Happy 45th Anniversary, Resorts Casino Hotel.
On May 26, 1978, Resorts International Casino & Hotel became the first legal gambling establishment in the United States outside of Nevada. A line of well-dressed men and women waited along the Atlantic City Boardwalk for the casino doors to open at 10 a.m.
When Resorts placed that first bet, Atlantic City was never the same again.
The Jersey Shore became the East Coast gambling destination. At its peak, 12 Atlantic City casinos generated up to $5.2 billion in gambling revenue in a single year (2006).
Today, there are nine Atlantic City casinos, which, combined with online gambling and sports betting, reported $4.7 billion in total gaming revenue in 2022, according to state gaming regulators.
It all can be traced back to Resorts and that Memorial Day weekend in 1978.
So, here’s to Atlantic City’s first casino — the iconic Resorts. Thank you.
Party moment at Places Casino
Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer in Atlantic City, and Resorts AC always plays a part in kickstarting the season.
On the beach in front of the casino, Major Marty Small Sr. and television star Kelsey Grammer participated in the Opening of the Sea ceremony. This now-annual tradition involves turning a large key in the sand to “unlock” the Atlantic Ocean, followed by an AC Beach Patrol escort beyond the breakers and back to shore.
Resorts’ famous beach ball drop begins around 5 p.m.
To cap off the night, The New York Bee Gees will be performing in the Celebrity Theater. The Bee Gees had seven (yes, seven!) number-one songs in the late 1970s, so a tribute group seems fitting.
Get ready for a memorable Memorial Day weekend at Resorts AC!
Resorts’ historical past critical section of Atlantic Town story
Just a quick history of Resorts.
The iconic building was once known as Chalfonte-Haddon Hall, which was actually two separate buildings (Chalfonte Hotel and Haddon Hall) connected via a sky bridge.
During World War II, the hotel earned the nickname “Camp Boardwalk” after it was leased by the US military for basic training operations. A few years later, it merged with the adjacent Traymore Hotel to become a military hospital.
After the war, Chalfonte-Haddon Hall reverted back to a public hotel.
In 1976, Resorts International bought the hotel and several acres of land along the AC Boardwalk for around $2.5 million.
Resorts has changed hands a few times in its 45-year history. Donald Trump and Merv Griffin both held a stake in AC’s original casino at one point.
In 2010, veteran AC casino executive Dennis Gomes and New York real estate investor Morris Bailey purchased Resorts for $31.5 million. Gomes passed away in 2012.
Mohegan Gaming took over the day-to-day operations of Resorts in 2012 and assumed a minority ownership stake. Resorts remains a mainstay today.
Major resorts Casino Hotel room by the quantities
Take a look at how Resorts has evolved since first opening almost 50 years ago:
Rooms/Suites: 942
Casino: 79,909 square-feet
Slots: 1,367
Tables: 75
Sportsbook: DraftKings NJ, 5,000 square-feet
Food/Beverage outlets: 23 (including food court)
Retail outlets: 8
Employees: 1,590 (as of March 2023)
Online skins: 5
Online sportsbook skins: 5
Theaters: 2
Pool: indoor/outdoor (renovated 2022)
Convention room: 64,500 square-feet
Meeting rooms: 24
Spa/Salon: 1
Brian Danzis is the lead writer for PlayNJ. He is a New Jersey native and a graduate of Rutgers University. As a newspaper reporter for the New Jersey Herald and Press of Atlantic City, Brian received statewide awards for his coverage of politics, government, education, sports, and business. Currently, he serves as PlayNJ’s Atlantic City “insider” and an expert on casinos, gambling, and online gaming. David resides in Mays Landing with his wife and twins. When he’s not at the beach, golf course, or snowboarding, Brian enjoys cheering on his favorite New York sports teams – the Yankees, Jets, Rangers, and Knicks.
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