Atlantic City: Vegas' Biggest Rival

There’s no doubt that Vegas is the gambling capital of the US and a strong contender for the most iconic gambling city in the world. “Sin City” has become a fixture in pop culture, featured in movies, games, and countless other forms of media.

While Vegas’ popularity is deserved, it can overshadow some of the other prominent gambling cities in the US. If you’re interested in broadening your horizons and exploring other iconic gambling areas, you’re in luck.

Today, we’ll explore the full history of Atlantic City, widely considered the second-best gambling hub in the US. We’ll cover everything from its beginning as a seaside town to its modern-day dominance as the gambling capital of the East Coast.

The 1700s: Absegami Island

Before Atlantic City came to be, the island it was founded on was the summer home of the Lenni Lenape Indians. They named it “Absegami,” meaning “little water” because of how the bay allowed you to see the opposite shore. Over time, the name transformed into Absecon, which is what the island is known as today.

The first permanent residents of Absegami Island would be Jeremiah Leeds and his family. He built the first permanent structure on the island in 1785, operating a plantation and farm out of his own home. His second wife would go on to get a license to operate a tavern, becoming Atlantic City’s first licensed business.

The 1850s: Atlantic City Grows

By 1850, there were enough permanent residences for people to start noticing Atlantic City. The island’s magnificent beaches and breezes made it a perfect summer tourist destination, and Dr. Jonathan Pitney was the first to notice this. He became an advocate for the construction of resorts, but first, the island had to become more accessible.

Pitney worked with a civil engineer, Richard Osborne, to create the Camden-Atlantic City Railroad. After two years of construction, the first train from Camden arrived on July 5, 1854. Osborne also got to name the city, while Pitney named most of the city’s streets after bodies of water and states.

Thanks to the railroad, Atlantic City quickly became a popular tourist destination. The first commercial hotel, the Belloe House, was established in 1853. Others came to the city by sea, making it a thriving seaport. However, a string of shipwrecks and accidents led to the creation of the Atlantic City lighthouse, which was turned on in 1855.

From there, Atlantic City’s growth could not be stopped. The first official road from the city to the mainland was completed in 1870, after 17 straight years of construction. In 1878, another railroad was created due to the sheer number of visitors. The most iconic boardwalk in the US was created in 1870, receiving several improvements over the following years.

1897-1941: Enoch “Nucky” Johnson

In 1897, the New Jersey government banned all forms of gambling. This was a major blow to Atlantic City, as the sheer volume of tourists led to a thriving casino industry. The government followed up the gambling ban with the prohibition, enforcing it in 1920.

With both gambling and alcohol in high demand, profiteers rose to prominence. The most notable of them was a man named Enoch “Nucky” Johnson. He was an influential political figure, using his power to lobby for pro-vice initiatives. He allowed illegal drinking and gambling establishments to flourish, taking a cut of the profits in return.

Johnson’s impact on the City was immense. Tourists flowed in freely, making Atlantic City incredibly popular for being one of the few places you could gamble and drink. However, the city’s growth started slowing down during the Great Depression in 1929, and came to a complete stop when Johnson was jailed in 1941 for tax evasion.

1974 - 1979: The Fight for Gambling

For a few decades during and after World War II, Atlantic City fell into disarray. Crime ran rampant, leading to many residents abandoning the city. Hotels were abandoned, and eventually demolished.

Thankfully, the city bounced back in 70s. In 1974, the majority of New Jersey voted against the legalization of gambling. This left Nevada as the only state where gambling was legal, cementing Vegas as the US’ top gambling city.

The residents of Atlantic City saw a chance, and they took it. Two years later, the vote to legalize gambling only within the bounds of Atlantic City passed, putting the city on track to reclaim its former glory. In 1978, Resorts Atlantic City became the first legal casino, soon followed by Caesars Boardwalk Regency and Bally’s Park Place.

1980 - 2000: Atlantic City Becomes Bigger

In this period of rapid development, one person, in particular, began transforming the city into their personal empire. Over the course of eight years, Donald Trump created numerous establishments, partnering with Harrah’s.

He established the Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino, creating the biggest casino in Atlantic City’s history. He opened the Trump Castle, and the Trump Taj Mahal soon after. By hosting WrestleMania in his properties, Trump gave Atlantic City celebrity status, drawing in countless new visitors.

However, Trump’s reign eventually came to an end at the start of the 21st century. He filed for bankruptcy on many of his properties, leaving a void many companies were eager to fill.

2000 - 2010: Borgata Takes Over

In 2003, Borgata started to fill Trump’s empty buildings. They opened the city’s first Vegas-style casino, offering hundreds of card tables and a dedicated poker room instead of the slots every other casino focused on.

This coincided with the 2003 poker boom from Chris Moneymaker’s World Series of Poker (WSOP) win, significantly boosting Borgata’s popularity. They even became the venue of the WSOP itself, further adding to their reputation as Atlantic City’s top poker place.

2010 - Present: Competition for Atlantic City

In 2010, Atlantic City’s popularity started dwindling due to a number of factors. The city went through a lot of downsizing, and the remaining casinos started to rebrand themselves. This coincided with several other states like Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Delaware legalizing gambling, giving Atlantic City some competition.

The COVID-19 pandemic did impact Atlantic City a lot, but many household names like Borgata and Golden Nugget found a solution by moving online. While more and more states have legalized gambling, Atlantic City is still undoubtedly the king of the East Coast.