Map Location: #1 (on the Atlantic Ocean in southeast New Jersey, 130 miles south of New York City and 60 miles southeast of Philadelphia)

Once a major tourist destination that was world-famous for its steel pier and boardwalk attractions, Atlantic City gradually fell into decline and casino gambling was seen as its salvation when voters approved it there in 1976.

The first casino (Resorts International) opened to "standing-room-only crowds" in 1978. Since then 12 more casinos have opened and all but three are located along the boardwalk. Those three, Borgata, Harrah's and Trump Marina,  are located in the marina section.

In mid-1997 Bally's Wild Wild West casino (Atlantic City's first themed casino) opened, but due to a quirk in the licensing law, this casino is only considered part of Bally's Park Place and not a separate casino. Additionally, in late 2002, the  Claridge Casino Hotel formally joined Bally's Atlantic City as "The Claridge Tower" and it is no longer considered a separate casino.

If you fly into Atlantic City it's a 14-mile drive from the airport to the casinos and there are only two choices of transportation. The taxi charges are regulated and it's a flat $27 to any casino. That price include all tolls and luggage.

The other option is a rental car and the only three rental car companies at the airport are Hertz, Avis and Budget. Rental rates are in the range of $50-$60 per day but you can usually get a discount on those rates by booking online or using a coupon. In addition to the daily rental fee there's about another 22% in taxes and fees.

If you do rent a car there is a charge of $3 to $5 per 24 hours (6 a.m. to 6 a.m.) for parking in a garage at any casino hotel in Atlantic City. Whenever you pay the fee you are issued a receipt which you can then use to park for free at one other casino. When you leave the second garage you have to give them the receipt from the first garage. 

For transportation among the casinos there are two options, besides taxis. A 24-hour jitney service makes stops along  Pacific Avenue and will drop you off by any casino including those in the Marina. The jitneys are very efficient and you will probably never have a wait of more than five minutes for one to arrive.

The cost for one ride is $1.50 per person. Frequent rider tickets are offered for $12.50 per 10 rides and senior citizens, 65 or older,  can buy 10 rides for  $5. For jitney information call (609) 344-8642.

On the Atlantic City Boardwalk itself, there are the famous rolling chairs. These are covered two-seater wicker chairs on wheels that are pushed by an attendant as he walks you to your destination. They are all owned by the same company so the rates are the same: $5 for up to five blocks; $10 for six to 12 blocks;  $15 for 13 to 21 blocks; and $20 for 22 to 32 blocks. For more information on the rolling chairs call (609) 347-7500.

Following is information from the New Jersey Casino Control Commission regarding average slot payout percentages for the 12-month period from July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2004:

These figures reflect the total percentages returned by each casino for all of their electronic machines which includes slot machines, video poker, etc.

All Atlantic City casinos are open 24 hours and, unless otherwise noted, the games offered at every casino are: slots, video poker, craps, blackjack, Spanish 21, roulette, baccarat, mini-baccarat, Caribbean stud poker, three card poker, let it ride and pai gow poker. Additional games offered include: off-track betting (OTB), poker (P), pai gow tiles (PG), sic bo (SB), keno (K), and big six wheel (B6). The minimum gambling age is 21.

For more information on visiting New Jersey you can contact the state's Travel & Tourism Department at (800) 537-7397 or go to: www.visitnj.com .

For information only on Atlantic City call (800) VISIT-NJ or go to: www.atlanticcitynj.com .

Atlantic City Hilton Casino Resort
Boston & The Boardwalk
Atlantic City, New Jersey 08401
(609) 347-7111
Website: www.hiltonac.com

Reservation Number: (800) 257-8677
Rooms: 675  Price Range: $125-$375
Suites: 54  Price Range: $220-$600
Restaurants: 6 (1 open 24 hours)
Buffets: B-$9.95  L/D-$16.99
Casino Size: 59,612 Square Feet
Other Games: PG, No Spanish 21
Casino Marketing: (800) THE-GRAND
Special Features: Spa. 2,000-seat entertainment theater. Unisex salon.

Bally's Atlantic City
Park Place and the Boardwalk
Atlantic City, New Jersey 08401
(609) 340-2000
Website: www.ballysac.com

Toll-Free Number: (800) 772-7777
Reservation Number: (800) 225-5977
Rooms: 1,611  Price Range: $99-$400
Suites: 146   Price Range: $210-$620
Restaurants: 20 (3 open 24 hours)
Buffets (Bally's): B-$11.99  L/D-$13.99
Buffets (W.W. West): L-$14.99  D-$18.99
Casino Size 179,108 Square Feet
Other Games: OTB, PG, P, SB, B6, K
Special Features: Southern walkway connects to Wild Wild West casino. Northern walkway connects to Claridge casino and hotel.

The Borgata
One Borgata Way
Atlantic City, NJ 08401
(609) 317-1000
Website: www.theborgata.com

Toll-Free Number: (866) 692-6742
Rooms: 1,600  Prices Range: $129-$429
Suites: 400  Price Range: $209-$1,000
Restaurants: 11 (1 open 24 hours)
Buffets: B-$13.95/$19.95 (Sun)  L-$17.95  D-$26.95
Casino Size: 115,892 Square Feet
Other Games: P, PG, SB, OTB, B6, No Caribbean Stud Poker
Special Features: Health spa. Outdoor pool.

