Good Question Philham.

It is anyones guess as to what will happen. But remember Christmas can be a very down time in the casino industry. Hopefully other times of the year will still be viable.

As to a how Christmas can be a down time, I had reservations a few days before Christmas in Vegas and I could get comps or very low room rates at most any casino since this is after the National Finals Rodeo but before the New Year’s celebration. Christmas is very family oriented so most people stay home with the kids and grand kids. Maybe that has something to do with what you observed. Let’s hope so.

However your observations are right on. AC needs to get it’s act together with one hell of a marketing job if they are to stay viable with all of the competition. We don’t have casinos in Texas but we do next door in Louisiana, Oklahoma, and New Mexico but still Vegas has set the bar high and most Texans still like Vegas the best. I know Alligator Rose and I do.

Let’s hope AC does its marketing job.

Just a few thoughts. Hope to see you soon in the casinos.

Doc

Doc-I have been to AC on Xmas five years in a row. Comparing this year to the last five years is dreadful.

My wife and I visited AC during the holiday season last year. We stayed and was comped in one of the major TR casinos. It had been 5 years since I had been there. I also was saddened by the lack of excitement in the casinos. Tables were not crowded. I think the explosion in PA of the casino industry is having a hugh effect on the numbers in AC. According to a recent news article, PA is now 2nd to only NV in casino gaming. Any thoughts?

I live in eastern Pa and I still prefer AC. The casinos in Pa are small and boring. Recently a new one opened in Valley Forge that is pretty nice. The three casinos in the Philadelphia area have probably taken some of AC’s slot buisness. I don’t see as many buss groups coming into AC anymore. Steve Wynn just got a permit to build a new vegas style (big) casino in Philly. Probably north of Penns Landing on the river. Some rumors have it downtown somewhere also rumored to go nesr the airport, but no official announcment of where or when.

How are the rules in PA? The one time I was in AC (few years back) I noticed lots of 6:5 BJ. SP21 had good rules, but nobody knows how to play that game correctly. Do you pay the vig on the 4 and 10 up front or on the win? How tight are the slots or VP?

AC enjoyed an East Coast monopoly for so long I think they forgot to take care of the customer. As soon as they started to get a little bit of competition and continued in their arrogance, they started losing business. Now people have more choices, closer to home. Why go to AC?

I can answer a couple of questions. You pay the big up front on the 4/10. If you look hard you can find good VP.
You can also find decent BJ games if you know where to look and have an adequate bankroll.
However, all of these are harder to find than in Vegas.

Phil,
As you can see AC is dying slowly from the competition in the neighboring states. The craps opportunities are still good there and IMO better than Vegas when all of the factors that we look at are considered, but these things are not important to most patrons.
I think that the State of NJ has recognized this and is trying to take some action. The most important thing that they are doing is trying to legalize sports betting. If they can get this going then there will be a reason for people in the east to come back, especially during the fall and winter for the football betting.
Ac has to try to become more of a destination for people to travel to and the sports betting will help.
BTK

Billy, thanks for your input and Happy New Year. I do not know what other steps NJ can take to preserve AC. The newest casino, Revel, is in big financial trouble. They planned it as a destination, rather then a casino casino. Not in New Jersey. Trump Plaza badly needs rennovation and is heading towards seedy. As bad as things are, the craps tables are busy.