Atlantic City, a popular resort city and tourist destination in New Jersey, is taking a responsible approach to safety protocols under the direction of the New Jersey Governor’s Restart and Recovery Commission. Resorts and businesses are now operating at 100 capacity and most restrictions have been lifted. Tourists should check the website before going or ask a lifeguard when they arrive. The Safe Beach Day website provides information on how to safely enjoy Atlantic City at this time.
While Atlantic City has an alarming crime rate, it is relatively safe for tourists. Some exceptions require extra caution, such as not roaming alone at night if you are a child. The city is also known for its casinos, beaches, and boardwalks, but there are warnings and safety protocols in place for travelers.
Some parts of the city are considered friendly and generally safe, but there are warnings and concerns about driving conditions. The majority of flight delays and cancellations are weather-related, with conditions like precipitation, wind, and fog greatly affecting the safety and enjoyment of the city.
The Boardwalk is a generally safe tourist area, with casinos and bars open 24 hours. However, it is recommended not to wander too far off the beaten path, especially after dark. Avoid walking and stay on the boardwalk during the day.
As of 5/10/2023, Atlantic City has 8,463 confirmed cases of Coronavirus (152 deaths), while Atlantic County has 70,800 confirmed cases (1,080 deaths). The area surrounding the convention center is perfectly safe, but exercise caution in the same way as any other city or urban environment.
To stay updated on Atlantic City’s safety, sign up for email updates and use the mobile app available on the Google Play store.
📹 This Is How Terrible Atlantic City, New Jersey Is Now
Oh my gosh this place is one of the worst places on the east coast. Is this place being destroyed right before our eyes? Atlantic …
Is Boardwalk safe in Atlantic City?
Despite the presence of some areas with a high crime rate in proximity to the casinos and the boardwalk, the security measures in place, including frequent patrols by police and security personnel, ensure the safety of the visitors to the area.
Are Atlantic City casinos safe?
Those who are unwilling to assume responsibility for their own safety may find themselves at risk when visiting Atlantic City casinos.
Why Atlantic City casinos are closing?
The Atlantic Club Casino Hotel, also known as Golden Nugget, Bally’s Grand, The Grand, Atlantic City Hilton, and ACH, is an abandoned hotel and casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, owned and operated by Colony Capital. It was the city’s first and only “locals casino” and closed permanently on January 13, 2014, due to dwindling casino visitors due to increased competition in neighboring states. A third of Atlantic City’s boardwalk casinos closed the same year, including Revel, Trump Plaza, and Showboat. Redevelopment proposals include a water park.
In 2013, Atlantic Club owner Resorts International Holdings filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, which was approved by Federal Bankruptcy Judge Gloria M. Burns on December 23, 2013. Tropicana acquired the gaming equipment and customer data records from Atlantic Club, while Caesars Entertainment acquired the real estate and non-gaming assets. This returned ownership of the property to Caesars Entertainment, which sold it nine years before to Colony Capital as part of its acquisition by Harrah’s Entertainment.
The Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino was built in 1980 by a partnership of Golden Nugget Companies and Michael R. Milken for $140 million. Steve Wynn bought the Strand Motel on Boston Avenue and the Boardwalk for $8. 5 million and tore it down. Joel Bergman designed the Golden Nugget, and Atlandia Design managed the design, construction, and furnishing of the original facility. By 1983, it was the city’s top-earning casino, featuring Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Dolly Parton, Lou Rawls, and Don Rickles.
What went wrong with Atlantic City?
Atlantic City, a former East Coast city, experienced a decline in the mid-to-late 20th century due to factors such as increased automobile availability, suburbanization, and the rise of cheap jet airline service. The “Inlet” neighborhood became particularly impoverished, and the city’s decline was attributed to the convenience of cars, the decline of luxury beach resorts, and the rise of jet airline service.
The city hosted the 1964 Democratic National Convention, which nominated Lyndon Johnson for president and Hubert Humphrey as vice president. The convention and press coverage criticized Atlantic City, which was in a long period of economic decline. Many believed that the friendship between Johnson and Governor Richard J. Hughes led to the city hosting the convention.
By the late 1960s, many of the resort’s once-great hotels were suffering from high vacancy rates, leading to their closure, conversion to cheap apartments, or conversion to nursing home facilities. Many pre-casino resorts, such as the Breakers, Chelsea, Brighton, Shelburne, Mayflower, Traymore, and Marlborough-Blenheim, were demolished.
The Claridge, Dennis, Ritz-Carlton, and Haddon Hall remain as parts of Bally’s Atlantic City, a condo complex, and Resorts Atlantic City. The old Ambassador Hotel was purchased by Ramada in 1978 and transformed into the Tropicana Casino and Resort Atlantic City, reusing the original building’s steelwork. Smaller hotels off the boardwalk, such as the Madison, also survived.
Do people still go to Atlantic City?
Atlantic City, the East Coast’s seaside gaming and resort capital, attracts over 27 million visitors annually. The world-famous Boardwalk, constructed in 1870, offers ocean views and shopping options. Over $1. 7 billion in investments have enhanced Atlantic City’s appeal with world-renowned casinos, resorts, hotels, restaurants, entertainment, spas, championship golf, and elite shopping. The Boardwalk has become an America icon, offering a variety of shopping options from high-end retail to saltwater taffy shops.
Is it safe to walk the Atlantic City boardwalk?
While the city is generally safe during the day, it is advisable to avoid venturing off the beaten path, particularly after dark. Additionally, it is recommended to refrain from walking behind casinos and on the beach at night.
Is it safe to go to the beach in Atlantic City?
It is of the utmost importance to bear in mind that the Atlantic Ocean can, on occasion, exhibit strong currents. Therefore, it is imperative to refrain from swimming unless a lifeguard is present.
Is Atlantic City safe right now?
In accordance with the directives of the New Jersey Governor’s Restart and Recovery Commission, Atlantic City is implementing safety protocols that permit the operation of resorts and businesses at 100% capacity and the lifting of the majority of existing restrictions.
Is Atlantic City better now?
