit.

Hosts with the most

To help educate casino hosts on what may help them excel in their careers and better serve their customers, CompedTravel is collecting anonymous feedback from hosted players on what qualities they like – and don’t like – in their casino hosts. To participate in the survey, click here. Comped Travel began as a blog on URComped.com and is now a trusted source for casino news, exclusive video interviews, podcasts, and original content covering the entire casino industry.

URComped CEO, Insider talk casino hosts – Check out my conversation about casino hosts with URComped CEO Craig Shacklett. Click here.

Food news

Specializing in Northern Italian cuisine, Il Verdi, the 3,600 sq. ft. gourmet restaurant in the North Tower at Tropicana Atlantic City has reopened. Initially, hours are 5 to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 5 to 9 p.m. on Sundays. Reservations are recommended.

Dougherty’s Steakhouse & Raw Bar at Resorts is scheduled to open by Memorial Day weekend.

Il Mulino at Hard Rock now offers a three-course prix fixe dinner menu every day. Guests can enjoy a classic Italian meal with their choice of primi, secondi and dessert course. Reservations are suggested and can be made by calling 609-449-1000 or visiting www.HardRockHotelAtlanticCity.com.

Enjoy Mother’s Day brunch at Hard Rock’s Council Oak Steaks & Seafood from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 9. Reservations are recommended and can be made online at www.hardrockhotelatlanticcity.com.

Kuro at Hard continues its Friday happy hour featuring zensai, tempura, robata, hand rolls, sake, beer, wine and cocktails.

Cruise news you can use

Cruising in American waters could resume in July, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. “We acknowledge that cruising will never be a zero-risk activity and that the goal of the CSO’s phased approach is to resume passenger operations in a way that mitigates the risk of COVID-19 transmission onboard cruise ships and across port communities,” according to Aimee Treffiletti, head of the Maritime Unit for the CDC’s COVID-19 response within its Global Mitigation Task Force for COVID-19.

In another statement spokesperson Caitlin Shockey gave a more specific timeline. Cruises could begin passenger voyages from the United States in mid-July, depending on cruise lines’ pace and compliance with the CDC’s Framework for Conditional Sailing Order. While the CDC outlined a potential restart date for cruises departing from U.S. ports this summer, that doesn’t mean that the restrictions on cruises are lifted.

Parking and lounging around

For up-to-date information on Atlantic City players lounges and valet parking policies, visit MrACCasino.com.

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

Bally’s Atlantic City
Promotions
Win a 2021 Ford F-150 on Monday, May 31. Drawing is at 3 p.m. Members of Bally’s Players Club each get one free entry and one additional entry for every 25 tier credits earned through 2:45 p.m. on May 31 – double entries every Tuesday and Wednesday in May. Details are available at the Players Club.

Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa
Promotions
Borgata is giving away 5,000 Bonus Slot Dollars to one player every 30 minutes from noon to 7 p.m. on Sundays, May 9 and 23, and Monday, May 31. To enter, swipe your M life Rewards Card at a promotional kiosk or close a rating from 10 a.m. through 6:30 p.m. on any or each of those days. Rules and regulations will be available at the M life Rewards Desk.

From 4 to 9 p.m. Thursday, May 13, to Monday, May 17, 15 players will win up to $10,000 cash in Borgata’s$500,000 Cash Sweepstakes. To enter, swipe your M life Rewards Card into a promotional kiosk or close a rating from 2 to 8:30 p.m. May 13 to 17. Rules and regulations will be available at the M life Rewards Desk.

Present a valid rewards card from any of more than 25 qualifying casinos at any M life Rewards desk and trade up to an equivalent M life Rewards tier.

Caesars Atlantic City
Promotions
Free parking – Earn 10 tier credits and swipe at any rewards kiosk to print a voucher for free parking.

Golden Nugget Casino, Hotel & Marina
Promotions
Every Sunday in May 24K and Premier 24K Select cardholders receive 2X tier credits, Chairman cardholders get 3X and Elite cardholders get 4X.

Every Monday in May (except May 31) 24K Select cardholders receive 2X comp dollars.

Every Tuesday and Thursday in May 24K Select cardholders receive 2X tier credits and 2X comp dollars.

Win a 2021 Jeep Rubicon at 6 p.m. Sunday, May 30. Must be present to win. Earn entries Sunday, May 2, through Sunday, May 30 – one for every 25 base tier credits earned playing with your 24K Select card at any slot machine or table game. Earn 5X bonus entries every Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, plus 10X entries on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 28, 29 and 30.

$100,000 Stars & Stripes Sweepstakes – Earn entries through Monday, May 31 – one for every 25 base tier credits earned playing with your 24K Select card at any slot machine or table game. Earn 5X bonus entries every Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, plus 10X entries on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, May 28, 29, 30 and 31. Grand finale is from noon to 4 p.m. Monday, May 31 – 10 winners every 30 minutes. Must be present to win.

Free self-parking continues.

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City
Promotions
$100,000 Holiday Sweepstakes – Every 30 minutes from 2 to 8 p.m. on Monday, May 31, five Wild Card Rewards cardholders will win $1,000 in Bonus Free Play. At 8 p.m., 20 players will win $2,000 in Bonus Free Play.

Hard Rock continues its Wild Card Rewards tier match program until further notice. Details here.

All Rock Royalty and X Card cardholders can convert comp dollars to Free Play at a 2:1 ratio once per day.

Hard Rock will automatically award $20 in Free Play or Express Bet, plus a complimentary car wash at Rocktane Gas & Wash to all new Wild Card Rewards cardholders.

All Wild Card Rewards cardholders get free self-parking.

