Harrah's Atlantic City

Harrah's Resort Atlantic City
Industry	Casino hotel
Founded	November 22, 1980; 45 years ago
Founder	LM Walters Co and Holiday Inns
Headquarters	Atlantic City, United States
Area served	Atlantic City, New Jersey
Owner	Vici Properties
Parent	Caesars Entertainment
Website	www.caesars.com/harrahs-ac

Harrah's Resort Atlantic City is a casino hotel positioned in the marina district of Atlantic City. It is owned by Vici Properties and managed by Caesars Entertainment. This establishment ranks among the largest hotels within New Jersey.

Located adjacent to the Borgata and Golden Nugget in the marina area, Harrah's was the pioneer casino to launch in this district in 1980, remaining the only resort there until Trump's Castle (currently Golden Nugget) debuted in 1985. It was the fifth casino to open in Atlantic City following the legalization of gambling.

History

Harrah's Atlantic City was originally developed by LM Walters Co and Holiday Inns, with initial plans to name it the "Holiday Inn Marina Casino." After Holiday Inns acquired Harrah's Corporation following the passing of founder Bill Harrah, the project was rebranded as Harrah's Marina Hotel Casino. It marked the first casino establishment in Atlantic City outside the traditional boardwalk area. The Waterfront Tower now stands 46 stories tall overlooking the marina.

The resort officially opened on November 22, 1980, featuring a 506-room Coastal Tower and quickly became Atlantic City's leading revenue-generating casino. In response to competition from Trump’s Castle, the all-suite Atrium Tower was added in 1986. The Marina Tower followed in 1997; each of these three towers rises 16 stories, with the Atrium serving as a connector between Coastal and Marina towers. In 2002, the 25-story Bayview Tower debuted alongside an expanded gaming floor.

To rival the Borgata, which opened in 2003, Harrah's unveiled the Waterfront Tower in 2008, including amenities such as a pool and spa. At 525 feet tall, this tower is Atlantic City's second tallest building and is distinguished by a large-scale exterior LED display.

Between 2016 and 2017, Harrah's invested $30 million to refurbish Bayview Tower guest rooms to align with Las Vegas quality standards. In late 2018, a $56 million renovation was announced for Harbour Tower, which was rebranded as Coastal Tower; these improvements were completed by mid-2019.

In July 2020, Eldorado Resorts acquired Caesars Entertainment, taking over operations of Harrah's. Simultaneously, Vici Properties purchased the real estate assets of Harrah's Atlantic City for $599 million and leased them back to Eldorado (now Caesars Entertainment).

Restaurants and shops

Harrah's features a variety of dining venues ranging from upscale restaurants to casual eateries, including an establishment operated by Gordon Ramsay. The property also offers several retail outlets.

Entertainment

The Broadway by the Bay Theater, which seats 800 guests, opened on December 31, 1980. It has hosted renowned performers such as Sammy Davis Jr., Andy Williams, and The Oak Ridge Boys. In 2007, it underwent renovation to add 400 seats and was renamed The Concert Venue, increasing capacity to 1,200. Recent performers have included Ron White, Penn & Teller, and Patti LaBelle.

Sports

Harrah's frequently serves as a venue for professional boxing events.

Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa

Originally situated beside the resort’s domed pool, the Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa offered 23 treatment rooms along with amenities like a Jacuzzi, sauna, and café before closing in 2017. A new spa facility was introduced in 2018.

Gaming

Harrah's features extensive gaming space with 5,567 slot and video poker machines alongside 139 table games. Its poker room contains 40 tables and annually hosts a World Series of Poker event. The sportsbook commenced operations on August 1, 2018, providing comprehensive sports wagering options.

Poker Room – Open around the clock with predominantly low-limit games, Harrah's poker room conducts numerous tournaments yearly, including WSOP circuit events and World Poker Tour competitions. High-stakes players often prefer competing at venues such as The Borgata.

The Pool at Harrah's

Harrah's pool, situated beneath an expansive glass dome and encircled by palm trees, enjoys consistently warm temperatures throughout the year, making it a favored spot for guests. Access is limited to individuals aged 21 and above; younger visitors are directed to the family pool located on the opposite side. On Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday evenings, the area is rebranded as "The Pool After Dark," showcasing live DJ performances and VIP Bottle Service with entertainers such as 50 Cent, PSY, and Jesse McCartney.

Significant upgrades to the pool were completed between January 17 and March 3, 2017.

Transportation

Harrah's provides the Caesars Rewards Shuttle service, which transports hotel guests and Caesars Rewards members to Caesars Atlantic City and Tropicana Casino & Resort Atlantic City. This shuttle runs from Friday to Sunday, operating between 11am and 8pm in that order.

The property is accessible via the Brigantine Connector and is served by Routes 2 and 3 of the Atlantic City Jitney Association. Additionally, free jitney buses connect Harrah's with the Atlantic City Rail Terminal (NJ Transit Atlantic City Line), while NJ Transit Bus #501 also offers service to the resort.

Moreover, air charter options are available through Republic Airlines to Atlantic City International Airport, with hotel packages offered from several cities along the East Coast.

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