Las Vegas and Atlantic City have long been the spiritual homes of America’s gambling roots. The two cities might be hundreds of miles apart geographically but in their atmosphere and ideologies, they are not so different.
Both cities have a lot to offer on the gambling front and as LV lies to the south in Nevada and Atlantic City is situated in the north in New Jersey, the two cities encompass everything that is great and good with America’s gambling industry.
Las Vegas, or Sin City, as it is often called, has long been regarded as the number one gambling destination in the world until recently when Macau took that top spot. However, many feel as an overall entertainment destination, it cannot be rivalled and it is still the place everyone wants to go to experience the buzz and excitement of the super casinos and shows.
Atlantic City has been in the shadow of Las Vegas ever since the age of prohibition finished and the general consensus has been that it is the poorer sibling of Las Vegas. In recent years, that reputation has changed and the city has enjoyed a period of revitalization with new casinos and hotels being built and offering a truly classy holiday experience.
How popular the two respective cities are really depends on the taste of the individual visiting them. Las Vegas is regarded as more of a 365 day destination with the temperature in the summer being very warm and still being temperate in the winter. Atlantic City, on the other hand, is more a spring and summer destination with the autumn and winter months exposed to the more harsh winter conditions that the coastal position on the eastern seaboard offers.
Las Vegas does have a lot more choice and the number of hotels and casinos in the city far outweighs those in Atlantic City. What Atlantic City lacks in sheer numbers it makes up for in quality and style. Both cities play host to the big name casino hotels such as Caesars and Harrah’s but where as the Nevada based city can feel tacky with an overwhelming number of cheaper options for accommodation, its New Jersey rival is rooting out the more shabby hotels and installing a real sense of class and prestige.
Ultimately, how grand both destinations are really depends entirely on what the tourist wants from their holiday. Nevada’s Sin City offers the bright lights and show stopping glitz whilst Atlantic City offers the sea air, the boardwalk and the more laid back pace of life.
Both destinations have something to offer and it is up to the individual to decide which they prefer. They are both enjoying a golden era with casinos, hotels and shows all offering a fantastic holiday break but which one is better? Only the person that visits can make that decision and really, there is no correct answer.