Atlantic City

GETTING THERE

Atlantic City has a small airport, but it’s not served by any direct flights from the UK. Connecting flights with Delta Air are available via Atlanta, but most people prefer to fly into Philadelphia and drive/train the hour’s journey to AC. Direct flights go from London and Manchester, with fares from around £280.

GETTING AROUND

The focus of Atlantic City is the famous boardwalk, where most of the big casinos are found. The best way to get around here is on foot, but you can also hire an old- fashioned ‘rolling chair’ ($10+). Elsewhere, a fleet of Jitneys (mini-buses) are available on every corner of the city, 24/7, for just $2 a trip.

EAT, SLEEP, DRINK, ATLANTIC CITY

AC is at heart a resort town, and offers accommodation to suit every taste and budget. However, if it’s luxury you want, it’s hard to look past the glimmering Borgata Hotel. Located in the marina district, the Borgata has 2,002 lavish rooms and fantastic views, though a double will set you back about £100 a night. A more affordable option is Harrah’s, located right next door. While not as classy as its neighbour, it’s a pleasant place with a large casino, and you can get a double room for around £50 a night.

As for restaurants, Atlantic City pretty much has it all, from Italian to Mexican to Vietnamese. The city’s best in-casino dining is once again to be found at the Borgata, which has 11 top-notch restaurants.

Failing that, head downtown, where you’ll find an abundance of excellent family-run Italian eateries (Angelo’s Fairmount Tavern is a local favourite). In fact, good food can be found almost anywhere in Atlantic City – even the fast food on the boardwalk is recommended.

THE BORGATA POKER ROOM

Built to lure the high-rollers back to weary Atlantic City, the Borgata is the newest and glitziest casino in town and the only one that rivals the highlights of Vegas. In 2006, the Borgata unveiled a brand new poker room, boasting 85 tables and round-the-clock dealer-dealt action.

Though hold’em clearly dominates, seven-card stud, Omaha and other variations can all be found, with limit games starting at $2/$4 and no-limit at $1/$2. There’s also a high-stakes area with games up to $300/$600.

At the back of the room there’s a dedicated tournament area hosting an array of sit&gos and MTTs every day. Sit&gos range from $60 to $1,000 a pop, while the twice-daily MTTs offer buy-ins from $100 up to $500.

If it’s mega-bucks action you want, the Borgata is also a regular stop on the WPT, as well as hosting its own one-off events with major prize guarantees.

BOARDWALK CASINOS

After the Borgata, most of AC’s other poker rooms seem drab by comparison, but there’s still plenty of good action to be had on the famous boardwalk.

The Trump Taj Mahal rivals the Borgata for size, and offers an excellent variety of cash games (including plenty of stud tables), as well as regular daily tournaments and sit&gos.

The Tropicana is another popular poker spot, while the Showboat, Caesars and Bally’s all offer cash games and tourneys at a range of levels.