Atlantic City - the Gambling Capital of the East Coast

Along with Las Vegas, Atlantic City in New Jersey is where people from all walks of life go to have a great time at the casinos. However, the reputation of the city as the gaming center of the east coast did not happen overnight.

While Las Vegas was experiencing a rebirth with the legalization of gambling laws, even staving off the effects of the Great Depression, Atlantic City, during those days, was largely a vacation spot. Its proximity to the ocean shore made it attractive to a lot of people.

The history of gambling in Atlantic City began in the late 1950s as air travel became popular and widespread. This mode of transportation made it easier than ever for tourists to go to places like Florida and Miami. This resulted in an economic slump that would affect the city for much of the 1960s.

However, in the 1970s, officials decided to revise the state laws and allow for the operation of gambling casinos in Atlantic City. The laws, however, were still quite a bit restrictive, and the effect was that the expected flock of players did not arrive, and those that did only stayed for a short while. But casino operators in the area persevered, confident that the people would come.

Some revisions in the legislature, and the history of gambling in Atlantic City took a turn for the better in the 1980s. Its proximity to cities like New York and Miami made Atlantic City an attractive place to go to during the hot summer days. While relaxing in one of the fine hotels in the area, people began taking notice of the casinos as well, beginning with the slot clubs.

As the tourists started flocking in, more casinos were built, and along with that, other entertainment centers and venues as well. Through gambling, Atlantic City was able to recover from the economic slump that had been plaguing it, and brought back employment to thousands of people. Another consequence of this was it helped revitalize the entire state of New Jersey as well.

As the 1990s came, gambling in Atlantic City came into full bloom, with large casinos and various restaurants, first class hotels sprouting all over. From the depth of urban decay, the city has now become a true haven for tourists and gamblers, providing high quality entertainment for its visitors.

Well into the new millennium casino moguls are still busy developing more projects, so people can expect more great things from the entertainment and gambling capital of the east.