Ocean Resort Casino is new to the New Jersey iGaming market and knows that it will face stiff competition from established operators who are all fighting for market share. To carve a niche for itself in the Garden State, Ocean Resort’s online casino and sportsbook have a number of exciting on-going promotions and bonuses.
This post is a departure from my usual material about NJ online casino bonuses, but there are major new developments at both Hard Rockand Ocean Resort Casinos that surely you will want to know about. From every indication, it won’t be long at all before the number of casinos that are fully up and running in Atlantic City will be back up to nine. Even if you do the bulk of your casino play online, sometime this summer, you will want to visit Atlantic City, check out the new properties for yourself, sample one or more of the dozens of restaurants and bars, and try your luck in the casinos.
Before I share with you this week’s important breaking news with regard to Hard Rock and Ocean Resort, I would like to offer my own hopefully reassuring stance on a matter that concerns many people. Atlantic City seems to be faring much better now with seven casinos than in 2014, when four casinos closed and the town seemed headed on a steady downward spiral. So the question on many people’s minds now is why not leave well enough alone. Is there room in this market for two more casinos? And if so, do Hard Rock and Ocean Resort Casinos have what it takes to succeed alongside all of the others?
Hard Rock and Ocean Resort Both Seem to Have What It Takes
Both of these properties clearly have the financial resources to succeed, and Hard Rock comes to the table with another ace in the hole—many years of experienceoperating other successful casino resorts all over the world. AC Ocean Walk, owners of Ocean Resort Casino, doesn’t have similar accomplishments on its resume, but it has affiliated with the highly regarded and world renowned Hyatt brand, and that company does have considerable casino experience.
I am also impressed by the extra touches that will be unique to each of these new hotels and casinos If all they have to offer is a carbon copy of what the seven existing casinos are already offering, it won’t be long before the novelty wears off. Fortunately, I don’t see that happening because the people running the show at both Hard Rock and Ocean Resort Casino seem to determined to think out of the box and provide extra amenities that cannot be found elsewhere.
At the same time, the people who will be running Hard Rock and Ocean Resort Casinos also need to have a good handle on what their targeted customers want. One of many reasons why the Revel failed was that the people in charge were clueless.
Hard Rock
Hard at Work from the Get-Go
Long before AC Ocean Walk, the company that owns Ocean Resort Casino, emerged on the scene as another new force to be reckoned with, Hard Rock International was already hard at work with their plans to be the next Atlantic City casino. In fact, as soon as the $50 million deal to sell the former Trump Taj Mahl to the owners of Hard Rock International, Seminole Tribe of Florida, became official in March, 2017, it has been full speed ahead. Hard Rock wasted no time getting started on what was going to be a complete transformation of the property inside and out.
Unprecedented Optimism About What the New Casino Hotel Would Do for Atlantic City
The news that Hard Rock is coming to Atlantic City has been met with a degree of excitement and anticipation I haven’t seen in this town in years. But it all makes sense. If a hugely successful international conglomerate that already operates facilities in 75 countries, reports $6 billion in annual revenue, employs over 30,000 people, and schedules more than 35,000 musical acts can’t revitalize Atlantic City, no one can.
True to its word, Hard Rock has been working steadfastly over the past year, not just to renovate the former Trump Taj Mahal, but to remove every last vestige of the defunct casino hotel and and turn the new one into a must see place that’s uniquely its own. Over $500 million has been invested towards making this lofty vision a reality.
In the words of Jim Allen, CEO of Hard Rock International, “If we can’t do it right, we’re not going to do it.”
Joe Jingoli, lead developer and property partner believes that “the Hard Rock AC is going to be amazing.”
Atlantic City Mayor Frank Gilliam, echoing the same sentiments, predicts that the presence of the internationally recognized Hard Rock brand will be a “game changer” for this town that will be “phenomenal.”
Emphasis on Live Music Performances
One way that Hard Rock will clearly set itself apart from other Atlantic City casino hotels is in the increased emphasis on live musical entertainment. Instead of offering concerts on weekends only, there will be live musical entertainment every night of the week. More than 100 acts have already been booked for the resort’s first year, including 60 for this summer.
Ocean Resort Casino
Ocean Resort Casino, Unlike the Revel, Has an Excellent Chance to Succeed
The Revel may have been doomed from day 1, but Ocean Resort Casino seems determined not to repeat the same kinds of mistakes.
