The bustling hub of the East Coast gaming scene, Bally’s Atlantic City, is throwing a festive bash months ahead of its official 45th birthday on December 29. The Boardwalk casino and resort have pulled out the stops for an early celebration amidst its prime season, setting up a riveting atmosphere scaled up in grandeur by recent renovations worth $100 million.
A festive ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, June 28, 2024, marked the grand inauguration of three avant-garde attractions at the casino: Park Place Prime, a plush high-end steakhouse; Legacy Lounge, an exclusive lounge catering to VIP players; and an upscale High Limit Slot Room strategically located in the hotel’s lobby. These fresh additions to the resort’s repertoire seek to balance innovation with the steadfast charm that Bally’s is famed for.
Speaking to the Press of Atlantic City, Michael Monty, the vice president and general manager of Bally’s Atlantic City, fondly reflected on the journey so far. “Some things stay the same, and some things change for the better. Today, we’re celebrating all the great things that have happened that have gotten us where we are today,” he remarked.
Bally’s Atlantic City was launched as Bally’s Park Place in late December 1979, the third casino to enchant the town after Resorts and Caesars. Its advent was orchestrated by Bally Manufacturing in collaboration with local business stalwarts Reese Palley, a flamboyantly well-off art dealer, and attorney Martin Blatt. The duo had acquired the prime Boardwalk property two years prior.
The recent overhaul of the property was keenly awaited, with an investment of a whopping $100 million announced by Bally’s Corp. shortly after taking over the casino and the renowned brand from Caesars Entertainment at the height of the pandemic. The resort’s 750 guestrooms, 112 corner suites, and 16 penthouses have undergone a thorough makeover alongside the casino floor, which now boasts updated slots, cozy seating, and a fresh array of table games.
Guests are in for a delightful surprise with a host of novel attractions on the cards, including Phil’s Carousel Bar, a revolving lounge that offers a panoramic view of the casino and hotel lobby. In addition, the outdoor beer garden has been refurbished to ensure that The Yard, the resident gastropub, operates round the year. Visitors can also revel in gastronomic delights at new restaurants such as the Asian-themed Macau Kitchen, among others.
Moreover, new features like the Bally Bet Sportsbook, Bally Rewards Center, and a High Limits Table Room equipped with 30 mini-baccarat, blackjack, roulette, and craps tables aim to revive the fortunes of the city’s third-oldest resort. Despite a subpar financial performance in recent years, Bally’s is placing a considerable wager on these upscale renovations to drive a turnaround.
As part of the 45th-anniversary celebrations, Bally’s also plans to give back to the community. In a heartening move, the casino would donate hundreds of hot dogs and buns to the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City for an event on July 17. Bally’s is pairing up with wholesale food distributor Sysco for the initiative, echoing a tradition of making similar donations on National Hot Dog Day in recent years. The resort has also been known to offer free hot dogs to overnight guests on the occasion, celebrated on the third Wednesday of July every year.
Monty expressed his excitement about the initiative, saying, “We are thrilled to give back to the community and support the Boys & Girls Club. We believe in the importance of supporting organizations that make a difference in the lives of children, and we are grateful for the opportunity of pairing up with Sysco to contribute to the mission of the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City.”
