Stuck in last place in the Atlantic City casino scene, Ocean Resort is going to try a new tack by supersizing its entertainment lineup, in what as 
described as a “cutthroat Atlantic City nightlife market.” Performers booked for Ocean’s 5,500-seat concert hall range from the big (Brooks & Dunn, Frank Caliendo) to the nostalgic (Kenny Loggins) to the Whatever Happened to Them (The Monkees) in a resort whose biggest performer to date has been Ke$ha. Said owner Bruce Deifik, “We are ecstatic that we finally have an entertainment announcement of real consequence. We have another 110 to 120 offers out to artists.”
Deifik is obviously trying to emulate Hard Rock Atlantic City‘s entertainment-first marketing strategy and has said as much. Asked why Hard Rock was able to get such a jump on him, he pointed to its long history as a purveyor of entertainment and history of relationships with artists, adding that it was difficult for him to book performances before the casino was licensed, up and running. And running is what Ocean Resort is going to have to do if it wants to keep pace along the Boardwalk, let alone improve its standing.
* Jack Cincinnati is also upsizing its entertainment roster. The Price is Right Live will play two shows in late February. It will cost you $50 — plus taxes and fees — for a chance to play Plinko.
* Judging by the number of awards it wins, Hard Rock Sioux City must have the art of running a casino down cold. Readers of Strictly Slots magazine named it tops in Iowa for Best Reel Slots. Best Progressive Slots, Best Slot Club, Best $5+ Slots, Best Comps and Best Players Club Lounge. It took second place in four other categories and third for Best Hosts. Gotta work on that last thing, I guess.
* Here’s a problem-gambling idea from overseas that should be emulated here: Barclays Mobile Bank has rolled out an application that enables users to set a gambling budget or even block 
transactions with casinos entirely. It obviously doesn’t solve pathological gambling but would make it easier for disordered gamblers to control it. As GambleAware CEO Marc Etches said, “There are 340,000 problem gamblers in Britain and a further 1.7m at risk, and initiatives like this can play an important role in helping to reduce gambling-related harms.” Barclays is not the first in its field, though. Rivals Starling Bank and Monzo have launched casino-blocking software earlier this year. Visa and MasterCard, your turn.
