Atlantic City Casinos Opened
However, you cannot eat, drink, or smoke. And, you must wear a mask at all times (outside of hotel rooms and your car) and have temperate checked upon entering.
Borgata will not open until food and drink and tobacco is allowed to be consumed, they want people to "have the full Borgata experience that customers expect".....
Indoor dining restrictions prevent any kind of indoor consumption currently.
Quote: Gandler
they want people to "have the full Borgata experience that customers expect".....
In other words, they don't want non-gamblers loafing around and not spending money in their building!
Quote: billryanSo there are no food options? No room service? Are the restaurants in AC outside the casino open for dining?
Only if they offer delivery, drivethrough, or outdoor dining.
It's an NJ law. No indoor food consumption or indoor dining in public places.
This applies to alcohol, regular beverage, and tobacco consumption as well.
Quote: BedWetterBetterIn other words, they don't want non-gamblers loafing around and not spending money in their building!
Well, right now literally all you can do is gamble. You can't even drink water.
So, I don’t think that is their intention.....
Its not like there are any bars or clubs to loaf around in today.
It seems kind of ridiculous how each casino’s rules can vary so greatly. State laws seem to have the most influence in these rules.
For example, in the Midwest where I live, masks are “recommended” and drinks can be had at table games in Iowa. I would guess about 10-20% of all patrons are actually wearing any sort of face covering at any given time.
Personally, I choose to wear a plastic face shield, regardless of whether a casino requires any kind of face covering or not.
However, I was not allowed to wear only a plastic face shield in Indiana; they forced me to wear a mask. Yet smoking was no issue whatsoever (had to step a few feet from the table in order to smoke).
In addition, no drinks were allowed at table games in Indiana (the pit boss suggested I “chug” mine before I could return to the craps table!)
Meanwhile, in Illinois, not only are plastic face shields allowed, some dealers can be seen wearing them! Drinks are allowed at table games, however you have to step away from the table to take a drink and use hand sanitizer in between sips (this is better than what Indiana is doing IMO).
I question how effective these restrictions can possibly be as a whole when the rules (and the logic of some rules) are so inconsistent.
Quote: billryanSo there are no food options? No room service? Are the restaurants in AC outside the casino open for dining?
they want people to "have the full Borgata experience that customers expect".....[Link attempts redacted]
https://wizardofvegas.com/article/harrahs-atlantic-clity-clovid-review/
Somehow, a couple of lower case, 'l's' made it into the URL and it won't let me change that.
The reason I didn't update the, "Reviews," section with this is because the article's primary purpose is to highlight differences that are due to Covid-19.
Quote: fantomI don't think your review mentioned anything about blackjack. Any observations?
I want to say that the minimum was $15. I didn't include that in the article because I'm only about 90% sure that it was $15 as opposed to $25. There was definitely one $25 table.
Quote: Mission146For those of you wondering what to expect in Atlantic City right now, please see my article reviewing a recent stay at Harrah's during Covid:
https://wizardofvegas.com/article/harrahs-atlantic-clity-clovid-review/
Somehow, a couple of lower case, 'l's' made it into the URL and it won't let me change that.
The reason I didn't update the, "Reviews," section with this is because the article's primary purpose is to highlight differences that are due to Covid-19.
RE: Food availability
This didn’t even cross my mind, but since you are so isolated at Harrah’s, Borgata, or Golden Nugget, I can totally see it being hard to get food over there with all the arbitrary restaurant hours/constraints.
There is plenty of walkable breakfast/lunch food from the boardwalk resorts, which I would normally recommend anyway, but I am sure you had your reasons for staying at Harrahs.
What about the craps table? Other than reducing the number of players allowed, are they doing anything covid-specific (e.g., dividers)?Quote: mission146The roulette tables have extremely weird dividers by which there are plexiglass partitions that you would basically have half of your upper body in. Strangest things I’ve ever seen. I also imagine that the croupier finds himself/herself servicing the players’ bets more often, because I have long arms and could not have reached every possible bet from some of the locations.
