Atlantic City has hit old age. What once had been a vital shore town for gamblers has become a creaky, broken-down, senior citizen on life support. Not dead yet, but terminally ill.

Atlantic City in the late 1980s was a gambling town in its teenage years. New casinos were being built; old hotels were being renovated. There was vibrancy in the casinos, the hotels, and along the shore and Boardwalk.

By 2006 those teenage years were long gone. The adult years came to a close at that point too. Atlantic City has probably lost half of its business from that year to this moment. Old age has settled in and even those with the most upbeat attitudes can’t really believe Atlantic City will ever return to its former glory.

The casino explosion in neighboring states has crippled the Queen by the Shore. It has profoundly crippled others as well.

There is a human element to the death, and potential death, of so many establishments – over 5,000 workers will be laid off. True, some dealers might find jobs in newly opened casinos in other states; some other workers might be able to transition into similar jobs in other businesses. Still, the majority of workers will confront that long, dark night of the unemployed soul.

Casinos love losers. They have now joined them.

Atlantic City won’t be coming back.

Here is the story in a nutshell. The following casinos have closed or will be closed by the end of 2014:

• ACH: now closed.
• World’s Fair: closed long ago.
• Trump Plaza: to be closed in September.
• Claridge: sold to non-casino company; not yet opened as regular hotel.
• Sands: now a wind-blown lot.
• Showboat: will close at the end of August.
• Revel: rumor has it that the billion-dollar Revel will close in September or October.

Might Be On the Way Out:

• Resorts: rumors come and go about this casino; can it survive the downturn and will the disappearance of other casinos help its bottom line?
• Caesars: rumblings going on about this place.

Those That Seem Okay (for now):

• Bally’s: dumping Claridge and shrinking Wild Wild West has probably kept them alive.
• Tropicana: still has crowds but also looks somewhat diminished from its ambitious projections.
• Taj Mahal: a little shaky but it looks like it will make it to the summer of 2015.
• Borgata: doing just fine.
• Harrah’s: a little shaky but hanging in there.
• Golden Nugget: property is competing and looks as though it will stay around.

Dear Frank,

I just returned from a trip to Atlantic City. The trip was fun and we were treated well but the rules for the blackjack games have changed and it’s harder to make money in Atlantic City.

First, the boardwalk and Tanger Outlets are a good take. Both were packed during the week and you can get some good bargains at the shops.

The bars on the Boardwalk are a good stop, with a lot of people watching and most have good specials.

Casinos:

The Revel is set to close by September and if this happens it would be a shame. The casino is very nice and it is also huge. I hope someone will buy it because I think it can make money if they change a few things.

• They need to put signage out on the Boardwalk because it is the only casinos that you have to walk up a stair case and around a corner to enter.
• They also need to add more low cost meals, buffet or average cost restaurant maybe bring in a named brand steak house.
• They added smoking which should help with their customer count. They should also add a Simulcast for horse racing. The only casino is A/C that offers it now is the Borgata.
• They should offer match play coupons for table games.
• Offer reduced room rates, they offer $199 which is not reduced rate, they should offer free with play or $49. 

The blackjack games are good. I found the ones that stand on soft 17 by the escalator but only a few players playing there decided to play other area and did well.

I hope it doesn't close because I think it can be saved and it is a clean well-kept casino

Showboat: It used to be a great place to play and win but things changed. Decided to go back and play before it closes. It surprised me but the BJ games were pretty good. Still hitting on soft 17 but cutting deep into decks and I can make money at these games.

I talked to a dealer for about an hour and they are hoping someone will buy it because it does make money and it is still clean and not run down. People that work there are friendly and I hope it will be saved. Worth playing there if you can before it closes.

Ballys: Games are all being moved to Wild West. Closed Simulcast and poker room, and move poker to Wild West. Very crowded … seems to have a lot of conventions and shows. Average games, didn't play very long; too crowded.

Borgota: Very nice rooms, plenty of places to eat. Packed with all different types of people. Games are good. dealer cuts only 15% off decks. Plenty of tables to play offer pretty good comps. Worth it to play at this casino.

Maybe a reduction of casinos is what Atlantic City needs. But closing the Revel will be a white elephant. Also, closing Trump Plaza may be the only option but it sits right at the end of the A/C Expressway and it will become a huge eye sore.

The New Mayor of Atlantic City praised the construction of the Bass Fishing Outlet store, which is nice, but he needs to find a way to keep the Revel, Showboat, and Trump Plaza from closing or find a way to get someone to buy these casinos.  

I hope this helps,

Bubba from Boston

Dear Frank:

I don’t feel sorry for Showboat. No slot casino is going to drive Atlantic City any more unless the returns are outrageously high. Showboat’s slot paybacks were no better than any other casinos in AC. The blackjack games, what were left of them, were not so hot either. Most days only one craps table was open. The place looked clean but it was just make up.

---Warren

Frank,

I stopped going to AC a few months back. It was depressing. Most of the dealers were down. A lot of them are worried about their futures. The blackjack games, except in some high roller rooms, suck --- to put it bluntly. I wouldn’t be surprised if only Borgata and Taj Mahal remain standing.

---James

Frank:

AC is dead. Nuff said.

---Al

General rules: Atlantic City casinos basically have the same rules – on occasion this or that casino might change how many splits you can do or offer those horrible 6-to-5 blackjack games. Sometimes casinos will offer surrender (a rarity). Just about all casinos have gone to the H17, although most will have some games where dealers stand on soft 17 (high roller rooms). The best games in terms of penetration and number of decks are invariably found in the high roller rooms. Players can double on any first two cards; they can split two or three times (make sure you ask about this or read the signs on the table); aces can only be split once and each ace receives one card (the standard rule all across the country). You can usually play up to three hands but most of the casinos will let you play all the spots if you make arrangements beforehand – obviously the casino is looking for high roller action in such a case. Check out the new wording on many of the layouts – amazingly wordy and almost totally BS as opposed to BJ.

Three stars: * * *

********************************

********************************

Confessions of a Wayward Catholic is a hilarious yet insightful account of Frank Scoblete’s years from kindergarten through grandparenthood as a confused, wayward, seemingly ever-sinning Catholic. Join Frank for an entertaining but possibly hell-bound ride as he attempts to understand what God and religion are all about. Will Frank reach the pearly gates or be banished to eternal damnation?

"I love my husband but there is stuff in this book that is disgraceful and should never have been written!" – Alene Scoblete, wife

"Francis Scoblete has been a major sinner ever since he came to elementary school. I watched him closely at the dances." – Sister Jerome Blake, in charge of making sure girls and boys slow danced a foot apart.

"I don’t know why Jewish kids went to a Catholic school but I’m proud they did well in religion." – Chief Rabbi Sol Bernstein

"I believe that you should love your neighbor as yourself. Luckily, Frank lives in another town and is not my neighbor." – Jesus Christ

"Scoblete says I have no sense of humor. I will afflict him with boils and sores over his whole body, just like I did Job." – God

"Frank Scoblete has been wayward for over six decades. He’s my main man!" – Satan