What to Expect at Ocean Resort Casino
The casino will offer 2,200 machines and 100 table games, so there will be no shortage of gaming options. However, as the name of the property implies, it is also a full service resort. Therefore, it will also have 1,399 hotel rooms, 16 restaurants, nightclubs, six pools, and a spa. Some of the dining options, like a breakfast eatery called Cereal Town and Wahlburgers (the chain owned by actor Mark Wahlberg’s family), will be unique to Ocean Resort.
Another amenity that will be unique to Ocean Resort in Atlantic City is a Topgolf Swing Suite that will offer the world’s largest virtual golf experience. There will also be a 5,700 seat concert hall, lots of space for retail stores and conventions, and a parking garage for 7,000 vehicles. In addition, and most importantly, now that sports betting has been ruled legal in New Jersey, Ocean Resort Casino is going full speed ahead with its plans to open a state of the art sportsbook in the center of the casino.
AC Ocean Walk CEO Bruce Deifik believes that the failure of the Revel was due to a combination of bad timing, when Atlantic City was still in economic recovery, and not catering to the needs of its customers. However, he is very confident that the impact that Ocean Resort Casino will make will be completely different. He indicates that his firm is “incredibly excited that we were able to take advantage of the opportunity to acquire this tremendous property at a time when Atlantic City is seeing great economic strides.”
Hard Rock and Ocean Resort Casino Will Both Open the Same Day–June 28
When Hard Rock indicated its opening date, the excitement around town intensified even more, as the precise date made it clear that the presence of this world renowned entertainment company in Atlantic City wasn’t a pipe dream. It was really happening. But at the same time, there was an obvious new question on many people’s minds. When would Ocean Resort Casino open?. At first, no one seemed to know because other than saying it would open “this summer”, the casino said nothing.
How We Found Out
Even after the big announcement from Hard Rock, for a whole week the same answer was the only one that was forthcoming. Then suddenly a rumor began that Ocean Resort Casino was also going to open on June 28. The rumor proved to be a lot more than speculation, though. On April 25, the headline of The Press of Atlantic City read “Ocean Resort Casino aiming for June 28 opening, same day as Hard Rock.”
Several newly hired Ocean Resort employees reportedly contacted the newspaper and said that they signed an agreement to report to work on June 11 in preparation for a June 28 opening date. On the other hand, Atlantic City Mayor Frank Gilliam, City Council President Mary Small, and Atlantic City Department of Licensing and Inspection Dale Finch all replied, when they were contacted, that a June 28 opening date was news to them. Finch also said that he had visited both Hard Rock and Ocean Resort recently and saw “a lot of activity” at both places.
Two weeks later, on Monday, May 7, the rumor that had turned to a roar was no longer a rumor, but a fact. Ocean Resort Casino finally confirmed that its opening date will be Thursday, June 28, too. CEO Frank Leone released a statement that Ocean Resort will be a culmination of all our planning and…a special day for Atlantic City as it turns the page on a new chapter of revitalization.”
Ocean Resort Casino Still Needs a License
The June 28 opening date is contingent, of course, on Ocean Resort Casino receiving a license by that time from the Casino Control Commission and passing all necessary inspections. We will keep you posted as soon as this happens.
Hard Rock Has Been Granted a Casino License
On Wednesday, May 9, the fact that in a little over a month Atlantic City is going to have two new casinos became even more obvious. The Casino Control Commission has granted Hard Rock a casino license.
The decision was unanimous. 23 key executives were granted employee licenses as well, including Hard Rock International CEO Jim Allen and COO Jon Lucas, Property President Matt Harkness, and principal investors Joseph Jingoli and Jack Morris. Commission Chairman James Plousis pointed to the company’s financial stability, long successful history of operating casinos in other locations, and clear commitment to the Atlantic City community as reasons for the decision. The Commission was also impressed by Hard Rock’s obvious interest in bringing people to the resort for a lot more than simply to gamble.
What Special Amenities Will Hard Rock Offer?
If gambling in the casino is your first priority, Hard Rock won’t let you down. The casino floor will have 2,144 slot machines and 120 table games. In addition, patrons at the relocated and expanded (402-seat) Hard Rock Café adjoining the casino floor will have access to 16 bar-top slots. There will not be a poker room.
The hotel part of the complex will have 1,972 rooms, 500 of which are suites, all completely renovated. Guests can also choose from 11 food and beverage outlets.