If you tend to be up late like me, getting anything decent to eat is sometimes difficult. It just baffles me that places pay extraordinary rent prices to then close a 9PM, especially when there are people in line that you turn away. I get it. I worked for years in a restaurant. Everyone wants to work a 9-5 and go home.
Obviously the prices reflect a captive audience who a large chunk use comps. I would venture to say that 90% of the restaurants would never last in the real world. Bottom line, if I wasn't using comps I would never visit these places.
Quote: SandybestdogThe food situation in most AC casinos is quite disappointing. I would equate it to mostly like airport food.
I disagree 100%. The majority of casinos offer at least one nice 4 star or higher restaurant with good quality food and service. Yes, you are going to pay for it but the option exists.
Quote: DRichI disagree 100%. The majority of casinos offer at least one nice 4 star or higher restaurant with good quality food and service. Yes, you are going to pay for it but the option exists.
Yes, you are correct that between the hours of 4PM and 9PM there are several decent restaurants open at AC casinos.
Mission and Sandy are saying that the breakfast, lunch, and late night options amount to airport food, which I agree with if we are talking about restaurants inside the casinos.
Quote: gamerfreakYes, you are correct that between the hours of 4PM and 9PM there are several decent restaurants open at AC casinos.
Mission and Sandy are saying that the breakfast, lunch, and late night options amount to airport food, which I agree with if we are talking about restaurants inside the casinos.
I only eat once a day so for me it is not an issue.
Quote: TumblingBonesYou mentioned the plexiglass at the roulette table being a pain
What about the craps table? Other than reducing the number of players allowed, are they doing anything covid-specific (e.g., dividers)?
The craps tables do have dividers. They do clean the dice for every shooter. When a player leaves the table they "sometimes" wipe down the position that the player vacated.
They do their best to sanitize everything.
HOWEVER, they do not sanitize the chips at any table game. If I win my bet, I will be paid with chips that some other player lost. It's always a good idea to wash your hands after you leave a table game.
Quote: gamerfreakRE: Food availability
This didn’t even cross my mind, but since you are so isolated at Harrah’s, Borgata, or Golden Nugget, I can totally see it being hard to get food over there with all the arbitrary restaurant hours/constraints.
There is plenty of walkable breakfast/lunch food from the boardwalk resorts, which I would normally recommend anyway, but I am sure you had your reasons for staying at Harrahs.
That's an excellent point on the Boardwalk Resorts, for those inclined to walk or take a cab. I believe we could have stayed at any CET property, but when offered my choice, I chose that one because I figured the vulturing might be better in an isolated casino compared to The Boardwalk where casinos are closer together.
As far as I can tell, not a bad guess, but I never went to any Boardwalk casinos (this trip) to even compare.
Quote: TumblingBonesYou mentioned the plexiglass at the roulette table being a pain
What about the craps table? Other than reducing the number of players allowed, are they doing anything covid-specific (e.g., dividers)?
I didn't play, but I'd assume that it would be a pain. I have long arms and wouldn't have been able to reach any number of possible bets, so more bets than usual are likely serviced by the dealer...which also slows the game down. Of course, if I was inclined to play Roueltte, I'd see a slower game as a positive.
I think there were dividers at the Craps table, but those seemed only to keep the stickman from having anyone near him.
Quote: FatGeezus
HOWEVER, they do not sanitize the chips at any table game. If I win my bet, I will be paid with chips that some other player lost. It's always a good idea to wash your hands after you leave a table game.
Are there multiple dividers at Craps and not only for the stickman? I might be misremembering.
I'll tell you that if there's been one benefit to the pandemic (overall) it's that people are more cognizant of health-related things. Washing your hands after leaving a table, and particularly after handling casino chips was probably always a great idea...but I wouldn't have really thought much about it.
Quote: Mission146I'll tell you that if there's been one benefit to the pandemic (overall) it's that people are more cognizant of health-related things. Washing your hands after leaving a table, and particularly after handling casino chips was probably always a great idea...but I wouldn't have really thought much about it.
I'm surprised they haven't thought of providing disposable one-size-fit-all gloves.
Quote: TumblingBonesI'm surprised they haven't thought of providing disposable one-size-fit-all gloves.
I wonder if they haven't thought of it or simply do not want to incur any more direct costs than necessary at this time.