Atlantic City is undergoing a period of revitalization following several years of decline. This is evidenced by the construction of new casinos, extensive renovations, and a palpable resurgence of energy in the city. Those who visit the Boardwalk can enjoy a contemporary reimagining of an enduring American icon. Some well-established attractions, such as the multimedia light and sound show at Tropicana Atlantic City and Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, have undergone a complete transformation.
Is it safe to walk the boardwalk in Atlantic City?
While the city is generally safe during the day, it is advisable to avoid venturing off the beaten path, particularly after dark. Additionally, it is recommended to refrain from walking behind casinos and on the beach at night.
📹 What Happened to Atlantic City?
In this video, I explore Atlantic City, New Jersey. We truly find out what AC is like in 2024.
I just spent a couple of days in AC, which is probably why this article popped up for me. The family and I had a great time and we never felt unsafe. Nearly every hotel room was sold out. The arcade and indoor go cart track at the Showboat were great fun for the kids. The beach was very clean (and free!) Of course there are run down areas. Walking and driving around AC you can see the bones of a formerly great resort city. Newcomers like Kelsey’s restaurant on Pacific are trying to bring back that glory. Unlike the tone of this article, I am rooting for them to succeed.
I have completed 1200 DoorDash deliveries and close to 800 of those deliveries have been in Atlantic City. I’ve delivered all over the city from as early as 7 AM all the way to 4 AM. I don’t remember ever feeling afraid. The only time I did was in Pleasantville. I’ve gone through a few working class neighborhoods and what I saw was cliche busting. Kids playing. A bunch of adult men walking around talking about and working on cars. I’ve seen really crappy areas of AC. I’ve also seen the good parts. I understand the negatives but you weren’t even handed in your treatment of this city.
Born and Raised in NJ, worked at Harrah’s and never felt unsafe. We have amazing historic Restaurants that are the best. White House Sub Shop where Frank and many more legends enjoyed. I am kind of mad at the picture you painted of Atlantic City, calling it Ghetto. I worked with many hard working families, that both the Husband and Wife worked at the same Casino and lost their job like I did when the Pennsylvania Casinos opened. The people I worked with are born and raised Atlantic City, and are as saddened what is happening now. These families are proud of where they came from, but wishes it would change also. What I would like to see in Atlantic City is see the A/C strip go away, and once again have the area by the Ocean become a Family destination once again. Keep the Marina for the Casinos. It was an amazing place growing up going to A/C.
I grew up about 15 miles from AC, and moved there when I was newly married. My husband was a cab driver and I cleaned houses and waitressed. I was there when the voter referendum came up to allow casino gambling in the city. I vigorously opposed the casinos because I knew what they would do to the city with its shakey infostructure. AC was beautiful and fun in the ’60s, ’70s, and the beginning of the ’80s. It was when then that the Mob out of Philly came in and infiltrated the casinos. We left in1984. I now live in Lethbridge, Alberta Canada and I love it here.
As a kid in the mid-60’s, the family used to go down to AC for a week every summer. But that was BTC … (Before The Casinos). After dark, the boardwalk was always crowded with tourists. The amusement rides, tourist shops and games used to keep everybody entertained. The casinos originally chased all the families away. Sad.
The whole USA is on a downward spiral. Just take a look at the crime stats for all the major cities. If you did not know they were American cities you might think its Mexican cities controlled by the Cartels, or Brazil that has a number of the cities that rank most dangerous in the world. Remember, Empires are not destroyed by outside invaders but tend to collapse internally from decay, crime, and moral perversion, exactly what’s happening in the USA.
Went to the casinos in the 80’s and early 90’s and AC was always a hole. Don’t walk around the casinos or break down in town at night. Once at the casino, it felt fairly safe. But girls in front of the casinos and robberies were common. Most parking was part of the casino and was fairly safe. The boardwalk also felt safe and it was the best way to walk to the next casino even at night but less safe. It seemed like the casinos had some type of protection and kept AC at arms length. Also homeless seemed a less common problem.
Atlantic City is one of those places locals like to avoid. I as a South Jerseyan personally haven’t been there in over 7 years. A lot of crime and illegal activity happens there. It’s not the worst town in NJ as that distinction goes to Camden one hour away which is 15 minutes from my house. Only reason many would go down there is for the casinos, Bass Pro Shops, restaurants, and free beaches. Most South Jerseyans go down to beaches in Cape May and Ocean Counties. AC does have an outlet mall that kinda serves as its downtown and they have a dead mall on a pier that once housed many upscale stores. The AC area is a tourist dependent area just like the rest of the Jersey Shore but is kinda poor in many areas. There are nice middle class suburbs like Linwood and EHT but awful ones nearby like Pleasantville and Egg Harbor City. No super wealthy towns like those you can find in Monmouth County like Rumson-Fair Haven and Spring Lake. Politically, AC votes Democrat just like any other inner city (although they elected a Republican mayor in 2013) but the metro area as a whole votes Republican like the rest of the Shore. Interestingly, AC’s public school district is not an Abbott District unlike other urban school districts in the state but still terrible schools. AC struggles to diversify its economy as attempts to build water park resorts have failed and they still heavily focus on gambling with the opening of the Hard Rock and Ocean and Bart Blatstein planning a new casino for the Showboat.
I grew up in south jersey I lived in Atlantic City and around it .. I was never unsafe there is so many good people but there is bad also like anywhere else. When u come specifically to film the bad spot that’s what your going to get .. I’m guessing this was ur goal correct? So take this with a grain of salt.. this article anger’s me so much . And I hope everyone from Atlantic City that sees this tell the real trust .. horrible absolutely horrible
as a person who was born and raised in atlantic city, I’m upset with the picture that you painted about my city calling it ghetto, most people that live here are hardworking, almost in poverty trying to make a good living in their environment. Sure from first glance we may not look the safest but if you just put that label on us then that’s what you’re going to expect. Actually take the time to be here for say a week and get to know how atlantic city really is. Sure we do have our share of crime but what urban city in america doesn’t have crime ? Its not because of the people it’s because of the shady government and politics that we live under. Not everybody and every place in atlantic city is bad and if you stayed here for a couple of days and actually walked around here without a camera instead of just driving through them with a camera you might actually get to experience the beauty in the struggle of Atlantic City.
