Ocean Casino Resort’s Hidden History: Fun Facts You Didn’t Know About the Resort

While it remains the gem of the East Coast, the Atlantic City Boardwalk has changed a lot in the last decade. Ocean Casino Resort has, too. 

Since we opened our doors in 2018, we’ve been upping the ante every year: Innovations in gaming, entertainment expansion, and ever-growing charitable giving have been some of our biggest goals since our inception. 

Let’s turn back the clock and take a look at how Ocean Casino Resort has grown throughout our history. We’re proud of our evolution—and we have no plans to slow down anytime soon.

Ocean Resort Casino Opens

On June 27, 2018, we opened our doors to the Boardwalk and welcomed guests to a new and improved Atlantic City experience. However, our name was slightly different—we opened as “Ocean Resort Casino.” 

At our inception, we were focused on being an all-around destination for AC visitors; we wanted to be more than just a casino. Among the illustrious collection of Atlantic City Boardwalk hotels, we wanted to offer the most amenities, the most entertainment, and the most big wins. 

But “Ocean” has always come first in our name for a reason—our property spans 20 beachfront acres overlooking the glittering Atlantic Ocean. Each moment spent gazing out of our floor-to-ceiling windows is a chance to appreciate the incredible, sparkling titan right on our doorstep. 

The ocean has always been—and always will be—central to who we are.

Gaming Innovations: Sports Betting and Online Slots Begin

Right before we opened our doors to the public in 2018, we took two key steps to solidify our place as the Boardwalk’s best gambling hub:

1. We partnered with William Hill—an international bookmaking brand—to offer sports betting. 
2. We launched an online casino with over 50 digital slot games. 

Sports betting is one of our most important offers at Ocean Casino Resort, and it always has been. It wasn’t always legal to bet on sports in Atlantic City: state legislators didn’t break up Nevada’s federal monopoly on sports betting until May of 2018.

This landmark ruling (handed down by the US Supreme Court) expanded opportunities for both gamers and casinos in Atlantic City. We were excited to be among the first casinos on the Boardwalk to offer a sportsbook.

Ocean Casino Resort: A Shift in Direction

After opening our doors in June of 2018, we welcomed countless guests to our electric casino, newly renovated luxury hotel, top-tier spa, and all of our other exciting venues. 

However, less than a year after opening, we realized that a change was in order. With new leadership at the helm, we changed our name to Ocean Casino Resort. Why?

• Showcasing our casino – Our casino has always been one of our biggest draws. With a quality collection of both Boardwalk-favorite and Ocean-exclusive slots, a diverse array of table games, and (of course) newly-minted sports betting options, gambling is a cornerstone of our identity. “Ocean” will always come first—but as our casino operations grew, so did our desire to showcase them.
• Curating the resort experience – While we decided that “casino” needed a more central place in our brand name, we didn’t want to remove “resort.” After all, we were offering some of the most sought-after resort accommodations on the Boardwalk: world-class dining, live entertainment, multiple pools, and more. 

In April 2019, we shifted our direction and adjusted our name to match our intentions: to create the best casino experience in AC.

The Cove Opens to High Rollers

We invested in a new casino expansion that would offer unique opportunities for high rollers. In late 2020, we opened this new high-dollar betting enclave: The Cove. 

The Cove is a 7,450-square-foot shrine to all things slots. Our high-limit slots collection features games from Bally, Aristocrat, and other mainstay brands. 

In an effort to expand luxury gaming options, we also introduced the Ocean Rewards program—a four-tier system offering rewards points, free play, comp dollars, show tickets, and more.

Today, an Ocean Rewards card is your ticket to the Cove: a must-see slots experience. 

Exciting Developments

We didn’t stop rolling out exciting new offers in 2020. Here’s a quick highlight reel of some of our more recent expansions:

• The Gallery Bar, Book & Games – In 2022, we debuted our exclusive sports gambling hub: The Gallery Bar, Book & Games (and its upstairs VIP area, Balcony Bar). With 140 feet of LED-lined walls, a 59-seat bar, and 12 slot machines, this is the place to place a bet, grab a beer, and watch the biggest games of the season.
• Mussels Fitness Center – In 2024, we renovated our gym space and announced our newest self-care and lifestyle concept: Mussels Fitness Center, featuring a dedicated yoga space, Peloton equipment, an Echelon Reflect, and ultra-modern finish upgrades.
• Expanded charitable giving – Throughout our history, we’ve valued giving back to the Atlantic City community, the state of New Jersey, and beyond. Each year, our Ocean Cares initiative selects a number of non-profit organizations and offers financial support, in-kind donations, event support, and more. We’re proud to invest more heavily in philanthropy each year—Ocean Cares is always expanding. 

Ocean Casino Resort: The Best of the Boardwalk

From our inception, Ocean Casino Resort has represented the best of the Boardwalk. From casino jackpots to live entertainment and unmatched cuisine, we truly offer something for every Atlantic City visitor. 

Reserve your room to start planning your next trip to the Boardwalk.

Sources: 

USA Today. Supreme Court Rules for New Jersey in Challenge to Sports Betting Ban. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/05/14/supreme-court-strikes-down-ban-sports-betting-new-jersey/1053022001/