By Chuck Darrow
If there is one day of the year every casino executive in Atlantic City—and everywhere else gaming halls do business—have circled on their calendars it’s the national day of wagering and gluttony known as Super Bowl Sunday. Evidence both anecdotal and empirical through the years suggests it can have a major impact on a casino’s bottom line.
Of course, it is a huge day for sports books—online and brick-and-mortar—but even before the advent of legal sports betting in New Jersey in 2018, it was a big deal: For decades, it’s been common practice for gambling dens to invite their highest-rolling high rollers for a weekend of revelry that usually includes appearances by individuals with connections to the NFL (ex-players, broadcasters, etc.).
With sports books now an integral part of the public casino-going experience, it should be no surprise that local casinos are even more focused on celebrating the de facto national holiday. As such they are planning various festivities and offerings. Here is a look at some of what’s happening this Sunday:
Bally’s Atlantic City
Bally’s Game Day special is a $29 beer bucket available at the Yard.
Caesars Atlantic City
The action takes place in the Caesars Sportsbook at Wild Wild West. However, it won’t be cheap to join the revelry: Seating runs from $225 per person for a “stadium seat” to $1,750 for the ultra-luxe “fan cave” experience (includes a $250 food-and-drink credit).
For tickets, go to allevents.in (search for “Super Bowl Sunday at Casears”).
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City
Through Sunday, those placing an in-person bet of $50 or more (on any game or prop bet) will receive a free order of wings from Hard Rock Café.
The Café will also be offering specials on a number of popular items including wings, baby back ribs, nachos and buffalo sliders. Drink deals include five bottled beers for $25, and 25 bottled beers for $100. Additionally, guests can upgrade any draft beer to 20 oz for only $1.
Harrah’s Casino Resort
The Super Bowl Sunday Tailgate at The Pool runs from 3 to 10 p.m. The bash includes a free buffet, a DJ, games (with prizes), giveaways and more than 40 screens on which to watch the game. Admission is free, but tickets must be obtained at eventbrite.com (search for “Sunday Tailgate”).
Ocean Casino-Resort
Ocean’s mixologists have obviously been busy the past week or so: There will be four Sunday-only cocktails served (all priced at $14) to honor the NFC champion San Francisco 49ers and their AFC rivals (and Taylor Swift’s favorite team), the Kansas City Chiefs. They will be offered at several locations including The Gallery Bar Book; Games; Villain & Saint; Topgolf Swing Suite and Nola’s Bar & Lounge:
San Francisco Gold Rush Cable Car ($14):
1.5 oz. Captain Morgan rum; .5 oz. Orange Curacao;.5 oz. simple syrup. Served in a martini glass with cinnamon/sugar mix rim.
San Fran Sunrise:
2 oz. Aperol; 1 oz. Tito’s Vodka; 1 oz. fresh lemon juice; .5 oz. simple syrup; 2 oz. soda water; dash of grenadine; rocks and lemon wheel or twist.
Kansas City Big Red:
2 oz. Teremana; 2 oz. pomegranate juice; 1 oz. fresh lime juice; ¾ oz. Triple Sec; ¾ oz. simple syrup; lime garnish.
The Arrowhead:
1.5 oz. Bulleit rye; 4 oz. ginger beer; 4 dashes Angostura bitters; 1 queeze of lemon juice; garnished with lemon and served over ice in a Collins glass.
Resorts Casino Hotel
The “Big Game” (which is what those entities that haven’t shelled out mucho dinero for the legal right to use the phrase “Super Bowl” call it) will be screened on some 50 TVs in several venues including DraftKings Sportsbook; Margaritavile; 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar and XO Bar.
At DraftKings, $50 (per person) gets seating in either the restaurant area or back lounge. There will be an all-day special in the betting parlor featuring $3 Miller Light and Yuengling drafts. The other viewing areas also have various discounts on libations.
Boys will be girls
If you’re seeking something completely (and we mean completely) different on Sunday, look no further than Hard Rock Café. That’s where The Rock will kick off (pun intended) the 15-Sunday series of “Brunch Is A Drag” extravaganzas.
Each week’s rave-up (seating at 11 a.m.) will be themed, with this week’s motif being “Mean Girls.” The $65 tab includes a buffet brunch, full show with a cast of queens and a post-performance meet-and-greet.
For tickets, go to dragqueenentertainment.com.
Queen crowned Borgata Poker king
And speaking of Queens, a tip of the fedora to Bethlehem Pa.’s Alex Queen, who copped the grand prize at the recent Borgata Winter Poker Open and in doing so, took home $613,063.
Queen a full-time poker pro, was one of 689 contestants who each anted up $3,500 to compete in the event that was the capstone of the WPO, which began New Year’s Day and included a total 22 separate tournaments.
Chuck Darrow has spent more than 40 years writing about Atlantic City casinos.