Was born in New Jersey in 1964, and went there a couple of times. I cannot remember too much, but the heat and humidity was horrible in the summer. At the age of 4 it was off to Idaho, then Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maine, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, finishing high school there, then California. No more east coast, whole family is out west. Greetings from Switzerland, 33 years now. All good.
I visited AC 20ish years ago for work, and obviously things have not improved. The city limits used to run down the middle of the street; on one side were the casinos and on the other were slums. I had never seen anything like it. All the taxes raised from the casinos were funneled into a small city area and the rest of the city was the counties problem. City police all over the casino side while drug deals (and probably worse) in the open on the other. If we ever left the casino we did it in pairs, but looking back that was probably not enough.
New Jersey native here settled in Switzerland. Seeing these streetscapes of AC it just drives home how grateful I am to have gotten out of NJ. And I know not everywhere in the US is like this, but in all honesty, my feeling is that, over the 4+ decades of my life, the whole USA is moribund. So disappointing and depressing.
The US has lost 5 million and 500 thousand manufacturing jobs since the year 2000 mostly due to offshoring. Only the politicians can fix that. The politicians are getting paid very well and they should be held to account. You have to fix the circumstances to fix the poverty and crime. You can’ just decide to do it. It needs to be a collective effort or the rich can be the only ones to get richer if they live long enough. It’s like you want to blame the livestock for the ranchers failures.
I was born in AC. Ac is very transient and actually too diversified. We used to have cohesive neighborhoods good and not so good but probably better in some ways because they were cohesive neighborhoods. Now, even on the boardwalk, it’s chaotic. Ocean City for example is mostly families and some locals. Wildwood is mostly families and noisy college kids. Ac boardwalk used to say have a loud moment here and there but now there’s families, drunks, winos, hard core gamblers, business people, college kids, locals, hoods, prostitutes, little kids sitting on the stoop next to a massage parlor right off the boardwalk where there once was a nice neighborhood, etc, etc. The worst neighborhoods are right next to the police stations? This has spread to the once nicer cities surrounding it. It needs locals but doesn’t really want locals. It doesn’t know what it wants to be. It just knows it wants your money.
I grew up in South Jersey and still live in South Jersey. I went to high school in AC. AC had the chance to clean up the city after casinos got voted in to law. Instead the casinos horded the money and now it’s a ghetto with casinos. Had the casinos invested in the city and made AC a destination resort the city would be gorgeous and prosperous.
Went there yesterday. Walked around the neighborhoods. The home structures looked like the houses will fall to the ground. The food restaurants sell dried up shit “food”. People did not look healthy. I cried at seeing such devastation. I wasn’t afraid of being robbed or attacked, as people didn’t look healthy enough to get into a scuffle with me. Lots can’t even stand up straight and I saw alot of overweight people. No one looked healthy enough to get into a scuffle.
My parents and I used to visit Atlantic City in the early 1990s. We’d typically stay at the Days Inn along the Boardwalk. We enjoyed walking along the Boardwalk and riding in pushcarts. I have fond memories of riding on the indoor roller coaster at TropWorld (now Tropicana). They had a kiddie gambling section inside the Ocean One Mall, where you could gamble with tokens and win prizes. I recall their having an amazing buffet at the Sands. Finally, I remember some weird Miss America exhibit which was indoors along some corridor with moving walkways. It was fun. Even back then, though, we never ventured far from the Boardwalk, as we knew things got pretty sketchy pretty fast. I think we went to church one Sunday at a church a couple of blocks inland, and I remember being glad we were there on a Sunday morning and not on a Saturday night. . . .
I taught ESL there in the early 90’s. End of every day multiple squad cars were lined up out front of the high school to do who knows what. My students typically lived in group homes where people on night shift slept in the kids’ beds during the day. Three teachers there were also part time dealers at the blackjack tables. I had a neighbor who dumpster dived the casinos and once brought me a 100 lb sack of brown rice tossed out because of a few weevils. Brigantine was nice back then. But meth called crank was really popular among the night shift casino workers as was moonlighting to get by. I have many vintage beach photos of family in AC in the 1920’s, a more innocent time.
Atlantic City is home to the largest pipe organ in the world. It is in the Boardwalk Convention Center. The organ is in the process of being restored. Also the Boardwalk Center has another smaller pipe organ -their Ballroom organ. Also under restoration. Both of these organs are “holy grail” for organ fans.
In 1975 I stayed right near the board walk for a week end and was out all day and most of the night. People were friendly I saw cops patrolling here and there. There was no graffiti/violent crime there yet that I could see. But I stayed mostly by the boardwalk area. It’s nothing like what I saw back then.
That’s sad, Atlantic City has the potential to really nice, imagine if they cleaned up the boardwalks, gif the hotels upgraded, the streets cleaned, the burnt out crack houses demolished and replaced with brand new housing and putting in plants, landscaping and trees… it’s like a mini extension of Camden or north Philly that happens to be located along the ocean!
I would like to thank this lady for the advice. I won’t wander around at night neither. This isn’t a pleasant thing to do, due to it’s safety measures, even I waited and waited for the Jitney that never showed up, but called a cab instead. She’s very true about this wandering around at night. Not a good idea, unless you’re that prepared this these types of surprises.
🦢 I’m really disappointed in your total negativity of Atlantic City, NJ as just about anywhere in our country one can find many a town facing similar issues. Yet families have remained raising their children for generations creating fond memories to last a lifetime. Sure the old stomping grounds may change, favorite hangouts and restaurants might be replaced, but it’s home forever in our hearts.
Atlantic City is like amusement parks in the Northeast. The bad weather makes it only popular in the summer. There is no marketing possible to fix bad weather. Connecticut Indian casinos stay popular to loyal consumers by catering them with luxury, rooms, meals, gifts, shows, etc. Connecticut gives their customers the wealthy lifestyle like Las Vegas. Atlantic City used to do this too but not anymore that is why their businesses have gone down.
All cities in the USA have these problems. It seems to me that folks that live in the country are scared to go into the city. I grew up in Philly and this is just another city to me. Folks that live in the city have street sense and are unafraid. Fear only attracts the negative elements to you. If your a babe in the woods go to Cape May.
