Tropicana Casino & Resort Atlantic City

At the intersection of the Boardwalk and Brighton Avenue stands the Tropicana Casino & Resort, one of the largest hotels in the state of New Jersey with over 2,000 rooms. Considering its enviable location, it is perhaps unsurprising that this premier Atlantic City destination is often fully booked, particularly during the Summer months.

The Tropicana houses the widest variety of dining options of any Atlantic City hotel as well as an astonishing 18 clubs and bars, many of which feature live entertainment every night of the week. The on-site mall features 25 retail stores, and the dedicated health spa and fitness centre serve to increase the allure of this luxury resort still further, making this one of the most sought after holiday venues on the entire East Coast of the USA.

Official Website of Tropicana AC: https://tropicana.net/

History

The Tropicana Casino & Resort stands on the plot previously occupied by the legendary Ambassador Hotel. The Ambassador was already widely known in America in the early 20th Century due to its steady stream of celebrity guests including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini. During 1931 the hotel gained further notoriety as a result of the brutal execution of Philadelphia gangster Mickey Duffey who was shot and killed at the hotel.

Ramada purchased the derelict Ambassador building in 1978, soon after the opening of Atlantic City’s first casino hotel the Resorts. Shortly afterwards they announced their intention to convert the site into a 549 room hotel and casino resort. The Governor of New Jersey intervened at this point, insisting that the dilapidated Ambassador hotel complex would have to be completely demolished before he would consider awarding planning permission for the Tropicana resort. After a series of legal wranglings, a compromise was reached and construction finally commenced in October 1979.

The resort has undergone several improvements over the years, most notably in 1995 when a new 604-room hotel tower was constructed concurrently with major renovations to the existing hotel and casino. Further expansions occurred during the boom years of 2003 and 2004, including the addition of a large convention centre and on-site shopping mall. Despite these improvements the resort fell into financial difficulties, almost going bankrupt as a result of the financial crash of 2008. The resort has since recovered from those dark times and regained its rightful place as one of the most desirable and popular casino hotels in Atlantic City.

Gaming

The casino at Tropicana has steadily grown in size over the past three decades and currently occupies almost 125,000 square feet across three floors, housing up to 3,000 slot and video poker machine as well as close to 150 table games. Most of the machines available here are modern video slots as opposed to traditional mechanical machines and the inventory continues to be updated and improved every month.

The Trop Advantage Players Club is one of the most generous comp schemes available in Atlantic City and offers particularly high rewards for slots players. The premium Palm Walk area features 200 of the latest games with high limits as well as electronic Video Blackjack and Roulette machines.

Table game players also receive double comp points on a selection of favourites such as Blackjack, Roulette, Mini-Baccarat, and Casino War, as well as a wide range of table pokers including Let It Ride, Caribbean Stud, Criss Cross Poker, Hold’Em 3 Bonus, plus Three and Four Card Pokers.

Dining:

The variety of eateries at the Tropicana is unmatched by any other resort in Atlantic City. Throughout the resort, guests can find a total of 24 restaurants, cafes, bars and bistros offering a mix of fine and casual dining, meaning you could try a new restaurant on every night of your stay if you wish!

For fine dining, there are multiple Italian options such as Il Verdi and Carmine’s, as well as two Asian style restaurants including a PF Chang’s. Traditional American meals are on offer at the award-winning Palm Restaurant steakhouse, and Cuba Libre provides an authentic Cuban dining experience alongside the best selection of rums you will find anywhere on the East coast. The next addition to this already impressive roster will be a new signature restaurant from celebrity chef Jose Garces, which is currently scheduled to open before the end of 2016.

On the casual front, you’ll find many famous brands on-site including Broadway Burger Bar, Casa Taco & Tequila Bar, Chickie’s & Pete’s Crab House, Hooters, Perry’s Pizza and Starbucks. There are multiple buffet options offering all-you-can-eat from a wide menu, plus a variety of takeaway outlets should you wish to relax in the comfort of your suite.

Other Entertainment Options:

Listing the shopping, entertainment and nightlife facilities at the Tropicana would require an article all to itself, perhaps even two! This is a resort that doesn’t do anything in small numbers, and it would probably be difficult to fully experience everything on the site during a typical two-week stay. Suffice to say, a visit to the Tropicana is much more than just a gaming holiday.

The variety of shops and boutiques at the Tropicana rivals that of most shopping malls. From designer labels to handcrafted gifts, from jewellery to confectionary – you are sure to find what you are looking for, and plenty more besides! Highlights include the Swarovski store from the world’s leading manufacturer of artificial gemstones, the LICK Candy Store who describe themselves as “Atlantic City’s ultimate candy shop”, and AKA, who specialise in men’s fashion from brands such as Hugo Boss and Tommy Bahama.

No Atlantic City resort would be complete without its own on-site spa, and the Tropicana boasts one of the largest in town. The Blue Mercury Spa offers a full range of treatments and has been recommended by Vogue magazine, USA Today and Oprah. A unisex salon provides saunas, facials, manicures and pedicures, whilst the AtlantiCare LifeCenter is a modern fitness suite featuring the latest cardio and weight training equipment, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, plus a variety of health, fitness, and wellness classes which are available seven days a week.

On an evening you can experience some of the best nightlife in Atlantic City without ever leaving the Tropicana resort. More than ten bars and clubs are open every night, and cater for a wide variety of musical tastes – Boogie Nights plays the very best music and videos from the 70s and 80s alongside go-go dancers and celebrity look-a-likes, creating the perfect atmosphere for a night of nostalgia; The Ri-Ra Irish Pub offers live bands playing traditional Irish music as well as fantastic food; or alternatively, visit the Planet Rose Karaoke Bar where you can sing along to your favourite songs whilst mingling with celebrity guests (who may also choose to embarrass themselves on the microphone for your entertainment pleasure!). Other venues include Providence Nightclub, the Cuba Libre Bar, Anthem Nightclub, A Dam Good Sports Bar and the Tango Lounge, which is surely enough choice for any guest!