Atlantic City is the go-to place for casino enthusiasts on the East Coast. Naturally, New Jersey has other interesting spots to visit outside of Atlantic City, but the best, must-see casinos are all in the city fittingly known as “The World’s Playground.”
If you’re looking for online casinos rather than brick-and-mortar ones, you can check out this list on casinos.com for the 15 best NJ online casinos as of November 2023. But if you’d rather experience the glamor and excitement in person, here are the nine must-visit casinos in New Jersey we recommend.
9. Hard Rock Casino
The Hard Rock Casino is what replaced the old Trump Taj Mahal casino, which closed in 2016. However, it isn’t just a renamed continuation of the Taj Mahal but an entirely new establishment built on the previous casino’s grounds (1000 Boardwalk, Uptown Atlantic City).
As the name suggests, the Hard Rock Casino has a rock and roll theme, making it the perfect place for music lovers. It also has all the popular table and slot games guests could be looking for, while the hotel has 1,971 rooms open to visitors year-round.
8. Tropicana Casino
Tropicana is one of the most family-friendly casinos in New Jersey. It has a cool Old Havana vibe and is located at Downbeach Atlantic City, on the Boardwalk. The Tropicana Hotel has 2,364 rooms, the third-highest number in the city. There’s also an IMAX theatre, a family fun station, a multimedia lights show, and much more.
The casino itself is fully equipped with all types of slots, poker variants, and table games you’d expect a high-level casino to have, as well as free drinks and free rewards cards.
7. Harrah’s Atlantic City Casino
The Harrah’s Resort casino is conveniently located on the Atlantic City Marina. The hotel has 2,587 rooms to choose from, while the casino offers a relaxed marina waterfront vibe. The casino also offers all the classic table and slot games, as well as its famous keno parlor hosting games with massive payouts. The resort has various amenities, such as a bar, nightclub, pool, spa, and even a cooking school.
6. Bally’s Atlantic City Hotel & Casino
Bally’s, established way back in 1979, is one of the oldest casinos in the city. Today, the casino has a nice modern theme and caters to not just individual guests but large conferences and business meetings too. The casino offers all types of table and slot games, numerous poker variants and other card games, and various types of live entertainment, including old-fashioned showgirls stage shows.
Located at 1900 Pacific Avenue, Bally’s Atlantic City Hotel & Casino is at the very heart of the city and a short distance away from most places of interest.
5. Ocean Casino Resort
The Ocean Casino Resort, formerly known as Revel Atlantic City, is also located in Uptown Atlantic City. It has a strong and swanky ocean theme to it, with gorgeous glass buildings and a fancy nightlife vibe. The hotel offers access to 1,399 rooms, while the casino has all the classic table and slot games most gamblers would be interested in. There are even fun attractions such as a golf simulator, regular live acts at the Ovation Hall, and frequent entertainment events at the Royal Jam Burlesque Club.
4. Caesars Atlantic City Resort & Casino
One of the most beloved and oldest casinos in Atlantic City, Caesars has an infamous Roman Empire theme. The casino offers the quintessential old-school Vegas experience on the East Coast, from exquisite dining options to a wide array of casino slots, table games, and poker variants.
In addition to the Roman Empire vibe, Caesars has a Wild Wild West entertainment and shopping center, live music shows, and an on-site sports betting bar.
3. Resorts Casino Hotel
Resorts is one of the oldest casinos in Atlantic City, as it opened in May 1978, just two years after casino gambling was legalized in Atlantic City. Being an older establishment, the Resorts Hotel has only 942 rooms, but that’s still plenty for its many visitors.
More importantly, the Resorts Casino boasts an awesome Roaring Twenties vibe and offers many slot and table games. There’s also a full-service spa, massages, an outdoor pool, a Jacuzzi hot tub, and much more. The Resorts Casino is in the heart of the city on the Boardwalk – just minutes away from the beach and most other places of interest.
2. Golden Nugget Casino
Formerly known as Trump’s Castle and Trump Marina, the Golden Nugget Casino is in the Atlantic City Marina. The hotel has only 717 rooms (the lowest capacity of all casino hotels on this list), but the casino itself offers everything you’d want – slots, blackjack, seven poker variants, craps, roulette, mini-baccarat, regular tournaments, and more. The whole establishment has a sweet Gold Rush-era theme and offers excellent dining and shopping options.
1. Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa
Probably the most famous casino in NJ, Borgata is also one of the newer establishments in Atlantic City. Located on the marina, it offers 2,767 cozy rooms and a classy Tuscany theme in the casino. There is a plethora of dining and shopping options, an outstanding spa, and live entertainment.
The casino itself has one of the best selections of poker variants and table games, as well as more slot games than you’d know what to do with.
Conclusion
If you’ve already been to Atlantic City, you’ve probably visited at least some of the casinos above. Different people have different favorites among them, as most folks usually gravitate toward a particular theme, such as rock and roll, the Roaring Twenties, or the Gold Rush era.
These themes are one of the best ways to pick where to visit and stay, though it’s equally important to make sure the casino has the games and amenities you want. Ratings and reviews are unfortunately not too reliable when it comes to casino hotels, as a lot of people downgrade them not based on any objective measure but rather on their disappointment with the monetary losses they suffered while gambling.
The risk of losses is a part of the casino experience, of course, and as long as you’re aware of that, you’ll likely have a fabulous time at any of the casinos above.