Entertainment and Events
The Lobby Bar offers free live entertainment plus drink specials every Saturday and Sunday.

Motor City Live (May 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29 and 30), Patron Tequila Social Dinner (May 6), Andrew Santino (May 30).

Ocean Casino Resort
Promotions
New and inactive Ocean Rewards Club cardholders can show their players card from an Atlantic City competitor and Ocean will match that card. Details here.

Every 30 minutes from 2 to 10 p.m. on Thursdays in May, two Ocean Rewards Club cardholders get a chance to win $500 in free play. Activate your free entry at any Rewards Kiosk from noon to 9:45 p.m. each day.

Ocean Rewards Club cardholders will receive a 10X free play multiplier on Sunday, May 16. Visit a promotional kiosk from noon to 11:59 p.m. to activate your multiplier. Participants will receive 10X their earned same day free play and be able to redeem 1X as same day free play on May 16 and then the remaining 9X will be available on Monday, May 17, and be valid for 90 days.

Black and Chairman Ocean Rewards Club cardholders will receive a 15X free play multiplier on Saturday, May 22. Visit a promotional kiosk from noon to 11:59 p.m. to activate your multiplier. Participants will receive 15X their earned same day free play and be able to redeem 1X as same day free play on May 22 and then the remaining 14X will be available on Sunday, May 23, and be valid for 90 days.

From 2 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday, May 29, 30 and 31, Ocean Rewards Club cardholders have a chance to win a portion of $300,000 in cash and free play. Drawings will be held every 30 minutes from 2 to 11 p.m. each day. Ten names will be drawn every half hour to win up to $500 in free play. At 11 p.m. each day grand prize drawings will total $25,000 in cash. Visit a Rewards Kiosk from noon to 10:45 p.m. each day to activate entries. Winners must be present and will have 30 minutes to claim their prizes at the Ocean Rewards Desk.

Free self-parking continues for all Ocean Rewards Club cardholders.

Visit the Ocean Rewards Club for details.

Entertainment and Events
Ocean now offers live entertainment at 6:15 p.m. every Friday and Saturday at Villain & Saint and SkyCafe.

Resorts Casino Hotel
Promotions
Play and earn 2X tier points every Tuesday from 6 a.m. until 5:59 the next morning. Activate your multiplier at any kiosk prior to playing.

Due to COVID-19, Resorts Annual Beach Ball Drop will be streamed live throughout the casino at 5 p.m. Friday, May 28. Play your favorite slot or table games and earn entries to win your chance to grab up to $5,000 in slot cash Saturday, May 1, through Friday, May 28, at 3:45 p.m.. Ten players will be chosen at 4 p.m. to participate. Winners will have 20 seconds to grab a beach ball worth a guaranteed $500 in slot cash – one beach ball is worth $5,000 in slot cash.

Beginning at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 28, through Monday, May 31, earn two tier points to receive a Resorts mask. Visit the Promotions Booth for details. One mask per customer during the length of the promotion and while supplies last.

Play your favorite slots or table games while using your Star Card to earn entries through 3:55 p.m. Sunday, May 30, for a chance to win a 2021 Jeep Gladiator at 4 p.m. May 30.

How many baseballs do you think are in the container? For your chance to win, enter your guess daily at any Resorts kiosk through Sunday, July 4. At 6 p.m. the 10 guests who guessed closest to the actual number without going over will win $500 slot cash or match play. Guess exactly and win $1,000. Must be present to win.

Earn one tier point prior to registering at the slot tournament area located across from the Promotions Booth and play for free in a weekly slot tournament from 4 to 10 p.m. Fridays, May 7, 11 and 28. Win $1,000 slot cash for first place and $500 for second place. Remaining top scorers each get $300 in slot cash. Win your round and receive a $20 dining credit. Winners have until midnight on the day of the tournament to claim their prizes.

Earn two tier points from 6 a.m. Friday, May 28, through 5:59 a.m. Saturday, May 29, visit any kiosk, select the right beach ball and win up to $50,000 in slot cash.

Earn 10X cashback from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, May 28. Slot play will be available on your next trip.

Earn two tier points to receive a Resorts mask while supplies last. Visit the Promotions Booth beginning at 10 a.m. Friday, May 2,8 through Monday, May 31. One mask per customer during the length of the promotion.

Every Sunday in May from 6 a.m. to 5:59 a.m. the next day Epic cardholders will earn 2X comps, Paramount cardholders will earn 3X, Paramount Plus cardholders will earn 4X and Red Carpet cardholders will earn 5X. Players must activate multipliers at any kiosk prior to playing on the day of the promotion.

Every 15 minutes from 9 p.m. to midnight on Friday, May 28, one player will win $500 in slot cash. Player must be actively playing a slot machine to be eligible for the drawing and claim the prize prior to 1 a.m.

New and inactive Star cardholders can show their players card from an Atlantic City competitor and Resorts Casino Hotel will match that card. Plus, for a limited time, new Star cardholders will receive a complimentary room when Resorts matches your card. Details here.

Premiere Star cardholders who earn two tier points during a gaming day park free in the self-park garage at Resorts. Check any promotional kiosk to confirm the points and present a valid Star card at the exit.

Visit the Promotions Booth for details on all promotions.

Tropicana Atlantic City
Entertainment and Events
Live music has returned every Saturday from 5 to 9 p.m. at Tango’s Lounge.

AC Jokes comedy club performs live at Kiss Kiss Nightclub nightly at 8 p.m., except Saturdays when showtime is 7 and 9 p.m. Shows last about 90 minutes. For more information and to purchase tickets visit ACJokes.com.

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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.

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