Atlantic City October 2020
Casino Awards
We start this month’s update with a compilation of numerous casino awards. Capriccio at Resorts Casino Hotel is the best casino restaurant in the country, according to a USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice poll. Il Mulino and Kuro at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City ranked No. 3 and 6, respectively.
Reflected in the casino awards Atlantic City is the home to three of the best casinos outside of Las Vegas, according to the poll. Hard Rock was ranked No. 2, Ocean Casino Resort was No. 4, and Harrah’s Resort was No. 8.
Casino Awards – Best Loyalty Program
In addition, Caesars Rewards Loyalty Program was named Best Players Club, followed by Hard Rock’s Wild Card Rewards in sixth place and Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa’s M life Rewards in 10th place. For a complete list of winners, click here.
Ocean: Best of the Best
In another poll of casino players, Ocean Casino Resort was named by Casino Player magazine readers as Atlantic City’s best overall gaming resort. Last year’s winner, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, took second place, and Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa remained in third place for the second year, after years as No. 1.
Ocean also received first-place awards for best hotel, hotel lobby and rooms, as well as best comps and best pool. Ocean took second-place for VIP services and third-place awards for best hotel staff and suites, best casino, video slots, high limit room and non-smoking casino area.
Casino Awards – “Where You Feel The Luckiest”
In addition, Ocean was deemed “Casino Where You Feel The Luckiest,” followed by Golden Nugget Casino, Hotel & Marina and Tropicana Atlantic City.
All the rest of the Casino Awards
Voters also recognized Hard Rock with first-place casino awards for best suites, spa, casino, players club, promotions, video poker, bingo, slot tournaments; second-place awards for best hotel rooms, hosts, comps, video slots and high limit room; and third-place casino awards for best hotel and craps. In addition, Hard Rock was judged “Favorite Casino Resort To Vacation At,” followed by Ocean and Golden Nugget.
Among Borgata’s other honors were best VIP services, table game and poker tournaments, high limit room, blackjack, and non-smoking area. Borgata’s second-place casino awards were for best hotel and hotel lobby, and spa (Immersion), and third place for best hotel rooms, pool, carnival games, bingo and live poker.
Golden Nugget received four first-place casino awards: best hosts, roulette, carnival games and video slots. Among its second-place awards were best hotel staff, slot and poker tournaments, video poker, craps, bingo and non-smoking area. Third-place casino awards included best hotel lobby, spa, players club, VIP services, promotions, dealers, reel slots, blackjack and live poker.
Resorts Casino Hotel followed Golden Nugget with first-place casino awards for best hotel staff, dealers and craps, as well as second-place recognition for best suites, casino, players club, table game tournaments, reel slots, blackjack and carnival games, and third-place for best comps, slot tournaments and roulette.
Tropicana took first-place for best reel slots, second-place for best promotions, dealers and roulette, and third-place for best table game tournaments.
Harrah’s Resort took second-place for best pool and third-place for best hosts, and Bally’s took second-place for best live poker, and third-place for poker tournaments.
Sportsbooks – Casino Awards
Turning to casino sportsbooks, DraftKings at Resorts was named best overall sportsbook, followed by the William Hill’s operations at Ocean and Tropicana. DraftKings also picked up second-place for best promotions, prop bets and friendliest.
William Hill at Ocean took first-place for best betting options, promotions and friendliest, and William Hill at Tropicana took second-place for best betting options and third-place for best prop bets and friendliest. Borgata took first-place for best prop bets, and third-place for best betting options and promotions.
Casino Player magazine is available at CasinoCenter or by calling 800-969-0711.
Good times
Resorts is offering 2X slot cashback every Tuesday in October and a 3X comp multiplier every Wednesday. Be sure to swipe your Star card at a promotional kiosk before you begin play.
Happy half hours
Hard Rock will award $500 in Bonus Free Play every 30 minutes from 2 to 6 p.m. every Tuesday in October. To be eligible play any slot machine with a Wild Card Rewards card inserted.
In addition, Hard Rock will award 10 players with $350 in Bonus Free Play every 30 minutes from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16. At 7 p.m. Hard Rock will double the number of winners, for a total of 100 winners. Activate entries by swiping your players card at a Wild Card Kiosk or by playing slots or table games from 1 to 7 p.m. The more you play, the more entries you earn.
To end the month Hard Rock will award 10 players with $500 in Bonus Free Play every 30 minutes from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30. At 10 p.m. Hard Rock will double the number of winners, for a total of 100 winners. Activate entries by swiping your players card at a Wild Card Kiosk or by playing slots or table games from 4 to 10 p.m. The more you play, the more entries you earn.