Gheessh, you make it sound like the worst place on earth! The police presence in AC is amazing and everyone on Pacific abd Atlantic Ave. know this. I wouldn’t walk around any city at night, but AC is definitely safe in shopping areas off the boardwalk during the day, like Tangers “The Walk” in AC. No problems whatsoever! Let’s not scare people away from a cool city with a lot going for it, free beaches, outlet shopping mall, casinos, stores on the boardwalk, amusements, night clubs, concerts. AC rocks baby!
After perusal this article and being to A/C myself many times, this article is a bad rap. Seen hundreds of towns and backstreets worse than this. Ever been to Kensington area in Philly? A/C is heaven compared to that. Also, you conveniently skipped most of the center area of A/C where the landscaping is gorgeous and has dozens of high end shopping outlets that are always bustling on the weekends and very little ‘undesirables’ element to it. Beaches and boardwalk always clean. Water quality is good. A balanced review would show more of the good sides.
it’s a little better in the summer when there’s actually people around, but yeah, it used to be great once. Lots of fun arcades back in the 80’s. A lot of people from Philly would go there, but now that there’s casino’s in Philly, and nicer beaches just a few miles away in safer and cleaner suburbs, there’s really not too many reasons to go there anymore.
I used to go to Atlantic City in the early 2000’s, and loved it. I stayed at the Hilton, Resorts, and the Tropicana among others. I was treated well, and everyone was really cool. I remember a beach bar that had bands playing, and met some very good people. It was no Vegas, but at least it was within driving distance. Always felt safe. Some of the best times of my life were in Atlantic City, and everything was very cheap, and the service was excellent. One time, I hung out at the Trump Marina beach bar and met 30 women, who were there for a co-workers retirement party. The waitress kidded me and said, “there you go, your the only guy, you must be in Heaven. She was right. I, along with the 30 women partied all night, and at the end I got a picture taken with all of them that beautiful summer evening. GOOD TIMES!!!
“This place used to be amazing” When was that, Nick? Do you realize the casinos were built (starting in 1978) there BECAUSE of the horribly poor condition of the city then (and decades before)? It doesn’t seem like you have a clue about the history and are approaching this with a preconceived attitude. Study the history and then convince yourself Trump isn’t a mobster. Start with the Springsteen song and if that doesn’t spark a discussion you are being avoidant. Do you know what the word Borgata means?
I have no idea how I came across your website but you realize these are human beings you are talking about in such a derogatory manner. You must not have looked too hard because Venice Park remains quiet and the nice part of AC. Having grown up both near AC and having a home in Venice Park, I am extremely familiar with it and its people. I also have my entire family living in Philadelphia so I know it could be so much worse than what it is. Regardless, America has the highest rate of poverty amongst all of the developed countries in the world and that’s why we have crime and so many homeless, jobless, and sick people in our cities. These people do not choose to live the life they are living so have a little compassion. You can easily make your articles while leaving out the sociopathic commentary. I hope you are donating a portion of your income from these articles to a local charity in each of these cities you visit.
Here’s the deal (no pun intended) with AC: The AC gambling money was funneled into Trenton (the state capitol) and none of the promised money was given back to AC to improve the city. The Democrats killed the goose that layed their golden eggs. Now it’s too late to undo this travesty. The goose is dead for now, maybe another 50 years. Now that almost every state has casinos there is no reason to go go to AC anymore, except for the beaches (WHICH THEY SHOULD BE CAPITALIZING ON!)
I was born and raised in Atlantic City. I’ve been here for 64 years. In the 60’s and 70’s A.C. was hanging in there with amusement piers and the beach. The blight was already in the city and getting worse. With the introduction of gaming in 1978, things started to move. Old hotels were either torn down of set fire. I joined the fire department and stayed for 25 years. I watched as the city slowly died and watched as it was reborn. The main cause for the cities decay……………..poor government and poor leadership both from Trenton and the city. Now, I go to the city to see a show or to eat. The poverty is everywhere and the crime is bad. On the positive note, excellent shows and concerts. Great selection of eateries. And a fanfastib
No disrespect but you were kinda dismissive to the folks who actually live in the city. When the topic of jobs came up you said it’s so easy. You know some of those nice jobs require background checks and experience right? A homeless person isn’t just going to be able to walk in and get the same job as her. She might have gotten it easy but her experience isn’t the same as everyone else’s. You didn’t even interview a person currently in these neighborhoods you had a fun time shitting on. A journalist isn’t afraid to get the real info without it being convenient. “There needs to be more police” yeah there should be, the city needs A LOT of changes but you didn’t even bring up Atlantic City doesn’t even have its own true supermarket but the citizens have it easy though? They’re still waiting for a ShopRite to open soon. Didn’t mention the art Dept funding people to paint murals. Showboat has converted into a family oriented and business convention center. There are good things happening and all the people who are quick to talk down on people there never take the time to help out.
The points of view expressed in this article are interesting but completely miss the mark in historical context. All of NJ’s cities have been sinks of political corruption since the 1920’s. I was born in Newark in ‘59 and bore witness to the slow death of a once thriving city. While growing up my parents took us to many places in Jersey but AC was one place we were never allowed to set foot in even in the late ‘60’s. When I first visited in the late 70’s when the first casino’s went up there was a tremendous ballyhoo about how this was going to revitalize the city. Never happened. And when those early casinos began to fail not long after, Trump swoops in like a vulture and begins his over the top building program. When I last visited around ‘07 all those places were looking awfully thread-bare. I’m surprised it all lasted this long.
New Jersey has gone to 💩 overall. My family was from there. My grandpa owned businesses and was a developer. The government was worse than the mafia. The NJ IRS and corruption was insane. I remember being a little kid and walking through the woods and on the beaches. Most of the nice parts (where we’re from) are run down now or built over. Most the woods and animals gone. Just addicts and trash, people that is.
Nick, Atlantic City is not as bad as you said. I go out there almost every month (sometimes by myself) and I have never once felt nervous or scared walking and driving in the neighborhoods. You also didn’t mention that they have a Tanger Shopping outlet by the Caesars casino. People from all over come to Atlantic City. I met a couple that was visiting from Tennessee.
