When Bruce Springsteen first sang those words AC was down on its luck and looking like a starlet on the decline. The glitter was still on, but you could see the skid marks beneath the heavy makeup. In 2003 the Borgata broke an unlucky 13 year streak when it became the first hotel to open in AC since 1990.

Boyd Gaming Corporation, the folks who gave us Sam’s Town and Boyd Stadium, took off their cowboy boots and donned handmade Italian loafers to open a site that is unmatched on the boardwalk of chance. Face it, you can lose your money anywhere but, at the Borgata the loss is cushioned by the opulent setting.

The hotel has 2100 rooms that range from two residence suites that have 5,500 square feet of space for your disposable income and wretched excess on down to suites that offer 700 square feet. The classic Italian styled rooms contain floor to ceiling windows, 300 thread count sheets and towels, large bathrooms and specially designed mattresses for when you have to sleep between games.

Play is why you made the trip, the free beach may entice native New Jersey residents who are tired of paying beach fees, but you may never touch sand during your stay. The 161,000 square foot casino area is all the sun and surf you need. The sun from the flashing lights of one of the 4,100 slots notifying of your payoff and the surf from the crescendo of waves of cash coming your way at one of the 200 table games.

The Borgata features poker, roulette, blackjack, baccarat, pai gow and sic bo. They take their poker seriously and offer a daily tournament in the 85 table poker room. It is the largest poker room in AC. The daily and single table tournaments are open affairs, but the Borgata Summer Poker Open is a reserved event. This year it runs from June 7-30 with the championship being held from the 28th to the 30th. It has a $3000.00 buy in and $200.00 entry fee. The guaranteed prize pool is $1M. 

You’ll need a Borgata card to enter the tournament and it is broken down into several categories and events. Included are tables for women and seniors. Week one features no limit hold em, and Omaha high. The no limit hold em offers the women and seniors tables. Buy in and entry fee varies according to the table and the level of the tournament. The antes run from $25.-$2000.00 and the blinds from $25.-$16,000.00, or higher if approved by the director.

Week two offers 7 card stud, no limit hold em deep stack, Omaha high/low 8 or better, heads up elimination and a WSOP main event super satellite game. The WSOP has a $1000.00 buy in. The no limit hold em still has a women’s table but, the seniors are on their own after week one.

Week 3 continues hold em, a heads up double elimination, 8 hand rotate H.O.S.E. and ends the week with the beginning of the super satellite event championship and the guaranteed $1M pot. The buy in for this one is 3 grand. Still, it’s a nice way to end the month, especially if you come out of it hitting that million dollar note.

Another feature at the Borgata casino is Racebook. Racebook is an online service that allows you to wager on thoroughbred and harness racing along with playing casino games at their website. The race wagering service is offered at the Borgata in lieu of the Las Vegas styled sportsbook.

The Borgata was the first AC casino to have completely coinless slot machines. They say that it has never been an issue with their players. Perhaps not watching old favorite machines hauled off to be replaced by new one’s that lack the winning feel made the adjustment easier. Whatever the reason the hotel does offer a large variety of machines that feature progressive, reel, poker, video multi and novelty. If the thought of wading into the down to business attitude of the poker room isn’t for you then, maybe you can play the slots and keep it as light as the froth on the surf.

However you play it you will eventually get hungry, or come to the realization that if you don’t eat you will collapse before the super satellite championship event. Whatever motivates your taste buds you can stimulate them in the Borgata’s array of eateries. You can do it up from fine dining to casual cuisine. There are even options for large group dining if you opt to take you posse down to the shore to watch you score.

The Borgata offers four chefs that can beat any hand in Wolfgang Puck, Bobby Flay, Michael Mina and Michael Schulson. Combined they offer steak, seafood, Japanese and unique American dining that cannot be matched in one location.  If you would rather take the time to remain at a gaming table then consider the casual dining the hotel contains. A buffet, a noodle house, or a plethora of renown quick dining options in a food court will allow you to get the nutrition you need to get back to gaming without holding you back by forcing you to determine the adequate amount for the tip.

If you decide to escape the game room for some live entertainment but would rather remain in Renaissance Pointe you can do it without leaving the Borgata. The 2,400 seat Borgata Events Center has hosted the likes of Pearl Jam and Aerosmith while the 1,000 seat Music Box hosts smaller acts and comedy festivals. The end of May features Jay Leno as he probably begins to polish his act for his five nights a week prime time gig on NBC.

America’s playground as Atlantic City bills itself still has some work to do to escape the imagery of The Boss’ song but, the Borgata turned the Marina to Renaissance Pointe and is still the major effort in the facelift the city desperately needed.