Plus, every Tuesday in October Hard Rock will give $500 in Bonus Free Play every 30 minutes from 2 to 6 p.m. To qualify you must be actively playing a slot machine with your Wild Card Rewards card inserted.
Finally, through Thursday, Dec. 31, all Wild Card Rewards cardholders will receive 2X tier points for all slot and table play.
Everybody into the pool
Borgata’s indoor pool and garden are now open to hotel guests 18 years or older. Masks are to be worn by pool guests at all times except when seated in a lounge chair, eating or drinking, or while in the pool or whirlpool. For details click here.
Hang 10
Every 10 minutes from noon to 7 p.m. on Sundays, Oct. 4, 11, 18 and 25, Borgata is giving away 1,010 Bonus Slot Dollars. Insert your M life Rewards card into any slot machine or table games rating from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. for a chance to win.
Happy Halloween
Win cash or Bonus Slot Dollars in Borgata’s Monster Cash $100,000 Sweepstakes from 6 to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31. To enter insert your M life Rewards card into a slot machine or open a table games rating from 4 to 10:30 p.m.
Tier up
If you have a top-tier players card with a casino loyalty program M life Rewards may match your status. To see if your card is eligible, visit the M life Rewards desk at Borgata through Thursday, Dec. 31, or review the TravelZork article about status matching.
Best if used by
Any Golden Nugget comp dollars that were initially due to expire Oct. 1 have been extended through Monday, Jan. 4, 2021.
Good sports
The Book sportsbooks at Wild Wild West and Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City have reopened, as has The Sportsbook at Golden Nugget.
Leave the parking to us
Valet parking has returned to several Atlantic City casinos.
Borgata – Exclusive to M life Rewards NOIR cardholders, parking is complimentary every day of the week.
Hard Rock – Parking is complimentary for Wild Card Rewards Rock Royalty and X cardholders. For all others, it’s $25 Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and $20 during the week.
Ocean Casino Resort – Chairman, Black and Platinum Ocean Rewards Club cardholders receive free parking every day of the week. All others pay $15 Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and $10 Monday to Thursday.
Tropicana Atlantic City – Available only to Caesars Rewards Seven Stars cardholders, parking is complimentary from noon Fridays through 4 p.m. Sundays.
New exit strategy – Harrah’s
Speaking of parking, Harrah’s has a new system in place for its self-park garage. Except for Seven Stars, Diamond and Platinum cardholders who get free parking, all others can pay in advance at a kiosk located near the entrance to the garage, or pay at the exit.
Pigskin picks
Caesars Rewards Loyalty Program cardholders can make weekly picks by choosing which team they think will win in the eligible NFL football games and activate those picks for their chance to win a share of $60,000 in prizes each week. First place winner each week walks away with $20,000 cash. For further details see Caesars Rewards free NFL PickEm.
Pick more winning teams than the Borgata Book and win $20 Bonus Slot Dollars. Entries – starting at 11 a.m. on Tuesdays – can be placed at select Sports Betting kiosks, but are limited to one free entry per week. Entries for each week must be placed by 11 a.m. on Sundays. Details on the Borgata website.
Fröhliches Oktoberfest!
North Beach Atlantic City is celebrating Oktoberfest at several of its locations.
Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall is hosting an Oktoberfest party on Saturday, Oct. 2, and Sunday, Oct. 3, complete with entertainment, several German beers on tap and a German-inspired menu.
Rhythm & Spirits will showcase an Oktoberfest-inspired drag show hosted by Jenna Tall at 1 p.m. Oct. 3. Make reservations at RHYTHM & SPIRITS
Visit the Absecon Lighthouse any day in October and receive $1 off admission when you say “Lighthouse” in German: “Leuchtturm.”
Steel Pier’s Bars and its Axe Throwing Pub are offering drink specials throughout October. In addition, you can “Smash O Lantern.” Instead of aiming for the traditional bullseye, you aim for a hanging pumpkin. In addition, on Sundays enjoy $5 sparkling Italian wine, White Claws and Bud Light Seltzers.
New GM graces Tropicana
Jacqueline Grace has been named senior vice president and general manager of Tropicana Atlantic City. Grace becomes the fourth woman in charge of an Atlantic City casino, joining Bally’s Senior Vice President and General Manager Karie Hall, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa President Melonie Johnson, and Ocean Casino Resort CEO Terry Glebocki.
“I started my gaming career in Atlantic City and I’m thrilled to return and join one of the top destinations in the market,” Grace said in a statement. With more than 20 years of experience in the casino industry, she most recently served as vice president and assistant general manager at Horseshoe Baltimore Maryland Casino.
