Ocean Casino Resort: Improving and enhancing the gaming experience

Let’s do a brief history of Ocean’s performance since opening in Atlantic City. What lessons did Ocean learn from previous properties that had closed in the city?

Since our opening nearly six years ago, Ocean Casino Resort has constantly worked to enhance our guest experience through the property itself and our offerings. In 2021, we reinvested more than $15m, followed by an additional $85m in capital development in 2022 to expand the property. This was followed by the introduction of 460 new rooms and suites, along with an innovative sports and entertainment venue – The Gallery Bar, Book, & Games. Ocean continues to present a premier gaming experience on the East Coast, featuring three distinct high-limit slot and table game venues, 1,750 of the most exciting slot machines, and two exclusive lounges for Ocean Rewards card members within our 135,000 square feet of gaming space. Ocean is also home to the world’s largest Topgolf Swing Suite, and offers both land-based sports wagering and online gaming within the state of New Jersey through its real-money gaming sites.

What sets us apart is our commitment to elevate the overall guest experience, on and off the casino floor, redefining the conventional Atlantic City trip into an escape from the mundane. Ocean embodies a distinct mindset, offering a stay that resonates with our patrons. Here at Ocean, we are constantly improving and enhancing the gaming experience, keeping the guest experience front and center. Our strategic investments and expansion have yielded tangible results, with Ocean Casino Resort seeing not only an uptick in hotel room rates but also substantial growth in overall gross operating profits.

How does Ocean feel about potential projects in New York opening such as Metropolitan Park and the Freedom Plaza?

Ocean has numerous unique differentiators that we are confident will set us apart from New York City properties including unparalleled oceanfront views, resort amenities and best-in-class gaming experience.

What types of games does Ocean offer and who are the best suppliers Ocean has worked with? What are the best products they currently offer?

Our property offers a wide variety of slot machines, from reel-spinning and video reel to video poker machines. With over 1,800 state-of-the-art slot machines at all levels of play, some of our most popular slot themes include: Bank Buster, Huff N’ Even More Puff, Unwooly Riches, Pinata Pays, Smokin Hot Stuff Spin Frenzy Fire and Ice, Mystery of the Lamp, Tarzan vs. Wild, Rakin Bacon Odyssey and more.

Guests can also try their luck with our classic Vegas-style table games like blackjack, mini-baccarat, craps or roulette, three-card poker, or let it ride. Whatever their preference or level of play, Ocean Casino Resort offers players a wide variety of casino gaming in an upscale, sophisticated setting. The Cove offers upscale gaming for our high-limit slot customers and features 157 slot machines within 7,450 square feet of space. Our high-limit table games room features 18 tables, all with their own Ocean views.

Here at Ocean we are constantly improving and enhancing the gaming experience, keeping the guest experience front and center

How does Ocean focus on non-gaming amenities such as food and beverage or entertainment?

Ocean Casino Resort takes pride in offering guest experiences that extend beyond gaming, offering the best in food and beverage, entertainment and retail. We also have an exciting entertainment lineup for summer across six signature day life and nightlife experiences, including the return of HQ2 Beachclub. HQ2 Nightclub, located above Ocean’s casino floor, is regarded as the premier nightlife destination in the Northeast, offering multiple dance floors, private table seating and three bars. Additionally, Ocean’s 4,500-seat Ovation Hall features comedy and various musical genres.

Throughout the summer, the schedule at the HQ2 Beachclub includes: Two Friends (June 22), Joel Corry (July 6), Tiësto (July 27), and Kaskade (August 10). And, Ovation Hall will host some of the hottest acts on tour this summer, including The B-52’s (June 22), Lynyrd Skynyrd (June 28), Jon Batiste (June 29), Impractical Jokers (July 13), Joey Fatone & AJ McLean (July 19), Pete Davidson (July 20), Matt Rife (July 25, 26, 27, 28), the Black Eyed Peas (August 4) and Andrew Schulz (August 24).

Food and beverage wise, we also offer Amada by Jose Garces, Ocean Steak, and Linguini by the Sea, as well as casual dining options including Villain & Saint, brunch spot, Harpers, fan-favorite Zhen Bang Noodles, Wahlburger’s and Starbucks® with more restaurants opening this summer with Philly’s chef and restaurateur, Michael Schulson. 

How does Ocean market to residents of New Jersey? Do you focus more on locals or tourists who visit Atlantic City?

We welcome guests from all over the tri-state area and beyond. We often see our return guests coming from Philadelphia, New Jersey, New York and of course locals from Atlantic City. With our new partnership with Blade, we now offer our guests nonstop Blade flights from New York City directly to Ocean’s distinctive rooftop helipad creating an even more seamless and elevated guest experience. Guests can book seats on the 6-passenger helicopter, with additional flights currently scheduled every Saturday in July and August, wrapping up on Labor Day Weekend.

We take extreme pride in our community and continue to find ways to support small businesses to pay homage to our local NJ roots. At Ocean, we have many great relationships with local partners to offer a variety of products for guests.

Finally, any future plans for Ocean such as events or openings, goals for 2024?

We are excited for what the summer season will bring. In one of the most exciting projects of the year, we are working with Philly’s very own celebrated chef Michael Schulson to bring two fine-casual concepts to our culinary roster. Opening later this summer, Pearl & Mary oyster bar and Samuel’s at Ocean will be located next to each other on the lobby level across from The Park.

Ocean also is constantly making improvements throughout the whole property. Most recently, we reinvested more than $15m in 2021, followed by an additional $85m in capital development in 2022 to expand the property, introducing 460 new rooms and suites, along with creating The Gallery Bar, Book, & Games.

Kirk Geller

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