# Atlantic City (and maybe Las Vegas, etc.) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 20, 2022, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlantic-city-and-maybe-las-vegas-etc/968267 "2022-07-20T16:12:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlantic-city-and-maybe-las-vegas-etc/968267/1 "2022-07-20T16:12:51Z")
Someone mentioned AC in another thread. I assumed it was a country, but when I looked up [postal code abbreviations](https://www.jewishgen.org/InfoFiles/codes.html), there was no AC. It turned out that AC is Atlantic City. I’d never heard it abbreviated before. That led to these posts: > [@How has the disgraced former President Trump pissed you off today?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-the-disgraced-former-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today/942178/1599): > > Its OK. This is what we’re here for: to share knowledge. AC is Atlantic City; it is an old-school gambling city that is, unfortunately, pretty run down these days. It’s not as hot as Las Vegas (the ocean manages to keep temperatures slightly lower) but has depressed neighborhoods just two blocks from the Boardwalk. The game Monopoly was created using the names of the streets there, so they may sound familiar. > > Eating, drinking, amenities and clothes are expensive there, but large acts (like you’d find in Las Vegas) do stop there for shows and concerts. Inside the casinos you are perfectly safe…but two blocks away you will find lots of pawn shops and almost any human misery on sale. Out there can be dangerous; maybe more so than Las Vegas. Also, there used to be a lot of homeless people on the boardwalk pan handling a few years ago; I don’t know if the city has solved that issue. > > My advice is to buy a ticket and to take a bus into town; you used to get a voucher for $20 in coin (but I don’t know if you still do). Yes, you can drive in and park, but always fill up before you park and make sure that you never gamble your Toll money. That way, you know that you can always get home. > [@How has the disgraced former President Trump pissed you off today?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-the-disgraced-former-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today/942178/1600): > > > [@How has the disgraced former President Trump pissed you off today?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-the-disgraced-former-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today/942178/1599): > > > > AC is Atlantic City; it is an old-school gambling city that is, unfortunately, pretty run down these days. > > I remember when Atlantic City made a splash in the 70s by becoming the first place in the US outside Nevada where you could legally gamble. Back before riverboats and Native American casinos, it was the only bet (haha) east of the Mississippi – but it was rundown even then and never became the east coast Vegas its leaders hoped for. Now, I have no intention of ever going to Atlantic City. Or New Jersey. I went to Boston and Baltimore and Washington DC a few decades ago, and they were hot, muggy, and a little weird to this SoCal native. I’m happy on the Left Coast. But I thought I’d post just in case people want to talk about the topic. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlantic-city-and-maybe-las-vegas-etc/968267/2 "2022-07-20T16:15:58Z")
To my note in your OP, I’ll also add that the advent of legal gambling in AC and its follow-along vices made for one of Bruce Springsteen’s greatest songs. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/M3eu1gW-bQ8/maxresdefault.jpg "Bruce Springsteen - Atlantic City") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3eu1gW-bQ8) ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlantic-city-and-maybe-las-vegas-etc/968267/3 "2022-07-20T16:25:02Z")
Atlantic City is also the name of an old movie that does a good job of depicting a city with a thin glitzy coating over a seamy underbelly. > **[Atlantic City (1980 film)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_City_(1980_film))** > > Atlantic City (French: Atlantic City, USA) is a 1980 romantic crime film directed by Louis Malle and starring Burt Lancaster, Susan Sarandon, Kate Reid, Robert Joy, Hollis McLaren, Michel Piccoli, and Al Waxman. A Canadian-French co-production filmed in late 1979, it was released in France and Germany in September 1980 and in the United States later that year by Paramount Pictures. The script was written by John Guare. > The film opened to critical acclaim and was nominated for the Big Five Acade... ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlantic-city-and-maybe-las-vegas-etc/968267/4 "2022-07-20T16:28:09Z")
I visited Atlantic City once while living in Philthydelphia. I walked the boardwalk for a bit, went into a casino, and played a slot machine. I put in my first quarter and won $4.00. I left the casino and found my car, returning home a winner. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlantic-city-and-maybe-las-vegas-etc/968267/5 "2022-07-20T16:36:02Z")
When I was a child, my parents took me along when they visited Atlantic City. The only thing I remember was Lucy The Elephant > **[Lucy the Elephant](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucy_the_Elephant)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > Lucy the Elephant is a six-story elephant-shaped example of novelty architecture, constructed of wood and tin sheeting in 1881 by James V. Lafferty in Margate City, New Jersey, approximately five miles (8 km) south of Atlantic City. Originally named Elephant Bazaar, Lucy was built to promote real estate sales and attract tourists. Today, Lucy is the oldest surviving roadside tourist attraction in America. > In 1881, the U.S. Patent Office granted... ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlantic-city-and-maybe-las-vegas-etc/968267/6 "2022-07-20T16:42:14Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I walked the boardwalk for a bit, went into a casino, and played a slot machine. I put in my first quarter and won $4.00. I left the casino and found my car, returning home a winner. My first trip (also first time in a Casino of any kind) I won $75 on the quarter slot machine. I’ve had a gambling problem ever since (currently in remission). ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlantic-city-and-maybe-las-vegas-etc/968267/7 "2022-07-20T16:43:58Z")
I’ve been to Vegas and Atlantic City. Atlantic City’s casinos are trying to imitate Vegas on the cheap. Vegas is flashy and garish. Atlantic City is toned down from that and dull by comparison. They concentrate on the gambling but little else. The Schenectady casino is a cheaper and duller version of Atlantic City. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlantic-city-and-maybe-las-vegas-etc/968267/8 "2022-07-20T17:13:13Z")