In that role she helped oversee several expansion projects included the launch of multiple celebrity chef outlets, an extensive renovation of The Marketplace casual dining area, and the opening of The Terrace, a $15 million outdoor gambling and entertainment venue.
Before joining the gambling industry, she spent nine years in various management roles on Wall Street. She holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Virginia Darden School and a Bachelor of Engineering degree in electrical engineering from Stony Brook University.
Tropicana transitions to Caesars Rewards
The TROP Advantage program at Tropicana Atlantic City has transitioned to Caesars Rewards. TROP Advantage cardholders who do not have a Caesars Rewards card need to visit the Caesars Rewards Center at Tropicana to receive a new Caesars Rewards Local card. The Local card is valid only at Tropicana Atlantic City.
To receive full Caesars Rewards benefits sign up for a Caesars Rewards account, and link your Local account. In addition to the new tier status, Caesars will transition Tropicana comp dollars to Reward Credits, with one comp dollar equaling 100 Reward Credits, and transition tier points to tier credits, with five tier points equaling one tier credit. Future earnings will be based on Caesars Rewards Loyalty Program rules and regulations. Visit the Caesars Website for details.
Tropicana offers limited room charges
Tropicana may now be part of Caesars Entertainment Inc., but, unless you’re staying there, you can’t charge anything back to your room at Bally’s, Caesars or Harrah’s. In other words, if you’re overnighting at Caesars and you have dinner at Chelsea Five Gastropub or The Palm at Tropicana, you can’t charge your meal back to your room – only if you’re staying at Tropicana.
Lounging around
Your guide to players lounges
For the latest updates, visit Mr. AC Casino.
Borgata – The Amphora Lounge and Society Club have reopened. The Amphora Lounge has moved indoors to its new location at the Borgata Buffet. It’s open from 2 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, noon to 11 p.m. Fridays, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays. The Society Club is open from 4 p.m. to midnight Fridays, noon to midnight Saturdays, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays.
Golden Nugget – The Chairman’s Club has relocated to The Buffet. Hours are noon to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and noon to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
Harrah’s – The Laurel Lounge has moved again. It’s now located at Coastal Craft Kitchen & Bar.
Ocean Casino – While the Chairman and VIP Lounges are temporarily closed, the VIP Lounge, open to all Black and Chairman Ocean Rewards Club cardholders, has moved from the fifth floor of the garage to the area outside Ovation Hall. The lounge offers complimentary drinks and full-service dining. It’s open from noon to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and noon to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Chairman cardholders are permitted up to three guests and Black cardholders are permitted one guest.
Hard Rock – Legends Lounge for Wild Card Rewards Rock Royalty and X cardholders has reopened, but in the Seminole Ballroom. In addition, Rock Royalty and X cardholders now can convert up to 1,000 comp dollars into free play once per day, every day, as long as they maintain a minimum $25 balance.
Resorts – The VIP Lounge has reopened, but, due to state-imposed capacity restrictions, is now limited to Red Carpet and Paramount Plus cardholders. Hours are 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Fridays, noon to 1 a.m. on Saturdays, and noon to 8 p.m. on Sundays.
Tropicana – Planning to stop by the Trop Advantage VIP Lounge? Visits now are limited to 60 minutes and restricted to Caesars Rewards Seven Stars, and TOP Advantage Black and Platinum cardholders.
Golden Nugget spa reopens
The Spa & Salon at Golden Nugget Casino, Hotel & Marina has reopened. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Due to limited capacity, appointments are strongly recommended. Call 800-777-8477 or 609-340-5001.
Win a car
Save the free play
At Harrah’s Resort you no longer have to use all your free slot play at one machine. Let’s say you download $50, have a big win and decide your machine isn’t going to hit again for a while. You’re no longer stuck playing the balance of what you downloaded.
Simply remove your Caesars Rewards card from the machine, and any unused free slot play will automatically be re-deposited back into your bank. Caesars casinos in Baltimore, Cherokee, Hammond, New Orleans, Phoenix and Tunica – and perhaps others – are among those with similar policies.
In the news. . . Atlantic City
Borgata claimed that Ocean hired them, despite the fact that at least two had non-compete agreements that would bar them from working for a competitor for a year after leaving. The lawsuit was filed in Nevada because Borgata’s parent company, MGM Resorts International, is based there. However, it also asserts the hiring of the executives violates New Jersey state law regarding unfair competition. Read the complete story here.