The entertainment for the opening June 29 and 30 weekend will be Carrie Underwood and Pitbull. 300 nights of shows are being promised in the first year, an Atlantic City first. The biggest acts will be performing at the former Mark Etess Theater, which has been renamed the Hard Rock LIVE Mark Etess Theater. The theater will be capable of accommodating 5,500 guests.
Summary
From all indications, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Atlantic City will soon be ready to rock n’ roll. And its new neighbor, Ocean Resort Casino, will be making a big wave, too, with all the exciting and innovative options it will have to offer.
Resorts Sign Up Bonus
What sound is more soothing than the sea gently lapping on the shoreline? Easy: the suite sound of the ocean.
Yes, of course, we know that’s not the “sweet” you expected to read there. However, it is a clever play on words that Ocean Resort Casino is using to reel you into its latest promo.
First off, if you didn’t already know, Ocean Resort online casino is the new kid on New Jersey’s proverbial iGaming block. The digital offshoot of the recently opened Ocean Resort Casino, this platform is bursting with interesting gaming options and, as you’ll see, some neat giveaways.
On the docket, this week is a deal that takes one of this operator’s biggest strengths and uses it to its advantage.
Blending the best of both worlds
Now, before we go any further, this isn’t a knock on any of the best online casinos in NJ that don’t have a direct live counterpart. However, the beauty of this bonus is that your online exploits could earn you a free stay in on of Ocean Resort’s luxury suites. If that doesn’t suit, you can take $1,000 in bonus cash instead.
To join the race for a six-night stay in a Studio Suite, you’ll need to play slots or table games between now and 11:59 p.m. ET July 31. If you can do that and earn more points than everyone else, you’ll be sleeping on a bed of luxury come to the end of the month.
The formal process for taking part in the Suite Sound of the Ocean promo is this:
- Log in to your account and hit the “opt-in” button on the bonus page.
- Play any of your favorite slots or table games between now and July 31, 2018, to earn as many points as possible.
- For every $1 you wager on slots or table games, you’ll receive one point.
- Finish at the top of either leaderboard and you’ll win a six-night stay in a Studio Suite at Ocean Resort Casino or $1,000 Site Credit.
Do what suits you
The great thing about this giveaway, other than the fact it merges the online and offline gaming worlds, is its flexibility.
Ocean Resort Online Casino Welcome Bonus Slots
Firstly, there are two leaderboards which means you only have to play the games you enjoy the most. Secondly, you can choose to take a free suite for six nights or $1,000 in bonus cash.
If you choose the latter, your funds will be subject to a 1X playthrough. This means you’ll have to wager $1,000 of your own money before you can withdraw any bonus wins. Additionally, you won’t be able to cash out the bonus credits.
In comparative terms, 1X is in line with the Garden State’s other top NJ online casino promos. However, when you consider that the bonus payment is fairly high, it might be tough to clear if you’re a low stakes player.
In contrast, if you opt to stay in the Studio Suite, the prize is yours without any strings attached. This means you can travel to the casino and take a tour of the new facilities in style. That, in our opinion, is the best option. Sure, having some free credits is nice. However, any time you can claim a casino bonus and not have to meet some wagering requirements, it’s always worth taking.
Finally, you’ll have up to 12 months to book your stay. Giving you a long period of time to claim your reward isn’t something online casinos aren’t known for. Indeed, it’s often the case that you’ll have up to 30 days to collect your prize and meet any wagering requirements.
So, to have the luxury of a 12-month window to enjoy the gift at your leisure is fantastic.
Join Ocean Resort online casino and get $10k free!
For those that haven’t had the pleasure of playing at Ocean Resort online casino, our secure sign-up link is your passport to a welcome package worth more than $10,000. No, that’s not a typo, you really can get more than $10,000 in bonus credits as a new customer. To kick things off, our registration link entitles you to a no deposit online casino reward worth $125.
Once bagged these credits, your next 10 deposits will be given a 100 percent boost up to a maximum of $1,000. This means that any amount you deposit (above $10) will be matched up to the value of $1,000. When you apply this to all 10 deposits, you’ll be able to bank $10,000 in added value.
If that’s not enough for you to dip your toe in Ocean Resort’s waters, you’ll get all of this plus a shot at a luxury stay in AC.
Ocean Resort Online Casino Welcome Bonus No Deposit
Basically, if you’re looking for the best of both worlds this week, our advice is to go and make a splash at Ocean Resort Online Casino today.