I love nicks articles but sometimes I feel like he doesn’t see the beauty of bad neighborhoods. I also love visiting very bad neighborhoods but I see a beauty in the perseverance of people and the love they still have for each other. Also, I enjoy them because they are NEVER boring. I get bored with suburbia
I’ve spent 4 months living in AC. One week in got robbed at my apartment while sleeping (somebody came through the neighbors window got in the hallway and went to our room which wasn’t locked that night). They took my iphone and my roommate lost $500. Then I got shot in the leg with a BB gun. My roommate also got robbed in the street once more weeks later. They were armed.
🏖 I grew up just inland from the city; reminiscing from the age of 70 now. In my humble opinion it’s always been an older historic seaside town. There’s a certain charm in these small town old brick building structured homes and storefront businesses as well as the infamous boardwalk. Although the casinos promised to improve the city that never really happened. What did was the running off of elderly folks that were once able to afford housing on the shore front while enjoying their walks along the boards, the fresh ocean breeze, feeding the seagulls and hearing laughter of children building sandcastles on the beach while chasing incoming waves. Atlantic City is a part of my childhood memories filled with Easter dress ups and walks on the boards, Steeplechase Pier, amusement rides and sticky cotton candy, enjoying the scent filled air of freshly roasting p’nuts and catching a glimpse of Mr Peanut greeting folks, three wheeled rolling chairs being pushed along the boards, Taylor Pork Roll restaurant luring hungry folks in, freshly made Belgium waffle ice cream sandwiches from a boardwalk vendor’s cart, Fralinger’s salt water taffy, a summer job in a small p’nut and candy shop, digging my toes in the sand while tanning my youthful body, seeing Lucy the Elephant further down along Ventnor’s beachfront, etc etc etc. 🏖
I went to school when it was still Stockton College in the early 2000s. I lived in Galloway, Pleasantville, Brigantine, and Mayslanding. But never in AC. Not even when I worked at the Borgata for several years 03 to 04/05. The boardwalk at night has always been a no go if you had half a brain. We only went into AC for trouble. Maybe it’s worse now but AC itself has always been a rundown and dangerous place.
When I was a dealer at Harrahs, circa 2015, the casino started mandating dealers to partake in Active Shooter Training once a year. We not only had to read the info, but we also had to be tested & score within a certain percentage or be tested again. There’s a ton of rape, prostitution, robberies, & drug dealing happening IN the casino. They do a great job of covering it up tho so tourism doesn’t take a hit
I live nearby but In a whole different world – AC hasn’t ever been great but it’s truly awful now – I stopped driving Lyft at night because of issues- drug addicts homeless with mental health issues it’s sad – yeah there’s some pockets of ok areas but AC is Monet from a distance it’s pretty up close not so much
Haven’t been to Atlantic City in 30 years. The small part I saw was run down so stayed near casino and only ventured out on boardwalk during day when busy. There are no jobs there and the jobs they do have are low paying service jobs. Atlantic City is certainly not poster child for urban decay but it certainly among much company with other cities across country.
Ashley and Troy – where do you find such great guests, Nick? AC is built on a thin strip of a barrier island so it’s not very wide. More cops, yes, how could that hurt? NYC made its turnaround when Giuliani built up the size of the police force – it’s not rocket science. When we were in Reno, it actually seemed like the casinos were becoming less and less of a thing and like they wanted to become more of a regular city, with a hip mini-Austin section. When I see cities and states saying they want to have casinos, to me it sounds a little desperate, which is not a good look. It’s like, ‘we’ve run out of ideas so let’s allow casinos.’ Maybe AC, with its great beaches, can become more like Ocean City or Myrtle Beach or, if it really reaches, like South Beach.
Atlantic City was amazing as a kid. I remember being before during and after the mall on the pier was built. That was its prime, soon after it opened it was a decline. I remember waiting in the long line to get into the Apple store right at the entrance for my chance to see the new iPhone, the first with a front facing camera. It’s sad to see it has declined. I think since the casinos was all the city offered outside the beach, that lead to its decline. Vegas has so much to do other than casinos. In fact I’ve gone to Vegas at least 5 times now and I’ve never gone gambling there. If the manage to bring more attractions, the city will live again.
You can walk down the boardwalk at night and on pacific ave.If you are not from the ghetto or from a neighborhood a city you will probably be scared or have a fear but it’s not that bad as this guy is making it out to be because there are a lot of tourist walking around that blend in with the people who are from there.
There’s a lot of homelessness and begging going on even on the sacred boardwalk. They keep voting on the wrong people. For years the politicians made too many city jobs for friends and family. Last I heard 500M in the red. State got involved and layed off most but made the city dirtiest is been in a while. The casino competition caused reduction in business so layoffs there now they unkempt. Road condition is terrible. The new outlets are getting run down. A college is buying property I guess could turn into a college town but just recently the mayor smalls is causing conflicts with college. Terrible leaders in charge. The buck stops there
Im white and I live in a black community in Atlantic city; down the street from Ballys. I love living here. I had feared it would be as this guy describes, but he drove thru once…I lived here over 6 months. I walk every night between 8pm and 12am thru these street and boardwalk. It’s safe and quiet. Yes, homeless are on the boardwalk and are NO threat. In fact if they approach you, they are very humble just asking for a $1. People hang out in certain spots, but if you aren’t part of that cliche’ you won’t have any problems. The casinos are beautiful and clean and I visit them EVERY day, unless its raining. As of Jan 2023, many casinos are remodeling. Showboat has no gambling and is geared to kids and kids games. It’s a wonderful experience. And this girl that was interviewed fears based on imagination, not experience. I have personal experience. I have no fears here; i’m not afraid to walk around here. Ive walked pacific and atlantic and many streets between. If you aren’t part of the “riff-raff” then there is nothing to fear. Don’t believe all the negative hype. All cities have the same issues(politics) It’s not pretty on the street, not like Margate, and I admit that it could be clean up. I hate walking down the streets with trash all over. This is what is sad; near the beach and its so trashy. It’s my observation that the people that live here don’t care about dirty streets and trash and making the area look like a descent neighborhood. Thats the difference with homeowners and renters and it’ll always be that way, but it doesn’t make it a bad place to visit or live.
