View source for Golden Nugget Atlantic City

{{short description|Hotel and casino in New Jersey}}
{{about|the current Golden Nugget Atlantic City|the casino resort operated in Atlantic City in the 1980s|Atlantic Club Casino Hotel}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}

{{Infobox Casino|
casino=Golden Nugget Atlantic City|
logo=Logo Atlantic city3.png|
logo_size=150px|image= NJ Route 87 nb, MP 0.4, July 2021.jpg |
theme=[[Gold Rush]]|
address=1 Castle Boulevard|
location =[[Atlantic City, New Jersey]] |
rooms=717 |
date_opened={{start date and age|June 17, 1985}}|
space_gaming={{convert|74252|sqft|abbr=on}}|
attractions=Farley State Marina<br>The Deck|
notable_restaurants=Chart House<br>Lillie's Asian Cuisine<br>Vic & Anthony's|
owner=[[Landry's, Inc.]]|
casino_type=Land|
renovations= 1997, 2006, 2011|
names_pre= Trump's Castle (1985–1997)<br>Trump Marina (1997–2011)|
website=[http://www.goldennugget.com/atlanticcity/ www.goldennugget.com/atlantic city]|
}}

'''Golden Nugget Atlantic City''' is a [[hotel]], [[casino]], and [[marina]] located in [[Atlantic City, New Jersey]]. Having been opened in 1985 as '''Trump's Castle''', it was renamed '''Trump Marina''' in 1997. [[Landry's, Inc.]] purchased the casino from [[Trump Entertainment Resorts]] in February 2011, and the sale was approved in late May. Landry's took control of the property on May 23, 2011 and renamed it the Golden Nugget Atlantic City.

==Complex==
The resort sits on a {{convert|14.6|acre|abbr=on}} property and contains a {{convert|74252|sqft|abbr=on}} casino; 717 guest rooms; seven restaurants; a nightclub; a 462-seat theater; a {{convert|16920|sqft|abbr=on}} recreation deck with a health spa, outdoor heated pool, hot tubs, [[Cabana (structure)|cabana]]s, tennis and basketball courts, and jogging track; {{convert|50922|sqft|abbr=on}} of meeting and function space; a nine-story parking garage with direct walk-through into the complex; and the 640-slip Frank Farley Marina (a public facility owned by the [[New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry]] and managed by Landry's). The Sportsbook is a [[sportsbook]] at the resort that offers [[sports betting]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Sportsbook|publisher=Golden Nugget Atlantic City|url=https://www.goldennugget.com/atlantic-city/casino/the-sportsbook/|access-date=January 23, 2019}}</ref>

The third level is the main area of the property. At its center is a {{convert|210|ft|abbr=on}} long reception area from which point every amenity—the casino, ballrooms, restaurants, showroom, or meeting rooms—is within a short walk.

===Entertainment===
The resort's 2,000-seat ballroom and 462-seat theater have played host to a wide array of entertainers including [[Prince (musician)|Prince]], [[Frank Sinatra]], [[Johnny Cash]], [[Sting (musician)|Sting]], [[Steve Martin]], [[Andy Williams]], [[The Beach Boys]], [[Ray Charles]], [[Jerry Lee Lewis]], [[Billy Crystal]], [[Perry Como]], [[Pete Allen (musician)|Peter Allen]],  [[Connie Francis]], [[Air Supply]] and [[Aretha Franklin]]. On Memorial Day weekend in 2013 Haven nightclub opened.<ref>Michelle Maas, [http://phillystylemag.com/golden-nugget-opens-haven-nightclub "Golden Nugget Debuts Haven Nightclub"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161007030905/http://phillystylemag.com/golden-nugget-opens-haven-nightclub |date=2016-10-07 }}, ''Philadelphia Style'', May 23, 2013.</ref><ref>Whitney Ullman, [http://www.nj.com/atlantic-city-entertainment/index.ssf/2013/06/haven_nightclub_at_the_golden_nugget_atlantic_city_offers_monday_industry_night.html "Atlantic City's Haven Nightclub launches Monday Industry Nights and Tuesday Pool Party"], NJ.com, June 26, 2013.</ref>

Boxing and mixed martial arts matches are held at the casino.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://casinoconnectionac.com/issue/vol-9-no-3-march-2012/article/mma-at-golden-nugget|title=MMA at Golden Nugget|publisher=casinoconnectionac.com|access-date=2019-03-24|archive-date=2019-03-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325013831/http://casinoconnectionac.com/issue/vol-9-no-3-march-2012/article/mma-at-golden-nugget|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Dining===
* Chart House
* The Buffet
* The Deck Bayfront Bar & Restaurant
* The Poolside Cafe
* Vic & Anthony's
* Michael Patrick's Brasserie
* Dos Caminos
* Lillie's Asian Cuisine
* Bill's Bar & Burger