Looking ahead (schedules subject to change):
Nov. 6: Wu-Tang Clan, Borgata
Nov. 7: Almost Queen – The Ultimate Queen Experience, Hard Rock
Nov. 21: It’s A Shore Holiday, Atlantic City Ballet, Caesars
Here are other “insider” tips about what’s happening in Atlantic City during October:
Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa
Promotions
Every 10 minutes from noon to 7 p.m. on Sundays, Oct. 4, 11, 18 and 25, Borgata is giving away 1,010 Bonus Slot Dollars. Insert your M life Rewards card into any slot machine or table games rating from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. for a chance to win.
Win cash or Bonus Slot Dollars in Borgata’s Monster Cash $100,000 Sweepstakes from 6 to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31. To enter insert your M life Rewards card into a slot machine or open a table games rating from 4 to 10:30 p.m.
Entertainment and Events
Borgata Comedy Club (check for dates in October), Kreeps With Kids Comedy Tour with Rob Bennington, Robert Kelly, Rich Vos and Jim Florentine (Oct. 30). For tickets visit The Borgata or call 866-900-4TIX (4849).
Caesars Atlantic City
Entertainment and Events
An Evening with William Shatner (Oct. 16), Dracula, Atlantic City Ballet (Oct. 24). For tickets, visit Ticketmaster.
Golden Nugget Casino, Hotel & Marina
Promotions
Every Sunday 24K and Premier cardholders receive 2X tier credits, Chairman cardholders get 3X and Elite cardholders get 4X.
Every Monday 24K Select cardholders receive 2X comp dollars. Every Tuesday and Wednesday cardholders receive 2X Slot Dollars and 2X tier credits.
Free self-parking continues.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City
Promotions
Through Thursday, Dec. 31, all Wild Card Rewards cardholders will receive 2X tier points for all slot and table play.
Featuring more than $50,000 worth of prizes, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City will celebrate the end of 2020 with a 100-Day Countdown To 2021. The grand prize winner will receive two tickets to every show at Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena in 2021, including the KISS “End of the Road Tour” scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021. Additional weekly prizes include signed memorabilia from top artists including Pitbull and Kenny Chesney, hotel stays, dining experiences, free play, Hard Rock swag, Rocktane gas and car wash giveaways, and more. Visit HardRockHotelAtlanticCity.com for complete information and to enter.
In addition, Hard Rock will award 10 players $350 in Bonus Free Play every 30 minutes from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16. At 7 p.m. Hard Rock will double the number of winners, for a total of 100 winners. Then, from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, Hard Rock will award 10 players $500 in Bonus Free Play every 30 minutes. At 10 p.m. Hard Rock will double the number of winners, for a total of 100 winners. On both days, activate entries by swiping your players card at a Wild Card Kiosk or by playing slots or table games from 4 to 10 p.m. The more you play, the more entries you earn.
Then every Tuesday in October Hard Rock will give $500 in Bonus Free Play every 30 minutes from 2 to 6 p.m. To qualify you must be actively playing a slot machine with your Wild Card Rewards card inserted.
Hard Rock continues its Wild Card tier match program until further notice. Details here.
Rock Royalty and X cardholders now can convert up to 1,000 comp dollars into free play once per day, every day, as long as they maintain a minimum $25 balance.
Free self-parking for Wild Card Rewards cardholders.
Harrah’s Resort
Entertainment and Events
Desperado – The Nation’s Premier Eagles Tribute (Oct. 2), Tusk – The World’s Number One Tribute To Fleetwood Mac (Oct. 9), The FABBA Show – A Tribute to ABBA (Oct. 16), Beatles For Sale – Beatles Tribute Band (Oct. 23). For tickets, visit Ticketmaster.
Ocean Casino Resort
Promotions
Win a share of $250,000 in cash and prizes in Ocean Casino Resort’s $250,000 BMW Sweepstakes. Earn entries through Saturday, Oct. 31, with a 5X multiplier every Tuesday. From 6 to 10 p.m. every Friday and Saturday five winners will be drawn every hour to receive up to $1,000, plus qualify for the grand finale drawing at 11 p.m. Oct. 31. Two winners will get their choice of a 2020 BMW 330i or X3.
Free self-parking continues for all Ocean Premier cardholders through Thursday, Dec. 31.
Visit the Ocean Rewards Club for details.
Resorts Casino Hotel
Promotions
Earn entries by playing your favorite slots or table games while using your Star Card through 3:55 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, to win a 2021 Mercedes GLA at Resorts Casino Hotel. For every tier point you earn, you will receive one entry.
Premiere 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.
Everything AC Casinos (Atlantic City)
Facebook Group
JOIN TODAY!!
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.