Casinos are not the problem its the local government that’s the problem. The town is dirty and there is no incentives to move there. It’s amazing that the near by shore towns who doesn’t have the taxes produced by the casinos have much cleaner cities and much more valuable real estate right next door on the same island. It all points to poor city government management
Also online gaming has hit every casino in the world hard.. I just can’t let you sit there and try to badmouth Atlantic city without the truth. This lady who’s a ‘dealer’ also said showboat was bad, showboat doesn’t have gambling first of all. It’s an arcade basically and a hotel because they lost their gaming license or something.. if you’re going to tell the story tell the WHOLE story.. how safe is Las Vegas to “wander around at night”?? Or any city in America for that matter??? These “problems” that you talk about a.c. having are in EVERY city.. the city has its problems of course but it’s a great place to visit or live.. the beaches are amazing.. the casinos are fun. There’s a ton of entertainment stuff to do, there are concerts and events constantly.. if u haven’t been there I would strongly recommend a visit during the summer months
It’s a dump. I moved to USA in 2019 from Australia idk wtf I was thinking but anyway & I visited Atlantic City went to 2 of the high rollers casinos & boardwalk. It was rough, ghetto lot drugs, prostitutes in casino, boardwalk shady af. I will never go back. Towns nearby are all trailer parks & a big jail not far from there. We call them “pines people” anywhere past jersey shore
Every city is beginning to look this way. At least in the blue cities sadly. Went to Montgomery AL 6 months ago and I was shocked at how terrible it was downtown. I mean nightmare-ish. Just goes to show how much corruption we have going on here in the US. But we have money for other countries and their issues.
I live in NJ for almost 6 years, and guys, the worst places in NJ are: Trenton, most of the cities in Essex County: Newark (someone threw a cellphone towards me when I was going to Rutgers), Elizabeth (methhead got inside the NJ transit car where I was and he said he had a bomb 😵, someone pulled me away from this mess), Patterson (another methhead jumped in front of my car), etc, and some shore cities like AC. However you need to drive around Morristown (where I live, its becoming a mini Manhattan, and this is pissing me off), Mendham, Chester, Chatham, Madison, Montclair (I think it’s part of essex County but the restaurants and the city is very cute), it’s just another world away from the NYC metro distopic area. Also, the best schools in NJ are located in North Jersey. And guys, NJ has a bad fame of being rude, I know it, I am becoming a little monster too 👹 but never lose the humor 😁
it’s a city that has been like this for more than half a century. They’ve talked about a water park, which would be good but they need multiple attractions. generational dependency for government assistance is always a problem. Pawn shops are all over the place, it encourages people to steal. Last time I went there they were charging $400 a night to stay in a casino. And of course have a wack job governor who believes letting criminals out to protect them from catching a seasonal cold is destructive. New Jersey feels like it is a place of the past, it is not worth being here other than friends and family. high taxes and high population density (in the northern part) is not an attractive way of living.
Im living in american poverty…im sick. Rare condition brought on by ovarian cancer in 2016. Ive been denied disability 3x over five years (meaning ive had no income for 6 years) because rare illness are harder to get approved. If you have a nervous system disorder which doesnt show up in blood tests, like mine, its harder to get approved. I wish improving my situation was as easy as getting a job. If i could still get outof bed for more than an hour or two at a time before entering autonomic crisis, id get 2 or even 3 jobs to not have to live like this. Its not always “that easy”.
Wish I had seen this article before staying a couple of nights at the Hard Rock Hotel. AC is a dump. The glossy veneer of the HRH was paper thin as looking too closely shows how run down the hotel is. Stepping outside the hotel and poverty and hardship is everywhere. Nothing will thrive here until the casinos start pumping money into the surrounding area and not just for attracting tourists. Whilst waiting for a bus back to NYC at the Resort it was like an episode of the walking dead as bus load after bus load of the dead (elderly retirees) walked into the hotel. I will never go back to AC.
iT”s very dangerous there. On any given fri or Sat night there will be tons of robberies, drug busts, fights between pimps and ho’s and your basic street crime. Once you walk one block north out of any casino on the strip you are a target. If you really want to see a crime j in short time ust go to the Greyhound bus terminal.
Go to Atlantic City and a mugger takes your wallet and phone so you run to a cop and tell him you just been mugged, he then asks to see your identification which you don’t have, no identification is illegal and he arrests you, while you’re being handcuffed you see your car getting towed to who knows where. Go to Atlantic City on vacation, Go home on probation, Return on violation. Atlantic county jails filled with tourists with that same story. If you want democracy you’ll get plenty of it there. Locals call it “Nazi Jersey” And for very good reason. Don’t get caught being white in AC you’ll wish the cops had gotten you.
People have bad mouthed A.C. forever, homeless people are in every city . My parents had a second home in A.C. for over 35 years, I’ve seen the changes but will always love A.C. Showboat is making a great effort to bring families back with a Waterpark and other family oriented activities. I bring my grandchildren down the shore from Philly and look forward to many days in A.C. this summer.
NewYork, Washington D.C., Baltimore,California, Las Vegas, San Francisco,crime and homelessness mental health issues are on the rise everywhere. Affordable housing are being built, people are trying too make AC better. Danger lurks everywhere now. The casinos are fairly safe . Just watch your surroundings. Atlantic City is getting better.
AC has been rough around the edges for at least 3 generations now. Gambling was sold as a cure all. I think it’s time to rethink all of that. Casinos have done nothing to improve the quality of life in AC. On the bright side. A friend bough a condo south of the casino area for dirt cheap. The beach down that way is clean and nor too crowded.
This was filmed back in Feb 2020 in a month where everything was mostly shutdown due to Covid. Normally AC dies a lot during the winter but add Covid and it was really dead. As of May, AC is set for a huge summer crowd. I am thinking that AC will have a much bigger Memorial Day weekend than normal. Folks are really tired of staying in the house and not only AC but the entire NJ shore communities will be booming again. I go to AC all year round. I really don’t see crime as being all that bad. No worse for the visitor than other nearby destinations such as NYC, Philly, Bmore, DC, etc. I love the boardwalk and the beach and the casinos are nice. But it’s really a summer destination for sure. Note: NJ just legalized recreational weed. That should really be a boom for visitors. Also there is talk of allowing the casinos to make drinks that can be carried in plastic cups from one casino to another. This should help bring more people in. The Philly casinos have really been tough competition for AC. Parx Casino in Philly is now the top revenue casino on the east coast.
