Operator News
US – Ocean Resort opens in Atlantic City
By Phil - 29 June 2018
After months of anticipation, executives from AC Ocean Walk, Ocean Resort Casino and Hyatt joined Atlantic City Mayor Frank Gilliam, New Jersey Senator Chris Brown, Director of the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement Dave Rebuck, and actor Mark Wahlberg for a ceremonial ribbon cutting to celebrate the official opening of the 1,399-room Ocean Resort Casino, located directly on the Atlantic City Boardwalk.
“This ribbon cutting is a truly spectacular moment for our company, our team members, and the community, as it represents the months of planning and work it took to make the vision we had for Ocean Resort Casino a reality,” said Bruce Deifik, the Chairman of AC Ocean Walk, LLC, which owns and manages Ocean Resort Casino. “It has been an incredible privilege for my family and I to be a part of this journey and the collaborative efforts that breathed new life into this property, not to mention the opportunity to work with some of the best-in-class people, partners and brands across many industries. We are truly excited about welcoming our guests with open arms and the future of Atlantic City.”
Mr. Wahlberg placed the first bet at the casino’s William Hill branded sports book. He bet $100 each on the Philadelphia Eagles and the New England Patriots to win the Super Bowl and $200 on the Cleveland Browns to win more than five games next season.
“I couldn’t believe the number of people in line to sign up for a player’s card,” said Joe Asher, the CEO of William Hill US, the company running the Ocean Resort’s sportsbook. “What an unbelievable vibe when Mark Wahlberg came out.”
The sports book was the second to open in Atlantic City but the first to open on the Boardwalk with the other opening at the Borgata in the Marina District.
Ocean Resort Casino was acquired by AC Ocean Walk, LLC in January of 2018, and has undergone an overall property refresh that goes hand-in-hand with a philosophical reinvention of the property’s guest experience, aimed toward creating a welcoming, exciting and engaging destination resort casino. The evolution began with developing better accessibility, enhancing guest experiences, adding amenities appealing to a broad audience and building relationships with recognized and respected brand partners. With its opening, Ocean Resort Casino joins The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand.
“The transformation of Ocean Resort Casino has been such a rewarding experience – both from a development and operational standpoint – due to the renewed energy and enthusiasm from the residents and visitors of Atlantic City to see a revitalization of the gaming industry,” said Ocean Resort Casino CEO Frank Leone. “As our vision for this resort casino started taking shape, we began to realize how remarkably special this opportunity was for this time and this place, and I can speak for our team members when I say that we are thrilled opening day has arrived, and we can finally showcase Ocean Resort Casino to the public.
The 138,000 square-foot casino floor has a newly reimagined, easy-to-navigate layout which includes more than 100 popular table games and nearly 2,000 of the latest and most innovative slot machines. The casino floor centerpiece is the new, state-of-the-art 7,500 square-foot sports book and bar operated in partnership with William Hill. It features multiple large screens for viewing a diverse range of sporting events, real-time betting and private suites for hosting special events or private parties.
Ocean Resort Casino has also introduced a new loyalty program, Ocean Premier, where moving up matters. Ocean Premier membership rewards play and matches the rewards offered at all tier levels found across other Atlantic City properties, 2x comps every day, 3x tier credits through 30 September 2018, plus valuable incentives including preferred access, ascension gifts at every level, remarkable comps, suite upgrades and much more. Players will also earn tier credits and comps when they play both in the casino and online, and the program offers rewards to enjoy at every level.
A unique property feature is the one-of-a-kind high-limit gaming room that boasts breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean and provides guests with an experience and amenities unlike any other within the area.
Above the casino, Ocean Resort Casino offers games of a different sort at The Den bar, featuring a number of amenities that provides gamers with a more casual space, including video games and eSports.
“As we developed Ocean Resort Casino, we wanted to incorporate a number of different activities and venues that would draw people in from all over as well as serve the local visitors, giving them reasons to come back regularly,” said Leone. “Whether our guests are celebrating a milestone, enjoying a family dinner or trying something different from what they have ever eaten before, we want them to have those experiences at Ocean Resort Casino and create their memories with us. We wanted to be able to offer enough variety that our restaurants have broad appeal, and I believe we have accomplished that goal.”
