News, notes and commentary about the casino capital of the East, and the author’s hometown.
With all of the excitement around the International Ombuds Association‘s annual conference and the work needing attention upon my return home, I haven’t yet had a chance to share some moderately exciting personal news. Well, I haven’t had the chance until now, so here goes. My book Boardwalk Playground: The Making, Remaking, and Unmaking of […]
New Audiobook: Boardwalk Playground Read More »
atlantic city, author, bookIn this week’s Green Felt Journal, I look at the death of my former workplace, the Trump Taj Mahal: Even without the current Republican presidential candidate’s name on the building’s crest, the Taj is as perfect a symbol of Atlantic City’s quick decline as can be imagined. Opened in 1990 as the city’s largest, it
Lessons From the Fall of Atlantic City – Vegas Seven Read More »
atlantic city, Vegas SevenI’ve been asked what I think about the Taj closing. If you didn’t know, I worked there for about 3 years (1994/95, 1998, 2000) so this one literally hit close to home for me. I had the chance to write about it for the Washington Post’s Post Everything, so I did: Behind the campaign-related headlines,
Donald Trump, the Taj, & Atlantic City in The Washington Post Read More »
atlantic cityThe day has arrived: Boardwalk Playground, my latest book, is now available for purchase via Amazon and Barnes and Noble. This book started as a series of columns for Casino Connection magazine, and I have edited, updated, and supplemented those original columns to bring the story up to date. Unlike my earlier books, this one isn’t
BOARDWALK PLAYGROUND is now available Read More »
atlantic city, writingI have some exciting news to share: I have a new book coming out, and you can be a part of it. If you’re familiar with my work, you may have seen my articles about Atlantic City history in Casino Connection magazine. Each month (for about 8 years), I wrote about an aspect of that
New Book Coming & You Can Help! Read More »
atlantic city, what's newDonald Trump’s first Atlantic City casino wasn’t wholly his own—it was a joint venture with Harrah’s, and was initially called “Harrah’s at Trump Plaza.”
For the full story of how Trump gained sole possession of that property and two other Atlantic City casinos, read Roll the Bones: The History of Gambling.
Go here to read an excerpt from the book, or learn where to buy your copy.
Trump comes to Atlantic City Read More »
atlantic city, fromthebookAuthor David G. Schwartz summarizes chapter 12, “America’s Playground…Again: Atlantic city becomes the casino capital of the East,” of Roll the Bones: The History of Gambling (Casino Edition).
If you don’t see a video above, go here: http://youtu.be/UtsacolklS4
This chapter covers the development of casinos in Atlantic City. It starts with a brief recap of the city’s history through the 1960s, and discusses the trends that led to the successful 1976 referendum that approved casinos in the city.
From there, the chapter covers the development of New Jersey’s regulatory and licensing system, the first casino (Resorts International), and several other landmark casinos, including Caesars Boardwalk Regency, Bally’s, the Sands, the Golden Nugget, and Donald Trump’s three casinos. Finally, it talks about the last few years, taking the city from the excitement surrounding the opening of the Borgata in 2003 to the malaise and doubt surrounding Revel’s opening in 2012.
Author David G. Schwartz summarizes chapter 12,… Read More »
atlantic city, videoIn 1980, Holiday Inns, Inc, acquired Bill Harrah’s gambling empire—casinos in Lake Tahoe and Reno and a project in development in Atlantic City.
Holiday tabled the Atlantic City project, putting the Harrah name on its own soon-to-open casino on the marina. That casino is today Harrah’s Atlantic City, one of the nicest casinos in town.
Learn more about Atlantic City in Roll the Bones: The History of Gambling.
Go here to read an excerpt from the book, or learn where to buy your copy.
Holiday Inn goes gambling Read More »
atlantic city, fromthebook
Today I’ve added three excerpts from Roll the Bones to the site to give you a little flavor of the book if you haven’t picked up a copy already. Enjoy!
This is the introductory overview to the book, giving an idea of its scope—and the changes in the Casino Edition.
This excerpt, from chapter 10, “A Place in the Sun,” explains how the Mob carved out influence on the Las Vegas Strip in the 1950s and 1960s, and why it was so dominant.
