Location: on the Atlantic Ocean in southeast New Jersey, 130 miles south of New York City and 60 miles southeast of Philadelphia.

Once a major tourist destination that was world-famous for its steel pier and boardwalk attractions, Atlantic City gradually fell into decline and casino gambling was seen as its salvation when voters approved it there in 1976.

The first casino (Resorts International) opened to “standing-room-only crowds” in 1978. Since then 12 more casinos have opened and all but three are located along the boardwalk. Those three, Borgata, Harrah’s and Trump Marina,  are located in the marina section.

In mid-1997 Bally’s Wild Wild West casino (Atlantic City’s first themed casino) opened, but due to a quirk in the licensing law, this casino is only considered part of Bally’s Park Place and not a separate casino.

If you fly into Atlantic City it’s a 12 to 14-mile drive from the airport to the casinos and there are only two choices of transportation. The taxi charges are regulated and it’s a flat $27 to any casino. That price include all tolls and luggage.

The other option is a rental car and the only three rental car companies at the airport are Hertz, Avis and Budget. Rental rates are in the range of $50 to $60 per day but you can usually get a discount off of those rates by booking online or using a coupon. In addition to the daily rental fee there’s about another 22% in taxes and fees.

If you do rent a car there is a charge of $3 to $5 per 24 hours (6 a.m. to 6 a.m.) for parking in a garage at any casino hotel in Atlantic City. Whenever you pay the fee you are issued a receipt which you can then use to park for free at one other casino. When you leave the second garage you have to give them the receipt from the first garage.

For transportation among the casinos there are two options, besides taxis. A 24-hour jitney service makes stops along  Pacific Avenue and will drop you off by any casino including those in the Marina. The jitneys are very efficient and you will probably never have a wait of more than five minutes for one to arrive. The cost for one ride is $1.50 per person. Frequent rider tickets are offered for $12.50 per 10 rides and senior citizen can buy 10 rides for only $5. For jitney information call (609) 344-8642.

On the Atlantic City Boardwalk itself, there are the famous rolling chairs. These are covered two-seater wicker chairs on wheels that are pushed by an attendant as he walks you to your destination. They are all owned by the same company so the rates are the same: $5 for up to five blocks, $10 for six to 13 blocks, and $15 for 14 to 21 blocks. For more information on the rolling chairs call (609) 347-7500.

All Atlantic City casinos are open 24 hours and, unless otherwise noted, the games offered at every casino are: slots, video poker, big six, craps, blackjack, roulette, baccarat, mini-baccarat, Caribbean stud poker, let it ride, pai gow poker and keno. Additional games offered include: simulcasting (S), poker (P), pai gow tiles (PG), sic bo (SB), Spanish 21 (S21), three-card poker (Three Card Poker) and casino war (CW). The minimum gambling age is 21.

For more information on visiting New Jersey you can contact the state’s Travel & Tourism Department at (800) 537-7397. For information only on Atlantic City call (800) VISIT-NJ.

Atlantic City Hilton Casino Resort
Boston & The Boardwalk
Atlantic City, New Jersey 08401
(609) 347-7111
Website: www.hiltonac.com

Reservation Number: (800) 257-8677
Rooms: 675  Price Range: $125-$375
Suites: 54  Price Range: $220-$600
Restaurants: 6 (1 open 24 hours)
Buffets: L/D-$16.95
Casino Size: 59,440 Square Feet
Other Games: S, PG, SB
Casino Marketing: (800) THE-GRAND
Senior Discount: $99 AARP midweek room rate (when available)
Special Features: Beachside resort with water sports and beachfront bar. Spa facilities with indoor pool. 2,000-seat entertainment theater. Unisex salon.

