Online sports-betting giant FanDuel has planted its first permanent flag in Atlantic City.
The 4,100-square-foot FanDuel Sportsbook is now open at Bally’s Atlantic City. It replaces a temporary facility that opened in the 42-year-old gaming hall late last year.
The book, which is located at the casino’s Boardwalk entrance, is anchored by a 25-foot-wide LED video wall bookended by 10-foot-wide LED video walls. Ten additional TVs complete the space’s screen scene.
Customers who prefer interacting with other humans rather than one of 20 self-serve machines can place bets at any of five windows. Action will be taken on a variety of professional sports including tennis, MMA, soccer, golf and auto racing as well as baseball, football, basketball and hockey.
Of course, food and drink are part of the deal. The FanDuel Sportsbook Lounge offers a bill of fare that can best be described as “upscale sports bar.” While traditional munchies like burgers and wings are offered, the menu also features more nouvelle cuisine items including Truffle Tots and Spicy Edamame.
There is also a full-service bar serving a large variety of beers and cocktails with names like “Penalty Kick Mai Tai” and “Sudden Death Strawberry Ginger Margarita” (we’ll assume they’re not expecting Giants and Jets fans to be chugging gallons of the St. Remy VSOP-based “Fly Eagle Fly” concoction).
FanDuel Sportsbook is the first completed phase of a reported $90 million soup-to-nuts renovation–underwritten by its new, Rhode Island-based owner–of the property that began life in 1979 as Bally’s Park Place Casino and Hotel. It’s open daily from 10 a.m. to midnight (expanded hours when necessary).
Bird’s-eye view at Ocean AC
Despite its recent legalization, big-time players getting high at Ocean Casino Resort has nothing to do with cannabis. Instead, it’s all about The Loft, the adult playpen’s brand-spanking-new, private, high-rollers’ sanctuary perched on the 44th floor of its hotel tower.
The ultra-posh, 2,000-square-foot space–which is accessed only by invitation–is initially offering roulette, baccarat and blackjack. Floor-to-ceiling windows provide its pampered guests panoramic ocean views. Players can also avail themselves of such amenities as butler service, personal security details and a bar that defines the adjective “top-shelf.”
And because the COVID-19 pandemic has yet to crap out, The Loft will undergo a vigorous cleaning after each use.
According to an Ocean spokesperson, the room has no set minimum bet. However, it’s fairly safe to assume gamblers who generally play less than $1,000 per hand probably shouldn’t expect an invitation anytime soon.
The Loft is yet another sign that Ocean–which, before the pandemic, was establishing itself as one of AyCee’s top-tier properties–is committed to diving into the deep-end of the premium-player pool: Late last year, it debuted The Cove, a $2 million, 7,500-square-foot high-limit gaming area on the casino floor.
Chuck Darrow is the Casino Lifestyle Editor at BettorsInsider.com.