The opening pages of chapter 12, “America’s Playground…Again” discuss the rebirth and rise to (brief) dominance of Atlantic City’s casinos in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
To learn where you can buy Roll the Bones: The History of Gambling, please visit here.
Three excerpts from Roll the Bones Read More »
atlantic city, author, gambling & culture, life in vegasIn response to this photo and Bat-Signal request for more info, I wanted to post a link to an Atlantic City history column I’d written for Casino Connection a few (nine) years back. Turns out that it’s one of the 10 or so AC history pieces not in the Casino Connection archives. Looking at the
World War One and Atlantic City Read More »
atlantic cityI’ve got a very special Green Felt Journal out in today’s Vegas Seven. No, it’s not like a “very special episode” of Diff’rent Strokes or The Fact of Life that’s going to pontificate on a current social issue. Instead, I’m talking about the usual stuff I talk about in that space–gambling, casinos, and tourism–but in a
My Boardwalk Homecoming in Vegas Seven Read More »
atlantic city, Vegas Seven, writingRichard D. “Skip” Bronson with Andrew Meisler and A. M. Silver. The War at the Shore: Donald Trump, Steve Wynn, and the Epic War to Save Atlantic City. New York: Overland Press, 2012. 220 pages. Many people are fascinated by the high-stakes world of casino development. Deals get announced that create thousands of jobs and
Book Review: The War at the Shore Read More »
atlantic city, book reviewsWriting a Two Way Hard Three post about today’s announcement about the possible sale of Steel Pier, I wanted to link to an Atlantic City history column I dimly remembered having written years earlier. Since the issue of Casino Connection it originally ran in (May 2004) isn’t available online, I’m going to reproduce it here
Steel Pier history from the archives Read More »
atlantic cityJen A. Miller. The Jersey Shore: Atlantic City to Cape May. Second Edition. Woodstock, Vermont: The Countryman Press, 2011. 207 pages. The phrase “Jersey Shore” is heard a lot these days, but mostly for the wrong reasons–shorthand for the kind of low-class self-indulgent behavior that will land you a gig on an MTV reality show
Book Review: The Jersey Shore Read More »
atlantic city, book reviewsIn case you missed it, I’ve recently posted two Atlantic City-related pieces on Two Way Hard Three. The first is the complete text of my answers to questions Wayne Parry asked me about Atlantic City: The AP’s Wayne Parry wrote an excellent article about Atlantic City’s rise and fall. He reached out to me for
Atlantic City double shot in Two Way Hard Three Read More »
atlantic city, Two Way Hard ThreeIf you’ve missed it, I’ve got a post up at Two Way Hard Three that explains Landry’s purchase of Trump Marina and the return of the Golden Nugget to Atlantic City, with some bonus historical context: Landry’s Inc. a Houston-based company that owns a full spread of restaurant chains and Downtown Las Vegas and Laughlin’s
Landry’s Marina takeover talk in Two Way Hard Three Read More »
atlantic city, Two Way Hard ThreeLooks like change is in the air in Atlantic City. First off, Trump Marina is apparently going to change hands. As the Atlantic City Press reports, Landry’s Inc., which owns Golden Nuggets in Downtown Las Vegas and Laughlin, is planning to buy the property for $38 million and give it a through facelift, both inside
Atlantic City changes Read More »
atlantic city, news about gamblingIn this week’s Las Vegas Business Press, I share my thoughts about the just-passed Atlantic City casino regulatory reform: After suffering its fourth consecutive year of declining casino revenues, Atlantic City might finally be feeling the winds of reform. But will a planned regulatory overhaul be too little, too late to save the city’s slumping
A new hope for AC? in the Las Vegas Business Press Read More »
atlantic city, news about gamblingMy latest report is up over at the Center for Gaming Research. It’s a look at why Big Six is such a great game–for the house: Big Six is a minor casino game, but one that has high visibility on most casinos floors. Positioned where it is easily accessible by casual and novice gamblers, the
Big Six under study Read More »
atlantic city, news about gamblingAs promised, I’ve taken a deeper look at the recent casino regulatory overhaul that passed the New Jersey legislature. My comments are based on version of the bill that was current as of 1/10/11. You can find it right here. First of all, the bill codifies into law the current existential angst the industry is
Inside the NJ casino overhaul Read More »
atlantic city, news about gambling