Bally’s Atlantic City
Park Place and the Boardwalk
Atlantic City, New Jersey 08401
(609) 340-2000
Website: www.ballysac.com

Reservation Number: (800) 225-5977
Rooms: 1,162  Price Range: $109-$400
Suites:  92   Price Range: $279-$620
Restaurants: 15 (1 open 24 hours)
Buffets (Bally’s): B-$11.99  L/D-$13.99
Buffets (W.W. West): L-$14.99  D-$18.99
Casino Size (P. Place): 80,809 Square Feet
Casino Size: (W.W. West) 73,935 Square Feet
Other Games: S, PG, SB, Three Card Poker, S21
Casino Marketing: (800) 772-7777 ext. 2700
Special Features: Walkway connects to second casino - Wild Wild West - a fully-themed casino which features an animated mountain, waterfalls, 17 animated robotic figures, three western restaurants and three retail shops. Spa offers package plans and body treatments.

The Borgata
One Borgata Way
Atlantic City, NJ 08401
(609) 317-1000
Website: www.the borgata.com

Toll-Free Number: (866) 692-6742
Rooms: 1,600  Prices Range: $99-$425
Suites: 400  Price Range: $175-$1,000
Restaurants: 11
Buffets: B-$12.95 L-$16.95 D-$24.95
Buffets: B-$12.95  L-$16.95  D-$24.95
Casino Size: 135,000 Square Feet
Other Games: S21, P, PG, Three Card Poker, SB, S
Special Features: Health spa. Outdoor pool.

Caesars Atlantic City
2100 Pacific Avenue
Atlantic City, New Jersey 08401
(609) 348-4411
Website: www.caesarsac.com

Toll-Free Number: (800) 443-0104
Reservation Number: (800) 524-2867
Rooms: 1,479  Price Range: $125-$375
Suites: 198   Price Range: $175-$700
Restaurants: 12 (1 open 24 hours)
Buffets: B-$10.95  L-$14.95/$19.95 (Sat-Sun)  D-$19.95
Casino Size: 120,231 Square Feet
Casino Marketing: (800) 367-3767
Other Games: S, P, PG, SB
Special Features: Roman theme throughout hotel and casino. Smoke-free sections. Planet Hollywood restaurant. Health spa. Shopping arcade. Outdoor pool. Rooftop tennis. Unisex beauty salon.

Claridge Casino Hotel
Boardwalk & Park Place
Atlantic City, New Jersey 08401
(609) 340-3400
Website: www.claridge.com

Reservation Number: (800) 257-8585
Rooms: 449  Price Range: $110-$310
Suites: 53  Price Range: $210-$540
Restaurants: 5 (1 open 24 hours)
Casino Size: 58,565 Square Feet
Other Games: SB
Casino Marketing: (800) 847-LUCK
Special Features: Indoor pool and health spa. Unisex salon. Gift shop.

Harrah’s Casino Hotel
777 Harrah’s Boulevard
Atlantic City, New Jersey 08401
(609) 441-5000
Website: www.harrahs.com

Reservation Number: (800) 2-HARRAH
Rooms: 1,312   Price Range: $99-$275
Suites: 318  Price Range: Casino Use Only
Restaurants: 8 (1 open 24 hours)
Buffets: B-$12.99  D-$19.99
Casino Size: 89,617 Square Feet
Other Games: P, CW
Casino Marketing: (800) 2-HARRAH
Special Features: Largest hotel in New Jersey. 65-slip marina. Fitness center with indoor swimming pool. Two retail shops. Beauty salon. Video arcade. Miniature golf course (in season).

Resorts Casino Hotel
1133 Boardwalk
Atlantic City, New Jersey 08401
(609) 344-6000
Website: www.resortsac.com

Toll-Free Number: (800) 336-6378
Reservation Number: (800) 334-6378
Rooms: 644  Price Range: $89-$250
Suites: 30  Price Range: $150-$500
Restaurants: 10 (1 open 24 hours)
Buffets: B-$9.95  L-$11.95/$14.95 (Sun)
            D-$14.95/$8.95 (Wed/Fri)/$17.95 (Sat)
Casino Size: 77,000 Square Feet
Other Games: S, P, PG, Three Card Poker
Casino Marketing: (800) 438-7424
Special Features: Health Spa with state-of-the-art Nautilus equipment. Indoor/outdoor pool with saunas and Jacuzzis. Squash club. Game room. 1133 Nightclub with free entertainment. Beachfront shops. Slot club members get $2 off buffets.