==History==
===Trump's Castle (1985–1997)===
The casino was built as the Atlantic City Hilton by [[Hilton Hotels]], at a cost of $275 million.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/05/15/nyregion/10th-and-largest-casino-opens-in-atlantic-city.html |title = 10th and Largest Casino Opens in Atlantic City |newspaper= The New York Times}}</ref> However, when the resort was nearly complete, that company was denied a gambling license by the State of New Jersey due to alleged ties to [[organized crime]] and sold the complex to [[Donald Trump]].<ref>Al Delaguch, [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-04-19-fi-15078-story.html "Hilton Negotiating to Sell Its Atlantic City Hotel-Casino to Trump"], ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', April 19, 1985.</ref> It opened in 1985 as Trump's Castle,<ref>Michael Lev, [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE7DC143FF933A05752C0A967958260&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss "Company News; Hilton Plans to Seek Atlantic City License"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', January 30, 1991.</ref> later rebranded slightly as Trump Castle. In 1988, the casino became one of the settings for [[Yahtzee (game show)|the game show version of ''Yahtzee'']], and in 1990 it was the setting for the game show ''[[Trump Card (game show)|Trump Card]]''.

Revenues at Trump Castle took a sharp decline in 1990 due to competition from its newly opened sister property, [[Trump Taj Mahal]], as well as broader economic factors such as the [[Gulf War]] and the [[Early 1990s recession in the United States|early 1990s recession]].<ref name=upi>{{cite news|title=Trump's Castle and Plaza file for bankruptcy|newspaper=UPI|date=March 9, 1992|url=http://www.upi.com/Archives/1992/03/09/Trumps-Castle-and-Plaza-file-for-bankruptcy/3105700117200/|access-date=2016-03-26}}</ref> A payment to bondholders was made in December 1990 only with the help of a $3.5 million purchase of casino chips by Trump's father, [[Fred Trump]], which was later determined to be an illegal loan, for which the casino paid a fine of $30,000.<ref>{{cite news|title=N.J. agency says Trump loan illegal|newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=April 9, 1991|author=David Johnston|url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0EB2A1C42645F5C5&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&svc_dat=AWNB&req_dat=1028A39C75C2B899|via=NewsBank}}</ref> Unable to make its next payment on $338 million in bonds, the Castle began [[debt restructuring]] negotiations in May 1991.<ref>{{cite news|title=Trump pulls off last-minute deal|newspaper=UPI|author=Isabelle Clary|date=June 17, 1991|url=http://www.upi.com/Archives/1991/06/17/Trump-pulls-off-last-minute-deal/9831677131200/|access-date=2016-03-26}}</ref> Hilton offered to repurchase the property for $165 million, which Trump rejected.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hilton bids for Castle|newspaper=Press of Atlantic City|author=Michael Pritchard|date=July 19, 1991|url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0EAEA91CAEB9E0E9&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&svc_dat=AWNB&req_dat=1028A39C75C2B899|via=NewsBank}}</ref> A deal was ultimately reached to give the bondholders 50 percent ownership of the Castle, in exchange for reduced interest rates and forgiveness of $25 million of debt.<ref name=upi /> The plan was filed as a [[prepackaged bankruptcy]] in March 1992.<ref name=upi />

Trump reacquired full ownership of the Castle in a [[refinancing]] deal in December 1993.<ref>{{cite news|title=Trump Castle refinancing|newspaper=The New York Times|date=December 29, 1993|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/29/business/trump-castle-refinancing.html|access-date=2016-03-26}}</ref> He then sold the property in September 1996 to his new publicly traded casino company, [[Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts]], for $130 million in stock plus $355 million in assumed debt.<ref>{{cite news|title=Trump co. buying Castle|newspaper=New York Daily News|author=Douglas Feiden|date=October 1, 1996|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/money/trump-buying-castle-donald-130m-stock-885g-cash-article-1.737340|access-date=2016-03-26}}</ref>