My hometown. Was born there in 1970. It was actually pretty glorious to be a kid there. The beaches were great and we rode all the rides on the boardwalk all summer and went to the arcades and hit on all the tourist girls from Philly. We lived in a beautiful Victorian beach house and the “civilian” streets were fairly beautiful and well kept back then. I’ve long since left to live out west and am saddened every time I visit. It is a location that’s prime for gentrification and overhauling it into a beautiful resort town again, but the local politics and casinos will forever be corrupt so I doubt it will ever happen.
Ah Atlantic City…I have good memories of being there with my parents in the mid-1960s, but then we went on a class trip to steel pier a few years later. I had a purse my Mom gave me to use with my money (not much) and candy and a big white teddy bear I won. A girl of about 12 or 13 (I was like 7 when that happened) grabbed my Teddy Bear and my purse. I tried to stop her then she acted nice like she was going to give them back, then she took off. I am not a fan, as a teen I went to Seaside Heights and when that started getting run down I went to Wildwood. I went to the casinos once in my 20s, but was really not impressed and I don’t like gambling. So, a little kid getting mugged by a local kid who should have been at school in the late 60s should give you some idea. It only got worse from there. To be fair, many of the NJ shore towns were on a downhill slope as people started traveling further for their vacations, so if it was not a nice town to summer in, it was left behind. I left NJ in the 1990s and I don’t miss it.
I go to AC pretty much often and I haven’t see half of what was mentioned in this vlog. We love going to the Tropicana and Hard Rock and have stayed in the motels near the Tropicana. I’ve even gone to a 7-11 around 3am and didn’t have a problem. Alot of the issues stated are found in any city, but I can honestly say I didn’t see anything except that there are alot of run down looking homes/buildings.
More homeless in more places! Although! I do believe now that the COVID Pandemic is slowly but surely going down! It can get better. And Nick! I must say! Your Map Friend Mappy mentioning he doesn’t like Board Games. I love them! Especially Monopoly! One Board Game though I’d refuse to play is Chess. That game is too difficult. Anyway! I wasn’t too far away from Atlantic City I don’t think when I got to vacation last in New York City. But all & all! I think when the money deal starts to improve more! I feel it should create more jobs & start having less homeless people. Not just for Atlantic City! But for all the US! I thought I’d let you know that just to see if you might believe that too! If so! Great! But if not! Know I’ll understand why you likely wouldn’t at the moment. But great article though! Whatever you show next that is in my interest of places! I can’t wait to see what it could be. But thanks again for that! Best of luck for the good in us all!
Glad to hear that jobs are opening up here and there….truth is, to some extent, “jobs fix everything”….. Based on what I”m seeing, the streets actually look BETTER than when I was there in the mid to late 90’s (twice). We did the “Atlantique” show which was on the main strip at the old convention center.
I’m from Jersey, and AC was a place where my friends and I would hang out(80s). AC residents were told the casinos would bring in revenue and promised to build and improve the quality of life. They lied. They tore down apartments and replaced them with expensive condos. People had no were to go. The casinos ruined that town!!!
Went there last summer on a free Caesars junket. Stayed at Tropicana and spent a good amount of time on the boardwalk and beach. The fireworks displays were great. Never had a problem other than a few people on the boardwalk asking for money. I just told them I don’t carry cash. Going back again this summer. I suppose since I was shuttled in and out and only spend time at the casinos, boardwalk and beach I didn’t see any of the wasteland outside of my bubble. Regardless, it was a nice trip.
Even dangerous on the boardwalk … I got grabbed by a homeless person on the board walk right in front of a casino !!!! They go to the boardwalk because there is no one to beg to anywhere else…the best advice is to get a cab from the airport and go directly to front entrance of casino where the valet staff is located u deer a canopy of cameras …walk into the casino and never leave until your trip is over .,then back to airport … very safe outside airport going into front entrance since there is a gate you drive through
I’m Canadian and live in a border city across from Detroit. I worked an event (the National) at the convention centre in 2022. I walked to and from the Tropicana each day then walked at night at the boardwalk. I saw some homeless and blight plus cops but never felt unsafe. I’m actually going back in March and watched this article for fun. It actually makes me more worried after seeing all the streets I walked down lol. I will got back to the sub restaurant 100% !!!
Well, if you’re going to mostly see fit to drive around areas such as the West Side and Back Maryland, you can certainly paint AC as being quite the bona fide urban hellscape. You can on the other hand instead cruise around Lower Chelsea, where you will find multi-million dollar houses. It all depends upon your agenda.
Hi there Nick Johnson . I really enjoyed this item about Atlantic City. I just stumbled upon it whilst Browsing through YouTube. It brought back a ton of memories as you see I used to live in Massachusetts and Often traveled to Atlantic catlantic city with my with my father and mother back in the sixties and maybe even in the fifties. At that time it was a very fun and safe place to go. We spent most of our time walking the boardwalk the boardwalk and sitting on the beautiful beach. We never had any trouble there but we really enjoyed the vendors in the saltwater taffy of course. I’m 68 years old so you can imagine that was quite a while ago. We made numerous trips down there since it wasn’t too far away and usually stayed 2 or 3 nights in a hotel a block or so off the boardwalk area is the boardwalk area. I don’t remember any problems there with homeless people are most people are any of the stuff that you described but you described but that was long before all Of this started. I remember on the steel pier that was a guy that used to jump a horse from about 5 stories up stories up into a poolAnd there was also a diving bell where you could get hoisted down into the ocean. Well we have our time there and stopped going there after a while because it became boring and started going to Wildwood New Jersey. Funny thing yes this was back in the sixtiesThen in the late seventies I’ll became a tour bus driver and and we did a lot of 3 and 4 day trips to Atlantic City my my 1st trip being the day that resorts International OpenAnd as you know that was the 1st casino in Atlantic City.
