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Atlantic City is a popular tourist destination for people across the East Coast and the rest of the United States. It draws people in with a mix of beaches, scenery, and entertainment and has succeeded in doing so for generations.
That formula for success might seem like a modern creation, but it’s one that Atlantic City perfected almost two centuries ago. But even as tastes change and new offerings enter the market, AC and the rest of New Jersey manage to keep reinventing themselves to keep up with what vacationers want from their travels.
This is in sharp contrast with some other destination towns and cities, both here in the US and across the world.
Boardwalk
Boardwalks stretch across miles of American coastline. They provide a convenient way to stroll along the beach without getting sand in your shoes and offer a platform for businesses to serve the tourists enjoying the sea and sand.
Atlantic City’s Boardwalk is one of the city’s most famous features, and for good reason. When it was first built in 1870, it was the first of its kind in the United States of America and it attracted people from far and wide who wanted to come and experience this new creation.
It was originally intended as a temporary structure, erected ahead of the tourist season and then dismantled again for the winter. However, it’s become an important staple of the coastline in AC with many of the city’s hotels, souvenir shops, restaurants, and bars locating themselves right on the Boardwalk.
Hotels
As guests began arriving in Atlantic City in their droves, the hospitality sector needed to step up. One of the first innovations in AC was the construction of large hotels in the early 20th century.
Some of these hotels have since been torn down to make away for other venues and attractions, but some remain. These include some of the city’s most famous names like the Ritz Carlton, Ambassador, and Mayflower.
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Casinos, card rooms, and sportsbooks have become a major part of Atlantic City in the last few decades. They began popping up around the middle of the 20th century when the city and state lawmakers wanted to find a new way to attract tourists to the area.
The idea took inspiration from Las Vegas which had enjoyed explosive growth in the years prior and the idea was for AC to become the Vegas of the east. New Jersey held a referendum on allowing casinos in 1976 and the first ones opened almost right away.
Gaming remains at the heart of New Jersey’s economy today. In more recent years, it has been at the cutting edge of technology and legislation by allowing iGaming brands to operate in the state.
This has made NJ one of the biggest poker states in the county, attracting major online poker brands to open their virtual doors in the state. According to the state’s own statistics, the biggest of these is PokerStars, which offers a wide selection of variants and game modes, including popular options like Texas Hold’em and five-card draw.
The physical and digital gaming markets operate symbiotically in Atlantic City and the rest of New Jersey, helping to attract more visitors.
Nightclubs
Before casinos became all the rage in AC, nightclubs were the big draw for the city. During the 1920s, these venues attracted people from far and wide who were looking for a fun night out, resulting in many people giving it the nickname “The World’s Playground”.
Like today’s casinos, the nightclubs were unavailable in many other parts of the country, so visitors were prepared to travel long distances for the opportunity to boogie into the early hours.
Nightclubs, of course, still exist in Atlantic City today including Boogie Nights, Anthem Lounge, and The Wave Bar, but they don’t quite have the same pull as the legendary venues of the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. Back then, the Wonder Gardens, Jockey Club, and Cliquot Club were known across the country as the hottest places to be.
By Chris Bates
