Atlantic City Casinos

Atlantic City is one of a handful of American cities which is synonymous with casinos and gambling – much like Las Vegas.
There are currently 10 commercial casinos in Atlantic City, NJ, USA – offering gamblers the opportunity to win (or lose!) big at casino games like slots, roulette, poker, keno, video-poker and much more.

Whether you want to grab a seat at a high-stakes poker cash-game or tournament, or play the penny slots or video poker – there’s something fun for everyone in AC’s impressive casino resorts.

There have been many movies that have featured famous Atlantic City casinos. Some examples include:

• Boardwalk Empire (2010-2014): This television series, which was set in the 1920s and 1930s, features several famous Atlantic City casinos, including the Boardwalk Empire, the Ritz Carlton, and the Steel Pier. The series follows the life of Enoch “Nucky” Thompson, a political boss and bootlegger who controlled the city’s casinos and other illegal activities.
• Rounders (1998): This movie is set in New York City and Atlantic City and features several famous casinos, including the Taj Mahal and the Borgata. The movie tells the story of a law student who becomes involved in high-stakes poker games in order to help a friend pay off a gambling debt.
• The Cooler (2003): This movie is set in Las Vegas and Atlantic City and features several famous casinos, including the Golden Nugget and the Taj Mahal. The movie tells the story of a unlucky man who is hired by a casino to bring bad luck to other gamblers.
• The Hustler (1961): This movie is set in New York City and Atlantic City and features several famous casinos, including the Ritz Carlton and the Claridge. The movie tells the story of a young pool player who travels to Atlantic City to challenge the reigning champion.
• The House (2017): This comedy film is set in Atlantic City and features several famous casinos, including the Borgata

Table Games at AC Casinos

Atlantic City Casinos have massive floor-space for the gaming floor – so in addition to slots and video-poker, you can expect to find all the classic casino games as well as a number of exciting casino table games including:

• Craps (The Borgata is the only AC casino which offers crapless Craps)
• Roulette
• Baccarat
• Blackjack
• Ultimate Texas Hold’em (UTH)
• 3-Card Poker
• 4-Card Poker
• Pai Gow Poker.

and more.

Blackjack Variants in AC Casinos

Gamblers who like playing real-money casino blackjack can enjoy a variety of Blackjack variants in the mix at AC casinos, including:

• 6:5 Blackjack
• 3:2 eight-deck Blackjack
• 3:2 six-deck Blackjack
• Blackjack Switch
• Spanish 21

3:2 blackjack is preferable given the choice: It has the smallest house edge, and offers the best payback for blackjack players.

Poker in Atlantic City

The Borgata runs a number of World Poker Tour events, including the popular Borgata Poker Open.
For poker tournament players, The Borgata, Harrah’s and Caesars are the top picks – with the most tables (and thus the ability to run the large live poker tournaments).

Cash-game players in New Jersey can find around the clock poker available in most popular formats at Atlantic City casinos at various stakes (small to mid-stakes to high-stakes).

If you are planning on playing a significant amount of poker while in AC, and plan on staying in one of the resorts, talk to the card-room manager to arrange a “poker-rate” before you book.

Note that The Borgata, Harrah’s and Tropicana card-rooms are open, while the others in the city remain temporarily shuttered since COVID 19 pandemic restrictions came into effect.

Online Poker

New Jersey is one of a handful of states where online poker is regulated & legal, with inter-state poker facilitates my the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA).

Sports betting in Atlantic City

Sports betting is legal in New Jersey – both at land-based casinos and sportsbooks, and via online betting websites / apps. Sportsbetting is also permitted at OTB race-tracks in Atlantic City.

Anyone aged 21 years or older can legally bet on sports or casino games online while within New Jersey state limits via a mobile device or PC.

Atlantic City – Casino Rewards / Players Cards

Many casinos in the city have rewards programs (also known as “players clubs”) – which give customers casino players cards to track play, and earn rewards & benefits.

Atlantic City Casinos & Rewards Programs

• Bally’s Atlantic City (Bally Rewards)
• Borgata (MGM Rewards)
• Caesars Atlantic City (Caesars Rewards)
• Golden Nugget Atlantic City (24K Select Club)
• Harrah’s Atlantic City (Caesars Rewards)
• Tropicana Atlantic City (Caesars Rewards)
• Wild Wild West (Caesars Rewards)
• Ocean Resort (Ocean Rewards)
• Resorts Atlantic City (Star Card)
• Hard Rock Atlantic City (Wild Card Rewards)

Casino Taxes in NJ

Gamblers often wonder “do I have to pay taxes on my casino winnings in New Jersey?”

The answer is yes. Tax for casino winnings is set at the standard 24% federal tax + the 3% income tax. You’ll receive a W-2G form for wins of over $1,200 on casino slots and over $5,000 on poker tournament profits (buy-in costs are subtracted from winnings).

Which Casino Games Generate the Most Money For Casinos in New Jersey?

Monthly gross revenue reports from regulated New Jersey Casinos shed light on the volume of play at various casinos in the state, and also which games are the most popular, and profitable.

Gross Gambling stats for New Jersey gambling operators are available each month from the website of the New Jersey Department of Public Law and Safety.

Monthly casino snapshots (like the one above) generally show that the table games are the most profitable games in the casino in terms of house edge, however slots are the most popular – resulting in the lion’s share of casino revenues.

Note that taxes on retail sports betting revenue in NJ is 9.75 percent., while revenue from mobile and online wagering is taxed at 14.25 percent.