The five oldest casinos still operating in Atlantic City are Resorts (1978), Caesars (1979), Bally's (1979), Harrah's (1980), and Tropicana (1981).
All five have been in continuous operation since opening, though several have changed names and ownership over the decades.
Key Facts
- Resorts Atlantic City opened on May 26, 1978 – the first legal casino east of Nevada.
- Caesars Atlantic City opened on June 26, 1979 – originally as the Boardwalk Regency.
- Bally's Atlantic City opened on December 29, 1979 – originally as Bally's Park Place.
- Harrah's Resort Atlantic City opened on November 22, 1980 – the first casino in the Marina District, not on the Boardwalk.
- Tropicana Atlantic City opened in November 1981 – it remains the largest resort on the Boardwalk.
For the full story of how casino gambling came to Atlantic City, visit our history of Atlantic City casinos.
Resorts Atlantic City: The Oldest Casino in Atlantic City (1978)
Location: Boardwalk | Opened: May 26, 1978
Resorts Atlantic City was the first legal casino to open east of Nevada. When it launched on May 26, 1978, demand was so high that crowds queued down the Boardwalk just to get through the doors.
It opened as Resorts International, built on the site of the old Chalfonte-Haddon Hall resort complex. The company already operated a casino in the Bahamas, which gave it a head start when New Jersey legalised gambling in 1976. The property was later rebranded as Resorts Casino Hotel and eventually Resorts Atlantic City.
Today, the casino has a Roaring Twenties theme, two hotel towers, a selection of restaurants, and the Superstar Theater, which hosts concerts and live shows.
Caesars Atlantic City: Open Since 1979
Location: Boardwalk | Opened: June 26, 1979
Caesars opened just over a year after Resorts, on June 26, 1979. It launched as the Boardwalk Regency on the site of a former Howard Johnson hotel and was rebranded as Caesars Atlantic City in 1987, bringing with it the ancient Roman theme the property still carries today.
It sits on the Boardwalk and is one of three Atlantic City casinos operated by Caesars Entertainment, alongside Harrah's and Tropicana. The casino floor has four main areas, including a dedicated Asian gaming space called Palace East. There are more than 100 table games, over 1,700 slot machines, and a range of dining options. The Hook, a live variety show, is one of the more talked-about entertainment options in AC.
Bally's Atlantic City: Open Since 1979
Location: Boardwalk | Opened: December 29, 1979
Bally's opened six months after Caesars, on December 29, 1979, under the name Bally's Park Place. It was operated by Bally's Manufacturing before adopting the Bally's name and now occupies a high-rise building on the Boardwalk with views over the Atlantic.
The property has two casino floors: Bally's itself and Wild Wild West, an American Old West-themed space on the lower level. Together, they offer more than 1,100 slot machines and over 80 table games. Bally's runs a sportsbook under the Bally Bet brand and hosts boxing throughout the year. It's one of the more budget-friendly hotel options on the Boardwalk.
Harrah's Resort Atlantic City: The Only One Outside the Boardwalk (1980)
Location: Marina District | Opened: November 22, 1980
Harrah's is the only one of Atlantic City's five oldest casinos that isn't on the Boardwalk. It opened on November 22, 1980, in the Marina District – about three miles north of the beachfront – becoming the first casino in the city to operate away from the Boardwalk. The Marina District now has three casinos, but Harrah's was the only one there for five years.
It opened under the Holiday Inns umbrella – the company had acquired Harrah's Corporation during construction – and has expanded significantly since. The casino floor now covers 177,000 square feet, with 28 poker tables open around the clock and more than 1,800 slot machines. The indoor pool, open year-round under a glass dome, is one of the resort's most distinctive features.
Tropicana Atlantic City: The Largest Resort on the Boardwalk (1981)
Location: Boardwalk, south end | Opened: November 1981
Tropicana is the youngest of Atlantic City's five oldest casinos, and the furthest south on the Boardwalk. It was built on the steel frame of the old Ambassador Hotel, which Ramada purchased in 1978 and gutted for the construction.
Like Caesars and Harrah's, it's now operated by Caesars Entertainment. The resort is the largest on the Boardwalk, built around a Havana-themed indoor shopping and dining complex called the Quarter. The casino floor has more than 2,600 slot machines, around 130 table games including roulette and blackjack, and an 18-table poker room – the only one on the Boardwalk, and one of just three open in Atlantic City alongside Borgata and Harrah's.
Which Is the Oldest Casino in Atlantic City?
Resorts Atlantic City is the oldest casino in the city and the oldest legal casino in the eastern United States. It opened on May 26, 1978, and has been in continuous operation ever since. The table below shows all five casinos that have been open the longest, all still operating today:
Casino | Opened | Location |
Resorts Atlantic City | May 26, 1978 | Boardwalk |
Caesars Atlantic City | June 26, 1979 | Boardwalk |
Bally's Atlantic City | December 29, 1979 | Boardwalk |
Harrah's Resort Atlantic City | November 22, 1980 | Marine District |
Tropicana Atlantic City | November 1981 | Boardwalk |
For a guide to what each of Atlantic City's nine casinos offers today, see our guide to Atlantic City beach casinos.
