Inside America’s Casinos: Stop 9 – Harrah’s Resort & Casino Atlantic City

Join CDC Gaming as we embark upon a road trip Inside America’s Casinos. For our ninth stop, we visit Harrah’s Resort & Casino Atlantic City.

The transition from Borgata to my next stop, Harrah’s Resort & Casino Atlantic City, wasn’t as dramatic as my previous leaps between casinos in different states, with different scenery, local cultures, and gambling regulatory frameworks. It didn’t even involve driving down Absecon Blvd. toward the Boardwalk. It was literally a short drive down a back road called Borgata Way, which then got me to a traffic light that I drove past onto Harrah’s Boulevard. The map of the 0.7-mile 4-minute drive connecting the two properties tells the first part of the story: the intersection of Borgata and Harrah’s.

Visiting Harrah’s — a tour through gaming history

Going to visit Harrah’s wasn’t just about visiting another casino. I’d been reading a lot about the history of this brand, starting with William F. Harrah’s small bingo hall in Reno that opened in 1937, laying the groundwork for what would become one of the most iconic gaming operations in the country and beyond. Harrah’s was the first to introduce a slot loyalty card, which allowed it to track players’ activity and target them with promotions and rewards. It was also one of the first gaming companies to instill the bean-counter mentality, making it more of a science than an entertainment/hospitality business. In 2005, the group purchased Caesars Entertainment, which merged with Eldorado Resorts in 2020.

Today, Harrah’s is only one of a stable of brands, including Caesars Palace, Horseshoe, and Tropicana. Data science and number crunching are a standard day’s work in every large casino operation. But for me, Harrah’s will always remain the cost-effective brand that doesn’t splash out on luxury hospitality; instead, it always knows how to provide its guests with value for money and bang for the buck.

Opening its doors in November 1980, Harrah’s Resort & Casino Atlantic City was the first casino to set foot in Atlantic City’s Marina District and stood there alone for five years before it was joined by the Golden Nugget and Borgata in 1985 and 2003, respectively.

First impressions — a casual entrance

The short drive didn’t give me time to reflect on my visit to Borgata, but as I was about to find out, there were many more differences than similarities in my experiences at the two properties.

Perhaps it was because the layout was older, but driving down Harrah’s Blvd. toward the casino felt more like driving to a shopping mall. Unlike the approach to the Borgata, which makes you swirl around islands with manicured greenery until you reach the grand entrance, Harrah’s has a huge, multi-floor, parking structure on one side of the road and the casino’s unassuming entrance on the other. So I parked my car, took the elevator down to street level, and crossed the street to get to the casino.

Harrah’s — A friendly, welcoming vibe

I mentioned above that Harrah’s looks unassuming from the outside. However, don’t mistake unassuming for negative. I didn’t realize it until I walked into the casino, but my first impression of Harrah’s from the outside was a very accurate prelude to what I’d experience inside the property — a casual, friendly, inviting atmosphere. From the moment I walked in, I felt welcomed.

Old, new, inconsistent design

Unlike many other casinos that try to impress you with their facade, Harrah’s Resort & Casino Atlantic City starts revealing its true nature as soon as you step into the lobby: a nice round dome, marble floors, nothing too big and spectacular like its Caesars sibling properties, but still managing to look modern.

Moving farther into the property, I could sense the different phases of development it had gone through. From the contemporary lobby, I went into older corridors, which again transitioned into modern updated spaces. Areas had different ceiling heights, lighting, and materials. While some parts had marble and white walls, others were still covered in wood, giving a bit of an older traditional feel. I saw areas that were recently refreshed, along with ones that haven’t changed much.

Unlike Borgata, which was designed with a cohesive flow, Harrah’s doesn’t really have one consistent theme. At times, I felt like I was moving between different properties. It felt a bit disjointed, but it also added a lot of character. Because of its quirks, Harrah’s design makes it feel more personable and less distant.

Beyond gaming – A party destination

As a brand, Harrah’s seems to target a younger crowd that’s more into partying and having fun around game tables, rather than designer shopping and high-roller environments.

As such, just like I’ve seen in its Vegas property, Harrah’s in Atlantic City also seems to position itself as an entertainment and party destination that appeals to its guest demographics. I went to check out the pool complex, even though it’s not the right season to swim or sunbathe. At night, it transforms into a party zone (the Pool after-dark high-energy nightclub), and there are also the Voodoo Lounge, Lobby Bar, and X Bar, all of which have a lot of younger guests in party mode.

Harrah’s has a total of 10 bars and lounges, 13 restaurants, and 2,500 hotel rooms spread across five towers. I didn’t find a lot of shopping, but did see an excited bride and groom coming out of a limo on their way to their ceremony at Harrah’s. So again, it’s not a self-contained resort like Borgata next door, but it certainly does a great job offering everything that young and young-at-heart guests want.

The gaming floor — compact and buzzing

Harrah’s gaming floor isn’t huge compared to neighboring resorts. We’re looking at around 160,000 square feet, plus a 3,800-square-foot Caesars Sportsbook, which opened in 2018. There are about 100 table games and over 1,800 slot machines.

What’s noticeable at Harrah’s is its poker offering, which sets it apart from other casinos in Atlantic City. As soon as I walked in, I noticed World Series of Poker signs, as well as video poker machines that take center stage directly at the entrance (as opposed to being tucked away in the back like other casinos I’d visited). There are also 28 poker tables, open most hours (11 a.m. to 6 a.m. most days), offering many variations.

The Harrah’s crowd — Social gamblers looking for value

While the gaming floor isn’t packed with machines and there’s a lot of space between slots and tables. Many people seem to group around tables, laughing, drinking, talking loudly, and just having a good time. Gambling is clearly a social experience here. Both on and off the gaming floor, the guest mix felt very different from Borgata, and even more from the casinos in Connecticut and farther north. I met people from New Jersey, New York, eastern Pennsylvania, Maryland, and other nearby states.

Most people I talked with said they came with friends to party, hang out, and gamble together. And when I asked why they came specifically to Harrah’s, many said it was the best atmosphere and value for money.

Leaving Harrah’s – Character through imperfection

After the precision I’d seen at Borgata, Harrah’s didn’t leave me with any strong impression of one defining theme. It’s not the most luxurious property, like Borgata and Ocean. It’s not the most historic either; that belongs to Resorts World and other Boardwalk casinos. Even though Harrah’s was a first in the Marina District, nearing a half-century old, the property is one of the most established in Atlantic City, but it’s still evolving.

But this evolution across different parts of the property makes Harrah’s feel much more organic, friendly, less controlled, and less refined. This is why Harrah’s is buzzing with social activity, and it’s full of busy, lively energy.

And in the current market conditions in Atlantic City, that sure counts for a lot.