Thoughts on Atlantic City

[robracing]

Just returned from first poker-playing trip to AC and I thought that I would share a few thoughts.

I went to AC last about ten years ago, since when I have been to Vegas perhaps eight times. I was stunned at what a crummy dump the boardwalk area still is. It has got worse in the past ten years, if that is possible. It is such a depressing collection of run down hotels, apartment complexes, gift shops and low-end food places, that it defies belief. I honestly think that, rather than try to redevelop it, it might be better to start again somewhere north up the coast, closer to NY. The clientelle on the boardwalk make the Freemont St crowd in Vegas seem like super high-rollers. It is the US equivalent of Amsterdam, where all the waifs, strays and misfits seem to have washed-up.

The exception to all this misery is of course the magnificent Borgata. I expected it to be good, but in fact it far exceeded my expectations. It would actually fair well if it were in Vegas, being only a little less luxurious than the Venetian, Bellagio and Wynn. It benefits HUGELY from not being on the boardwalk, so the tramps and low-lifes have to really go out of their way to stagger in there.

Further bad news for AC is that the Borg is actually way better than it needs to be to uttterly dominate the AC scene. Unless the other resorts raise their game (by which I mean demolish and start again, several miles inland from the boardwalk) it is only a matter of time before the Borg lowers their own game. They will realise that they are spending far more than they need to on just about every aspect of their business, particularly staff.

Having just showered high praise on the Borg, I do have two things to complain about (which I know won't be fixed, because of the above!)

1. Why do they have to charge for parking? Their resort is sufficiently isolated, that nobody is going to park in their lot who isn't a customer. Don't tell me it is to pay for "security" as I didn't see any evidence of this.

2. What is up with the comp program? I bitterly regret the 10 minutes of my life that I wasted queuing up to get my card, and then getting it validated at the start and finish of my 2x6 hour poker sessions. They comp at only 50c/Hr, but then when I come to try and spend my $6 at Fatburgers, it turns out that $6 of comp bonuses are worth only $3 at the food outlets! So I was earning at a pathetic 25c/Hr! Well Borgata can stuff their comps in future!

[Hornacek]

I always thought the comps were $1/hr for 1/2 NL and up to 6/12 LHE, and $2/hr for anything above that. I've never really bothered to look into it though. Free money is free monies.

[CCx]

i believe 2/4 and 3/6 comp .50/hr, 6/12 is $1/hr and higher is $2/hr (dont know if it differs at much higher limits)

also the only food outlets that charge 2-1 on comps is in the cafeteria, all others are straight 1-1 on comp $

[VOX]

[ QUOTE ]

I went to AC last about ten years ago, since when I have been to Vegas perhaps eight times. I was stunned at what a crummy dump the boardwalk area still is. It has got worse in the past ten years, if that is possible. ...

The exception to all this misery is of course the magnificent Borgata. I expected it to be good, but in fact it far exceeded my expectations. It would actually fair well if it were in Vegas, being only a little less luxurious than the Venetian, Bellagio and Wynn. It benefits HUGELY from not being on the boardwalk, so the tramps and low-lifes have to really go out of their way to stagger in there.

Further bad news for AC is that the Borg is actually way better than it needs to be to uttterly dominate the AC scene. Unless the other resorts raise their game (by which I mean demolish and start again, several miles inland from the boardwalk) it is only a matter of time before the Borg lowers their own game. They will realise that they are spending far more than they need to on just about every aspect of their business, particularly staff.

[/ QUOTE ]

OMG SUMMON GOVMAN

actually, the joke's on me, innit? this is a gimmick for govman, right?

[robracing]

[ QUOTE ]
i believe 2/4 and 3/6 comp .50/hr, 6/12 is $1/hr and higher is $2/hr (dont know if it differs at much higher limits)

also the only food outlets that charge 2-1 on comps is in the cafeteria, all others are straight 1-1 on comp $

[/ QUOTE ]

You may be right about the comp earning rates. I was playing 3/6.

Starbucks also has the $2=$1 policy, and the sign displayed there seemed to indicate that it applied across all retail outlets across the property.

[sirpupnyc]

AC isn't a town built around casinos, it's a beach with casinos. It's like every other ratty Memorial-Day-to-Labor-Day beach town along the NJ shore. But with casinos. It's making efforts in the glitz and glamor department, but it's always going to be a beach with casinos. Until, you know, the Atlantic either dries up or washes a few miles further inland.

[VOX]

that said, I echo all the OP's thoughts, regardless of what that makes govman think of me. Borg is pretty much the only place I'd play table games in AC. The HOB poker room @ Showboat looks pretty good, though...

[CCx]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
i believe 2/4 and 3/6 comp .50/hr, 6/12 is $1/hr and higher is $2/hr (dont know if it differs at much higher limits)

also the only food outlets that charge 2-1 on comps is in the cafeteria, all others are straight 1-1 on comp $

[/ QUOTE ]

You may be right about the comp earning rates. I was playing 3/6.

Starbucks also has the $2=$1 policy, and the sign displayed there seemed to indicate that it applied across all retail outlets across the property.

[/ QUOTE ]

could be with the retail outlets (never used comps there), all of the restaurants etc. are $1-$1

[magoo]

"Why do they have to charge for parking?"

Because "gaming" is not what it was, back in 1965 or so. "Gaming" per se, is just one aspect of how the joints are trying to make money on customers. Regarding parking and A.C., that issue arose and was passed by the state and city relative to a "tax" situation. I don't know the particulars.

[punkass]

I think it's $.50 for 2/4, $1 for 2/6-6/12, and $2+ for higher. If you play 75/150, you get somewhere around $3-$4, but I am not too sure about that, since I don't play anywhere near that.

It's no secret that if you wonder outside of a casino (and in some other casinos), you will see slums. That said, I like some of the improvements in the newly developed outlet areas near the Convention Center where the AC expressway ends. One can only hope the improvements continue their way to the boardwalk area.

I park in the surface area of the Borg. Usually get a close spot near the entrance. It's very close to the poker room. And I've seen security on their bikes riding around monitoring the lot. I'll pay $5 for that.

If you go to a restaurant or the buffet, it's a dollar for dollar comp. Starbucks and the Cafeteria is a 2-1 comp, which sucks. I go to NOW (noodles of the world) and get a good meal for $15 comp. Or save it up when you can afford a room there.

The boardwalk is fun to kill time during the day. Otherwise, I never leave the casino.