Trump then began negotiations to sell a 50 percent stake in the property to the [[Rank Organization]] for $325 million and convert it into a [[Hard Rock Hotel and Casino]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Trump's Hard Rock bottom price: $325m|newspaper=New York Daily News|author=Douglas Feiden|agency=AP|date=October 4, 1996|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/money/trump-hard-rock-bottom-price-325m-article-1.736067|access-date=2016-03-26}}</ref> Discussions fizzled in December 1996, and Trump said he would look for a new theme, saying he "never liked the castle theme."<ref>{{cite news|title=Trump seeks new theme for sagging casino|newspaper=Los Angeles Daily News|agency=AP|date=December 3, 1996|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-84034447.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504224549/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-84034447.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 4, 2016}}</ref>  Trump next announced an agreement to sell a 51 percent stake in the Castle to [[Colony Capital]] for $125 million, which would be used to construct a new hotel tower and re-theme the property as Trump Marina.<ref>{{cite news|title=It's makeover time for Trump Castle|newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer|author=Jacqueline L. Urgo|date=January 21, 1997|url=http://articles.philly.com/1997-01-21/business/25558642_1_trump-hotels-trump-marina-donald-trump|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160407143218/http://articles.philly.com/1997-01-21/business/25558642_1_trump-hotels-trump-marina-donald-trump|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 7, 2016|access-date=2016-03-26}}</ref> The sale and expansion were canceled, however, in March 1997.<ref>{{cite news|title=Trump cancels another expansion|newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer|author=Diane Mastrull|date=March 28, 1997|url=http://articles.philly.com/1997-03-28/news/25569944_1_hotels-casino-resorts-trump-hotels-tunnel-project|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140923182550/http://articles.philly.com/1997-03-28/news/25569944_1_hotels-casino-resorts-trump-hotels-tunnel-project|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 23, 2014|access-date=2016-03-26}}</ref>

===Trump Marina (1997–2011)===
The Castle was renamed Trump Marina in June 1997.<ref>{{cite news|title=Facelift changes name, theme of Trump's Castle, but will it help?|newspaper=Las Vegas Sun|date=June 25, 1997|url=http://lasvegassun.com/news/1997/jun/25/facelift-changes-name-theme-of-trumps-castle-but-w/|access-date=2016-03-26}}</ref>
Trump Entertainment Resorts agreed in May 2008 to sell Trump Marina for $316 million to New York-based Coastal Development, who planned to rebrand the property as a [[Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville|Margaritaville]] casino in partnership with singer [[Jimmy Buffett]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Marina has a buyer|newspaper=Press of Atlantic City|author=Donald Wittkowski|date=May 30, 2008|url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F1210380C38CBA470&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&svc_dat=AWNB&req_dat=1028A39C75C2B899|via=NewsBank}}</ref> Despite a later price reduction to $270 million,<ref>{{cite news|title=Trump drops price for casino sale|newspaper=Press of Atlantic City|author=Donald Wittkowski|date=October 30, 2008|url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F12434DC3854DE900&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&svc_dat=AWNB&req_dat=1028A39C75C2B899|via=NewsBank}}</ref> Coastal was unable to find financing, and the agreement was terminated in June 2009.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sale of Trump Marina dies|newspaper=Press of Atlantic City|author=Erik Ortiz|date=June 2, 2009|url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F1289829A965E1300&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&svc_dat=AWNB&req_dat=1028A39C75C2B899|via=NewsBank}}</ref> Negotiations continued while Atlantic City casino values plunged, with Coastal offering $75 million for the property in February 2010,<ref>{{cite news|title=Trump Marina bidder back with $75M. offer|newspaper=Press of Atlantic City|author=Donald Wittkowski|date=February 25, 2010|url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F12E1DC759118CCF0&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&svc_dat=AWNB&req_dat=1028A39C75C2B899|via=NewsBank}}</ref> but no deal was reached.<ref>{{cite news|title=Would-be buyer of Trump Marina withdraws|newspaper=Press of Atlantic City|author=Donald Wittkowski|date=September 10, 2010|url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F1322C57FD1EE9B50&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&svc_dat=AWNB&req_dat=1028A39C75C2B899|via=NewsBank}}</ref> Bondholders who had taken over Trump Entertainment Resorts after its 2009 bankruptcy remained eager to sell Trump Marina and focus on the company's two other casinos.<ref>{{cite news|title=Trump Marina back on sale with help of realty firm|newspaper=Press of Atlantic City|author=Donald Wittkowski|date=September 10, 2010|url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F13227191596D00B0&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&svc_dat=AWNB&req_dat=1028A39C75C2B899|via=NewsBank}}</ref>

===Golden Nugget (2011–present)===
[[File:GNAChotellobby.jpg|thumb|upright|Golden Nugget Hotel lobby in 2016]]