I have fun in Vegas. I don’t gamble (ever, just don’t care for it even the tiniest bit) but I love the restaurants, walking around the little stores, and catching a show now and then. It’s a fun place to go for a quick weekend getaway without paying a lot. My wife and I go every year (except 2021). ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlantic-city-and-maybe-las-vegas-etc/968267/9 "2022-07-20T18:36:47Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I’ve had a gambling problem ever since (currently in remission). I absolutely _hate_ gambling. When I was married, my in-laws took us to a casino. They gave us each $100 worth of rolled quarters. I went off and played slot machines, trying to get rid of the money so I could go sit in a bar. It seemed that I’d be almost out of quarters, then I’d win. Fück! I played multiple lines at a time, trying to get rid of my quarters quicker and I’d win again. It was awful. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlantic-city-and-maybe-las-vegas-etc/968267/10 "2022-07-20T19:08:30Z")
I first went to AC before there was gambling. It was nicer then to me. I’ve gambled there once, just once and I won a little, just a little. I’m not a gambler. We just got back from beautiful Cape Map the southern tip of New Jersey and the countries oldest Shore Resort. On the way we tried to visit Lucy the Elephant but this strange relic of the past was 100% covered for a major refurbishment. A sad waste of time for us. Little known fact about Lucy the Elephant, she use to have a bigger brother next to Coney Island. [Elephantine Colossus - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephantine_Colossus) ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlantic-city-and-maybe-las-vegas-etc/968267/11 "2022-07-20T19:11:24Z")
The last time I played the slots I went through $20 without a single win. It took all of 3 or 4 minutes. I felt like I just ran a twenty dollar bill through a shredder. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlantic-city-and-maybe-las-vegas-etc/968267/12 "2022-07-20T19:31:31Z")
I’ve been to Las Vegas once. It felt improper to visit Vegas without gambling at all, so we put in a quarter for each of us (well, on my sister’s and I’s behalf, since we were children at the time). My lifetime net on Vegas gambling is thus negative 25 cents, which I note is far better than the net of most visitors to the city. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlantic-city-and-maybe-las-vegas-etc/968267/13 "2022-07-20T19:48:04Z")
I used to love Atlantic City in the 50s, before gambling. We went every summer and actually stayed in Ventnor one block from the end of AC, also one block from the beach. Went to the beach and swimming in the surf every day and every evening my brother and I walked the boardwalk downtown, played mini-golf, ogled girls and eventually took the jitney back to the end of the line. Those were the glory days of AC. What happened? I think the combination of cheap air fares and the Interstates, destroyed it as a summer spot for Philly (and maybe NY) residents and then they went for gambling that really ruined it. What a shame. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlantic-city-and-maybe-las-vegas-etc/968267/14 "2022-07-20T19:54:47Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > I have fun in Vegas. I don’t gamble (ever, just don’t care for it even the tiniest bit) but I love the restaurants, walking around the little stores, and catching a show now and then. It’s a fun place to go for a quick weekend getaway without paying a lot. My wife and I go every year (except 2021). I go every couple of years for a Anti-money laundering conference. And yes to the food, shopping (the ones at Caesars place are very nice), etc. BUT! The smoking! You cannot just walk to the room elevators, you have to walk thru the casino maze, and you come out stinking. Some of the most modern hotel/casinos have really good air filters, but it is still bad. To really love gambling, you have to get that “addicts rush” from _losing_. I exclude friendly poker games and the like. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlantic-city-and-maybe-las-vegas-etc/968267/15 "2022-07-20T20:01:57Z")
The Philly people go mostly to the [Wildwoods](https://wildwoodsnj.com/) area since the gambling came in. Wildwoods is kind of weird as it still has a stuck in the 50s vibe but in a good way. Wildwoods is not much further than AC, so that became the summer place for Philly. AC is mainly about gambling, shows and conventions now. The beach resort is very secondary. New Yorkers or Bennies as we call them, most stick to Monmouth and Ocean county beaches. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlantic-city-and-maybe-las-vegas-etc/968267/16 "2022-07-20T20:04:46Z")
I was traveling with my son and our flights were totally screwed up. We ended up spending a few hours at the (John Wayne?) airport in Vegas. There were slots(?) in the airport. Bored, I took my son over to check out the slots. You’d think I’d tried to hijack a plane! My 8 year old son wasn’t supposed to be even _close_ to gambling. Police escorted us away. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlantic-city-and-maybe-las-vegas-etc/968267/17 "2022-07-20T20:07:13Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > We ended up spending a few hours at the (John Wayne?) airport in Vegas. There were slots(?) in the airport. Yes, there are slots in the Airport there, but the John Wayne airport is near Anaheim. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlantic-city-and-maybe-las-vegas-etc/968267/18 "2022-07-20T20:09:25Z")
Ahhh, I’ve been to Anaheim for work related stuff. There’s a Disneyland there. McCarran was the Vegas airport. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlantic-city-and-maybe-las-vegas-etc/968267/19 "2022-07-20T20:43:50Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > BUT! The smoking! You cannot just walk to the room elevators, you have to walk thru the casino maze, and you come out stinking. Some of the most modern hotel/casinos have really good air filters, but it is still bad. When I went earlier this year, I put on my mask and it helped a lot. And nobody looks at you funny for wearing it as they might pre-Covid. I have extremely bad allergies, bad enough that there are certain places in Vegas that I can’t be in for very long without being sick because of all the smoke. But not everywhere is like that, fortunately. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlantic-city-and-maybe-las-vegas-etc/968267/20 "2022-07-20T20:52:13Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > When I went earlier this year, I put on my mask and it helped a lot. And nobody looks at you funny for wearing it as they might pre-Covid. Ooh, good idea! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlantic-city-and-maybe-las-vegas-etc/968267.md?page=2)