Caesars Atlantic City
2100 Pacific Avenue
Atlantic City, New Jersey 08401
(609) 348-4411
Website: www.caesarsac.com

Toll-Free Number: (800) 443-0104
Reservation Number: (800) 524-2867
Rooms: 1,479  Price Range: $125-$450
Suites: 198   Price Range: $195-$800
Restaurants: 12 (1 open 24 hours)
Buffets: B-$9.95  L-$14.95/$19.95 (Sat-Sun)  D-$19.95
Casino Size: 117,910 Square Feet
Casino Marketing: (800) 367-3767
Other Games: OTB, PG, SB, B6, K
Special Features: Roman themed hotel and casino. Planet Hollywood. Health spa. Shopping arcade. Unisex beauty salon.

Harrah's Casino Hotel
777 Harrah's Boulevard
Atlantic City, New Jersey 08401
(609) 441-5000
Website: www.harrahs.com

Reservation Number: (800) 2-HARRAH
Rooms: 1,312   Price Range: $99-$275
Suites: 318  Price Range: Casino Use Only
Restaurants: 8 (1 open 24 hours)
Buffets: B-$12.99  D-$24.99
Casino Size: 127,049 Square Feet
Other Games: P, K
Special Features: 65-slip marina. Beauty salon. Video arcade. Miniature golf course (in season).

Resorts Casino Hotel
1133 Boardwalk
Atlantic City, New Jersey 08401
(609) 344-6000
Website: www.resortsac.com

Toll-Free Number: (800) 336-6378
Reservation Number: (800) 334-6378
Rooms: 879  Price Range: $99-$375
Suites: 79  Price Range: $150-$1,000
Restaurants: 10 (1 open 24 hours)
Buffets: B-$10.95  L-$13.95  D-$17.95
Casino Size: 63,294 Square Feet
Other Games: OTB
Casino Marketing: (800) 438-7424
Special Features: Health Spa with state-of-the-art Nautilus equipment. Indoor/outdoor pool with saunas and Jacuzzis. Squash club. Game room. 1133 Nightclub with free entertainment. Beachfront shops.

Sands Hotel & Casino
Indiana Avenue & Brighton Park
Atlantic City, New Jersey 08401
(609) 441-4000
Website: www.acsands.com

Toll-Free Number: (800) AC-SANDS
Reservation Number: (800) 257-8580
Rooms: 495  Price Range: $79-$275
Suites: 78  Price Range: $375-$600
Restaurants: 5 (1 open 24 hours)
Buffets: B-$10.99  L-$12.99/$16.99 (Sat/Sun)  D-$14.99/$16.99 (Sat/Sun)
Casino Size: 58,527 Square Feet
Other Games: OTB, P

Showboat Casino-Hotel
801 Boardwalk
Atlantic City, New Jersey 08401
(609) 343-4000
Website: www.harrahs.com

Reservation Number: (800) 621-0200
Rooms: 731  Price Range: $89-$299
Suites: 69  Price Range: Casino Use Only
Restaurants: 8 (1 open 24 hours)
Buffets: L-$17.99  D-$21.99
Casino Size: 101,586 Square Feet
Other Games: OTB, PG, B6
Special Features: New Orleans-themed casino and hotel.

Tropicana Casino & Resort
Brighton Avenue and the Boardwalk
Atlantic City, New Jersey 08401
(609) 340-4000
Website: www.tropicana.net

Reservation Number: (800) THE-TROP
Rooms: 1,426  Price Range: $99-$350
Suites: 340   Price Range: $155-$475
Restaurants: 8 (1 open 24 hours)
Buffets: B/L-$12.99  D-$18.99
Casino Size: 140,026 Square Feet
Other Games: OTB, P, PG, B6
Senior Discount: Various discounts if 55+
Casino Marketing: (800) 338-5553
Special Features: Single-zero roulette on weekends ($50 minimum).  "The Quarter" and contains a retail-dining entertainment complex.

Trump Marina Hotel Casino
Huron Avenue & Brigantine Boulevard
Atlantic City, New Jersey 08401
(609) 441-2000
Website: www.trumpmarina.com

Reservation Number: (800) 365-8786
Toll-Free Number (800) 777-1177
Rooms:  568  Price Range: $99-$425
Suites: 160  Price Range: $175-$650
Restaurants: 7 (1 open 24 hours)
Buffets: B-$11.00  L/D-$16.00
Casino Size: 65,057 Square Feet
Other Games: PG
Casino Marketing: (800) 777-8477
Special Features: Adjacent to state marina with 640 slips. 3-acre recreation deck with pools, jogging track, tennis courts, miniature golf course and health club.

Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino
The Boardwalk at Mississippi Avenue
Atlantic City, New Jersey 08401
(609) 441-6000
Website: www.trumpplaza.com

Reservation Number: (800) 677-7378
Rooms: 762  Price Range: $125-$325
Suites: 142  Price Range: $250-$475
Restaurants: 11 (1 open 24 hours)
Buffets: L-$13.95  D-$15.95/$18.95 (Fri/Sat)
Casino Size: 91,181 Square Feet
Other Games: PG, SB, B6
Casino Marketing: (800) 677-0711
Special Features: Health spa with massage, herbal wraps and salt-glo loofah cleansing. Indoor pool. Rainforest Cafe. East Side Lounge offers live entertainment nightly with no cover and one drink minimum.

Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort
1000 Boardwalk at Virginia Avenue
Atlantic City, New Jersey 08401
(609) 449-1000
Website: www.trumptaj.com

Reservation Number: (800) 825-8888
Rooms: 1,013  Price Range: $125-$375
Suites: 237   Price Range: $300-$550
Restaurants: 9 (1 open 24 hours)
Buffets: L-$17.95  D-$18.95
Casino Size: 120,549 Square Feet
Casino Marketing: (800) 234-5678
Other Games: OTB, P, PG, SB, B6, K
Senior Discount: 50% off Monday buffets if 50 or older with Trump Card
Special Features:  Health spa and indoor Olympic-size pool. Hard Rock cafe.