For the past 30 years, the Atlantic City casino experience revolved around, for the most part, sand, seagulls, and the Boardwalk. On contemptuous antagonism with Pennsylvania and New York slots, to continue to exist and thrive, Atlantic city is considering intensifying casino gambling into spots that were never foreseen when gambling was approved here in the 1970s. Creativity and innovation were how gambling became a mainstay in the United States, starting with the growth of Las Vegas casino Reports in the middle of nowhere in Nevada. You never know, casinos can thrive in areas that may appear remote and unattractive.
On approval from the City Council, the gambling hall would be built by Penn National Gaming in the proposed area known best for traffic jams and sewage smells which is about a mile from the Boardwalk on the site of a former oil depot. Residents of the nearby Venice Park neighborhood voiced a commonly heard complaint about the likelihood of the traffic problem escalating even further, but they are aware that this move would bring badly needed jobs to Atlantic City. The attorney for Penn National expressed in a statement that concerns about traffic will be addressed well before opening. Residents are questioning the choice of the location. With plenty of other vacant sites within existing casino zones still available, why would the new project be proposed in an area which is very close to a residential neighborhood? Nobody knows the answer to that question, except that the cost of land and the availability of labor at close quarters could have played into the decision.
Atlantic City today has 11 Resort-Casinos, including ones by Borgata, Trump, Hilton, and Tropicana. Out-of-state competition forced Atlantic City to remake itself and focus on more affluent gamblers who also demand luxury hotels, top restaurants, and A-list entertainment. But the City and the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority decided to open the Bader bidding up to any interested parties in hopes of getting the highest price and best plans for the site. We will keep you updated on the progress of this project.