Sands Hotel & Casino
Indiana Avenue & Brighton Park
Atlantic City, New Jersey 08401
(609) 441-4000
Website: www.acsands.com

Reservation Number: (800) 257-8580
Rooms: 476  Price Range: $79-$275
Suites: 58  Price Range: $375-$600
Restaurants: 5 (1 open 24 hours)
Buffets (Boardwalk): B-$10.95  L/D-$15.95
Casino Size: 57,296 Square Feet
Other Games: S, P, PG, SB
Casino Marketing: (800) AC-SANDS
Special Features: Indoor pool and Jacuzzi. Nautilus fitness center with sauna and tanning booth. Food court with six restaurants and fast food outlets.

Showboat Casino-Hotel
801 Boardwalk
Atlantic City, New Jersey 08401
(609) 343-4000
Website: www.harrahs.com

Reservation Number: (800) 621-0200
Rooms: 731  Price Range: $79-$199
Suites: 69  Price Range: Casino Use Only
Restaurants: 8 (1 open 24 hours)
Buffets: L-$17.99  D-$21.99
Casino Size: 80,707 Square Feet
Other Games: S, P, PG
Casino Marketing: (800) 621-0200

Tropicana Casino & Resort
Brighton Avenue and the Boardwalk
Atlantic City, New Jersey 08401
(609) 340-4000
Website: www.tropicana.net

Reservation Number: (800) THE-TROP
Rooms: 1,426  Price Range: $75-$350
Suites: 340   Price Range: $175-$475
Restaurants: 8 (1 open 24 hours)
Buffets: B/L-$12.99  D-$18.99
Casino Size: 114,320 Square Feet
Other Games: S, P, PG
Senior Discount: Slot club 55 offers various discounts to member 55+
Casino Marketing: (800) 338-5553
Special Features: Single-zero roulette game offered on weekends ($50 minimum bet). New tower to open by spring 2004. Called “The Quarter,” it will add 502 new rooms, 200,000 square feet of meeting space and a retail-dining entertainment complex.

Trump Marina Hotel Casino
Huron Avenue & Brigantine Boulevard
Atlantic City, New Jersey 08401
(609) 441-2000
Website: www.trumpmarina.com

Reservation Number: (800) 365-8786
Rooms:  568  Price Range: $99-$425
Suites: 160  Price Range: $175-$450
Restaurants: 7 (1 open 24 hours)
Buffets: B-$8.50  L/D-$13.50
Casino Size: 73,734 Square Feet
Other Games: P, PG, SB
Casino Marketing: (800) 777-8477
Special Features: Adjacent to state marina with 640 slips. 3-acre recreation deck with pools, jogging track, tennis courts, miniature golf course and health club.

Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino
The Boardwalk at Mississippi Avenue
Atlantic City, New Jersey 08401
(609) 441-6000
Website: www.trumpplaza.com

Reservation Number: (800) 677-7378
Rooms: 1,331  Price Range: $95-$400
Suites:  73  Price Range: $250-$325
Restaurants: 11 (1 open 24 hours)
Buffets: L-$13.95  D-$16.95
Casino Size: 138,295 Square Feet
Other Games: PG, SB
Casino Marketing: (800) 677-0711
Special Features: Health spa with massage, herbal wraps and salt-glo loofah cleansing. Indoor pool. East Side Lounge offers live entertainment nightly with no cover and one drink minimum.

Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort
1000 Boardwalk at Virginia Avenue
Atlantic City, New Jersey 08401
(609) 449-1000
Website: www.trumptaj.com

Reservation Number: (800) 825-8888
Rooms: 1,013  Price Range: $125-$395
Suites: 237   Price Range: $300-$550
Restaurants: 9 (1 open 24 hours)
Buffets: L/D-$15.95
Casino Size: 116,199 Square Feet
Casino Marketing: (800) 234-5678
Other Games: S, P, PG, SB, S21, Three Card Poker
Senior Discount: Half off buffets Mon-Thu, if 50, or older, with Trump Card.
Special Features:  Health spa and indoor Olympic-size pool. Hard Rock cafe.