I do know a regional restaurant that I'm familiar with is well-known for its salad bar (you could buy the salad bar separately, but normally wouldn't, as it's not like a buffet bar would be) and they provided one-time use gloves to continue to do that. From a health standpoint, I think it's a solid idea. Actually, you had to wear the gloves and have your mask on.
Exactly. At least for me, 99% of the time I’m there by myself. Fancy places that are open 5 hours 3 days a week don’t do me any good. Neither do the dozen places scattered around to get alcohol. Just my opinion.Quote: gamerfreakYes, you are correct that between the hours of 4PM and 9PM there are several decent restaurants open at AC casinos.
Mission and Sandy are saying that the breakfast, lunch, and late night options amount to airport food, which I agree with if we are talking about restaurants inside the casinos.
Quote: Mission146Are there multiple dividers at Craps and not only for the stickman? I might be misremembering.
There are dividers separating every player, the stickman and the dealers from the players.
Quote: FatGeezusThere are dividers separating every player, the stickman and the dealers from the players.
I try to set up a divider of 5 states to keep me from Atlantic City dealers and players at all time. Works pretty well.
Quote: rdw4potusTrump World's Fair was at the Plaza but was separately licensed. I bet that's their #4.
Thanks!
Here's the Wikipedia article about it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trump_World%27s_Fair
I remember playing at the Playboy and then Atlantis.
Quote: rdw4potusTrump World's Fair was at the Plaza but was separately licensed. I bet that's their #4.
Ok that too was before my time.
So there were 2 casinos with separate licenses at that one location?
Quote: ChesterDogThanks!
Here's the Wikipedia article about it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trump_World%27s_Fair
I remember playing at the Playboy and then Atlantis.
Chester, that's old school, isn't it? As in way old school?
I remember a classic trip with some Pennsylvania compadres. I think it had just taken on the Atlantis name, and there had been a recent bust for the casino sponsoring hookers. So with no girls available in-house, so to speak, my compadres went out on the boardwalk, actually a block inland side, and recruited some girls to come up to the room. I do not partake of hookers, but when the girls finally arrived, the Monday night game (the Raiders were playing) had already kicked off. We were way up in the tower, and I refused to leave until halftime, so I sat at the foot of the beds in a chair while my friends did their thing. I left at halftime, and then we got a heads up from a valet (who my friend had over-tipped by about ten times) that security was on their way up to get rid of the girls. What transpired is a tale for another day. What's important is that I made it to a downstairs bar for the second half. I won my totals bet.
And the Atlantis wound up being the Trump Regency -- I knew there was a point to this.
I was also at the opening for the Taj Mahal -- not the very day, but that month.
So that still left them with 4. I forget how they resolved that because they continued to operate those 4 until the time I left for Vegas. They must have made an exception or revised the law or something.
So last week when I read that Trump had 4 casinos, I was like...well had did that work? But it may be that he didn't have all 4 at the same time. I don't know. Just found it curious. During my time 2004 -2009, Trump has 3.
Quote: kewljSo there were 2 casinos with separate licenses at that one location?
They were not at the same location, they were separated by the Boardwalk Hall.
Trump Plaza was on the north (Brigantine) side of the Hall, Trump Worlds Fair was on the south (Ventnor) side.
Technically, the Boardwalk runs East-West in Atlantic City, when you look at the ocean from the BW you are facing South.
Quote: kewljThey must have made an exception or revised the law or something.
They changed the law...Trump pushed it through, then Harrah's bought the other 4.
He's right.Quote: coachbellyTechnically, the Boardwalk runs East-West in Atlantic City, when you look at the ocean from the BW you are facing South.
While everyone knows that the ocean is to the east, at least in general, people (or at least tourists) tend to think of the beach, boardwalk, etc. as running north/south. But the city is tilted slightly more than 45° so it really is east-west.
At least it is if you're not gonna say NE/SW, and who does that?
Quote: DJTeddyBearHe's right.
Of course I'm right, I'm always right. (got that from MD)
If you were to travel perpendicular to the AC Boardwalk, out into the Atlantic Ocean,
the first land mass you would hit is...Brazil !
