Having been run from pillar to post at Global Gaming Expo all week, we’re still in recovery. Ergo, we turn the bulk of this installment over to our Atlantic CIty bureau. What follows are a pair of letters sent to (but unlikely to be printed in) The Press of Atlantic City. Please enjoy them.
“In your Press of Atlantic City article Thursday October 2 you discuss how casinos in New York could offer ‘amenities and experiences’ in Atlantic City that would not be available locally in NY. You mention “celebrity restaurants and A-list concerts” could prove to be a powerful perk to people from NY. The use of cross-marketing among casinos is mixed. The best example is MGM, that has charter air flights from many sites to Atlantic City, and has charter flights to Biloxi to their Beau Rivage casino. In early December, MGM offers a short trip from Atlantic City airport to Biloxi for $60 per person (for qualified MGM card holders). Atlantic City’s Hard Rock casino could also be a significant draw, with numerous restaurants & entertainment.
“Bally’s is an example of not having cross-marketing among their casinos. We went to Bally’s Dover casino and found out our Bally’s Atlantic City player’s cards were not valid, and you need a separate player’s card for each Bally’s casino location. Bally’s only draw in Atlantic City is the beach. Bally’s first live entertainment of 2025 will be the Amish Outlaws next month. They are a decent-quality bar band not A-list entertainment. During the summer, Bally’s valet parking was open only three days for dropping off your car. During the summer, Bally’s player’s club lounge was open Friday, Saturday and Sunday. During the summer, Bally’s Park Place and Longo’s restaurants were open two-three days per week. Bally’s has three proposed casino projects: $2 billion casino in Chicago, $4 billion casino proposed in the Bronx, $3 billion dollar casino proposed in Las Vegas.
“In your Tuesday, October 7 news article ‘Casinos go pink,’ eight of nine Atlantic City casinos participated. Bally’s did not. Bally’s does not have the draw that most other casinos have. The significant question is: Does Bally’s have the cash or credit to finance any of their proposed new projects? For the answer, I would suggest a subscription to Las Vegas Advisor for only $3 per month. If you read LVA’s Stiffs & Georges by David McKee, the answer seems to be no.
“It was revealed that Bally’s Casino Resort on the Boardwalk suffered a loss in the first half of 2025, raising questions about its future. According to the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement report, Bally’s is struggling with dwindling visitor numbers and decreased hotel room revenue. Bally’s 1,121 guestrooms were booked 62% of the time in 2024, with an average nightly rate of $154. By mid-2025, the occupancy had fallen to 55% with a lower average rate of $142. Bally’s net revenue, which includes gaming, rooms, and food & beverage, was $90.6 million for the first half of 2025, a 7.7% decrease on the same period the year before.
“From the New Jersey DGE report: ‘For the year, Bally’s remains in the red, with an operating loss of $896,000 for the six months.’ Bally’s gross operating profit, which the DGE says is a ‘widely accepted measure of profitability in the Atlantic City gaming industry,’ has plummeted 439%. I’m not an accountant, but this doesn’t sound good.”
From other Atlantic City bulletins …
“In August, Bally’s had their first party since March of this year. The stated purpose was to welcome Tarese Brown to Bally’s as executive director of player development. Before the party, she only fired one of Bally’s experienced hosts. Good start, Tarese. The last time we were at Bally’s, the valet cashier was closed early on a Saturday night. We gave up getting gift cards during the week when the valet was closed—too much parking hassle.
“Last month, the Press of Atlantic City interviewed AC’s most successful cannibis owner, of High Rollers, inside the Claridge building. He stated that the 15 pot shops that are now open are too many for the marekt, and some would close. So far Mayor Marty Small‘s office has ‘approved’ a total of 40 locations. Good planning, Marty. The owner of High Rollers then got a rude surprise. The Casino Reinvestment Development Authority approved a developer’s plan to build a high-rise building with 250 condos on the now-vacant lot of the Claridge Hotel. Whoops! He assumed the parking lot was permanent. He also has a pot-consumption lounge inside the Claridge. When the building gets built, nobody will be able to see his pot shop anymore. Should I send him a list of bankruptcy options?
“Ocean Casino has a new billboard message: Sebastian, welcome to a better view, love, Ocean Casino. It’s a message to Sebastian Maniscalco about Ocean Casino’s near 100% ocean views vs Borgata’s 50% city views and 50% swamp views. Sebastian had a ‘merch’ place, a food-and-drink stand, and numerous cardboard photo-ops. We stayed at Ocean this last weekend, also next weekend. This Friday, Ocean is giving us a Labubu doll. They also have a Labubu cocktail for only $100, which includes a Labubu doll with it. [Editor’s Note: Be sure to watch the Labubu episode of South Park. It’s indelible.] On Saturday night, Borgata is giving us comp tickets for Boyz 2 Men. The photo suggests Boyz 2 Retirement Home.
“Yesterday, my wife got an email from Golden Nugget‘s Tom Pohlman inviting her and a friend to a VIP dinner at either Vic & Anthony’s or Chart House for a meet-and-greet with Tom and his executive team, stating ‘Your feedback and opinion are very important to us.’ There is a total of eight Friday nights to pick a date for the event.
“The Press of Atlantic City reported on September 19th that 700 A.C. employees attended a party (called an ‘in-service retreat’) at the Showboat Waterpark. City Hall was closed for the day. (Did anyone notice?) It only cost the city $30,000 so that the employees could enjoy a ‘team-building bonding event. It included a comedian (besides the mayor), the use of the pool, food, and guests could buy a ‘liquid lunch’ if they wanted to. All while being paid. Same old Atlantic City crap.
“This week, I went with a friend to see the Hollywood Morgantown Casino. It was my first visit to a ‘satellite’ casino in Pennsylvania. It is a small casino with a snack bar and a Philly cheesesteak place (no upscale-food place). All the slot machines are modern, some table games and a sports book. I played only two slot machines, after a few bucks on each, I won the feature. My win was $128, which more than paid for the trip and dinner.
“A short distance away is the Classic Auto Mall, which states a capacity of 1,000 vehicles indoors, mostly on concession to be sold. If you have any interest in old autos, trucks or military vehicles, this is a place to see. Behind the World War I military vehicle is one of the Volkswagen buses on display. If you want a supercharged U.S .Mail truck or an old diesel farm tractor made by Porsche, they have one. The cars, trucks, and military vehicles outside will be sold with ‘no reserve.'”
(All emphases added.)
Titletown USA 2.0? Congratulations to the Las Vegas Aces on their third WNBA championship—in four years. Can you say “dynasty”? We sure can. The league’s outstanding player, A’ja Wilson, isn’t the only one on the Aces with champion mojo, as the Phoenix Mercury learned to their regret. Thanks to the Aces, to MGM Resorts International for bringing them to Sin City and to owner Mark Davis for knowing a good thing when he saw it. Now if only half the energy that was going into trying to bring an NBA team to town was put into building a stadium for the Aces. And yes, the men could share it too … should they ever arrive.