Back In The Late 60s and 70s The Convention Hall Was Used During The Winter for 3/4 MIDGET Racing My Father Raced 1956/57 in NASCAR then He Went On To Build And Race 3/4 Midgets, So I Grew Up At The Race Tracks Throughout The Eastern Seaboard. The Convention Center was Full Of Smoke And I Had many Issues Breathing, But It Was Fun, If You Were In The Pits Smoke Was Minimal But The STANDS WERE Terrible. The City Was Bad Back Then Before The Casino’s were Built. I Have A Lot Of Pictures Of The Racing At The CONVENTION Hall.
This article says it was made 2 months ago but the interview and the driving around was from at least 10 years ago, the showboat casino closed years ago, Stockton university built their main campus with blocks and blocks of buildings and student housing, it’s loaded with hipster students who are staying, when hipsters infest the area things change
No one mentioned Atlantic City went through a renovation in the 90s. Many people lost their homes to make way for the mall that is there today. It looks far better than it did in the 80s. They bought in a lot of upscale stores and social areas. I’m a New Yorker and for a lot of us it was a convenient affordable little vacation. Like the lady said it’s not as bad as it was in the 80s. It’s really not that bad. Most people who are there for a visit don’t go beyond the boardwalk or mall. You usually see the seediness during the off season when there are no tourist around. In the summer it’s alot of fun.
It’s simple if u don’t like ac don’t come here 😂u make it seem like ac is a joke I guess if your not living in a mansion or eating high price food then people think your poor talking about crimes drugs etc but if u really think about it isn’t that everywhere u go from New York to Chicago to Washington to California doesn’t matter it’s gonna be there people say oh it’s dangerous at night but not once have I been robbed or walked up on at night or in the afternoon stop shaming states because u drive around and think oh look at this spot yeah it’s definitely bad let’s record it and put it on yt u don’t know the struggle of people and there situations not only in Atlantic City but in New Jersey period and if u don’t believe me walk up to someone and ask them wats the struggle for ac ask them why there out here selling in the streets we have family’s to feed some people cnt get jobs so they have to turn to selling drugs u just gotta know what we going thru before bad mouthing our state
They are making an effort (somewhat small) to entice more families. Showboat has turned it’s once empty floor space into a kids arcade. It would be great if they could figure out how to entice people to come year round (maybe a waterpark). I go for the casinos and it’s pretty much dead from September to May. Lots of comp rooms to be had. I’ve been coming here since i was a kid so this place holds a special place for me.
Hey Nick! Where do you get the time to put out all these episodes? You and your guest ought to go out for some salt water taffy and a big chocolate ice cream cone. Then stay up all night, drink Tequila sunrises and in the morning go out for a big breakfast then head over to your be place and sh-la-la-la
I been there alot of times. I seen alot homeless people walking around the city to many times. And I always see crime going on with people either selling drugs to young kids or People killing each other. It really crazy down there. Ik this from experience with me being a south Jersey person myself…
Born and raised in Atlantic City. Tomorrow will be my first time back since moving down south in 2003. Sadly, reports from my sister can substantiate what was presented and said in this article. I moved for reasons pointed out and never looked back. Although, I grew up in Atlantic City I could never live there again. It was brutal to hear what was stated in this article but it’s unfortunately very true.
Couple of decades? Nick doesn’t know much about a lot of his subjects, and here he strikes again. Atlantic City has been America’s story of suffering and redemption for way beyond the last half a century, and specifically in that vein inspired a popular 1980 movie by Louis Malle, starring the late, great Burt Lancaster, a 1982 song by Bruce Springsteen, a 1993 cover by The Band, and more. Donald Trump drew a lot of fire for bailing out of his casinos here. Yes, the street names came from the Depression-Era city. Redemption. “Maybe everything that dies some day comes back.” I can understand how difficult it is for young people to understand how meaningful this place is for older Americans.
The people that run Atlantic City boggle my mind. They’re insistent on finding this ‘quick fix’ for the citie’s problems which doesn’t exist, instead of trying to fix up the city properly. I can’t tell you how many times i’ve heard that same tired line of “This is it, this is the one that will save Atlantic City and put it back on the map.” And then it never happens. They tried it again recently with legalized Marijuana/CBD, and all its done is increased drug use in the City and on the Boardwalk, in a city that already had a bad drug problem.
Back in the 80’s it was the place to go . I lived in NY and it cost $50 for coach bus, you got a voucher for $ 15.00 in quarters and free buffet which was really good. As soon as you came into AC it was run down until you got to the broad walk. I never did leave the broadway, everything was right there. I really enjoyed those days. I could see it getting worst, before we got off the bus, we were always told do not wander off the strip. AC ty for the great memories that were created with my beautiful mom who passed in 2018.
I live in AC for 6 months now, At first I’m nervous to go out and take a walk at the boardwalk after 6pm, but me and my husband does it as a routine, walking at night is not not bad ..we always go take a walk at the boardwalk every night…and we’re still alive, we just avoid the Pacific and Atlantic streets everytime…
I’m 59 years old, and Atlantic City has always been like this in my memory. The boardwalk is fun enough during the day. But we never stay there. We stay in Wildwood. I like their boardwalk better. It’s like Las Vegas for kids! The beach is kinda crappy though. It’s a long hike to get to the water. But I heard that they’ve actually built a walkway now, so you’re not exhausted by the time you get to the water!
It’s a dead boom town and the people who would have been nostalgic about it’s peak are long dead by now. America is a country that put’s quantity before quality, and communities like these are essentially phones that get thrown away when they become a few generations too old. People throw away those communities and move on to the next great city which will be eventually thrown away. Detroit for instance will never come back to it’s peak as what made it so great is long gone by now, I’m not talking about the manufacturing jobs but the living standards of the country where today people couldn’t afford to live in blue collar middle class communities anymore like they did when Detroit was BOOMING. Atlantic city will never make a comeback because if it starts booming people won’t be able to afford houses because it will be all snapped up before you can blink by flippers/investors. If you build apartments then people will have less ties to their community because they’ll simply not renew their rent and move onto the next boom town. The only good communities to move to will be moderately sized communities that can healthy absorb a work force when a large business goes under, and that it gets it’s water from desalinization plants because the clock is ticking on the south west & med west due to the tragedy of the commons.