Landry's purchased the property for $38&nbsp;million,<ref>Suzette Parmley, [https://web.archive.org/web/20150924233518/http://articles.philly.com/2011-02-15/business/28536200_1_trump-entertainment-resorts-margaritaville-themed-casino-first-casino "Trump Marina sold to Landry's Inc."], Philly.com (''[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]''), February 15, 2011.</ref> taking control on May 23, 2011,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110527151811/http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jfbCDDMB8Ael-gbbWNbzbAeBsMDg?docId=e81679febd1f40b9beb394419014865a "Trump no more: Marina becomes Golden Nugget AC"], ''Associated Press'', May 23, 2011, [https://web.archive.org/web/20110527151811/https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jfbCDDMB8Ael-gbbWNbzbAeBsMDg?docId=e81679febd1f40b9beb394419014865a archived] May 27, 2011.</ref> and renamed it the Golden Nugget Atlantic City. Landry's then spent $150&nbsp;million on renovations that were completed in spring 2012, opening new restaurants and clubs and a new outdoor pool and modernizing the resort;<ref>Emily Previti, [http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/communities/atlantic-city_pleasantville_brigantine/golden-nugget-counting-on-positive-reaction-to-million-renovation-of/article_e123a7a2-3f2a-11e1-9ef6-0019bb2963f4.html "Golden Nugget counting on positive reaction to $150 million renovation of its Atlantic City casino"], ''Press of Atlantic City'', January 14, 2012.</ref><ref>Reuben Kramer, [http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/business/golden-nugget-s-big-turnaround/article_13d32228-66bd-11e5-b2b2-9b84183a240a.html "Golden Nugget's big turnaround"], ''Press of Atlantic City'', September 29, 2015.</ref> the marina was also renovated.<ref>Diane M. Byrne, [http://megayachtnews.com/2011/06/farley-state-marina-golden-nugget-tilman-fertitta/ "Atlantic City Marina Getting Much-Needed Makeover"], ''MegaYacht News'', June 6, 2011.</ref>

On December 16, 2013, the Golden Nugget launched a real-money online casino site.<ref>Golden Nugget, [http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/golden-nugget-online-casino-now-available-in-new-jersey-235811061.html "Golden Nugget Online Casino Now Available In New Jersey"], PRNewswire.com (''[[PR Newswire]]''), December 13, 2013.</ref> Despite its late entrance into the market relative to competitors, by 2017 the online site had grown substantially, becoming the first New Jersey online casino to offer 400 games<ref>Robert DellaFave, [https://www.onlinepokerreport.com/25346/400-games-golden-nugget-casino-nj/ "Game Wars: Golden Nugget First NJ Online Casino To 400 Games, Others Quickly Follow Suit"], OnlinePokerReport.com, May 12, 2017.</ref> and earning more revenues than any other New Jersey online casino each month since December 2016.<ref>PlayNJ, [https://www.playnj.com/new-jersey/revenue/ "New Jersey Online Gambling Revenue"], PlayNJ.com, July 2017.</ref>

The growth of Golden Nugget's online venture continued through 2018. The site consistently leads the market in revenues, and in March became the first U.S. legal online gambling site to offer 500 unique games.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.playnj.com/news/golden-nugget-500-nj-online-casino-games/17851/|title=Golden Nugget Reaches Milestone With 500th NJ Online Casino Game|date=2018-03-01|work=Play NJ|access-date=2018-03-13|language=en-US}}</ref>

In June 2022, [[UNITE HERE]] Local 54, a union representing hospitality workers in Atlantic City, encouraged its members working in the casino industry to go on  [[General strike|strike]]. This strike lasted for over a month and involved almost all of the city's gambling businesses, including Golden Nugget Atlantic City.

On July 28, 2022, the Golden Nugget AC reached an agreement with the union promising higher wages, better healthcare and pension plans among other benefits. Golden Nugget was the last casino in Atlantic City to strike a deal with its employees after  [[Tropicana Casino & Resort Atlantic City|Tropicana]],  [[Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City|Hard Rock]],  [[Caesars Atlantic City|Caesars]], and [[Borgata]] decided to sign the contracts. [[Ocean Casino Resort]] and  [[Bally's Atlantic City|Bally's]] also accepted these terms.<ref>{{cite web|title=Atlantic City casinos ink new labor deals | url=https://whyy.org/articles/atlantic-city-golden-nugget-union-deal-strike-averted/ |website=whyy.org |date=July 28, 2022 | access-date=August 22, 2022}}</ref>

==Radio transmitter==
The roof of the Golden Nugget currently houses the transmitter tower and broadcast facilities of [[WWFP]] 90.5 FM<ref>[https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=39.37944,+-74.42917+(WWFP-FM)&om=1&ie=UTF8&ll=39.380172,-74.429176&spn=0.007049,0.013218&z=16&iwloc=addr Map of WWFP-FM Transmitter site], Yahoo Maps</ref> which is licensed to [[Brigantine, New Jersey]] and is owned by the Calvary Chapel of Marlton. The station broadcasts a Christian music format. Formerly WWFP was used as a relay of [[Liberty University]]'s [[WVRL]] in [[Elizabeth City, North Carolina]].

==See also==
* [[Gambling in New Jersey]]
* [[Golden Nugget Las Vegas]]
* [[Golden Nugget Laughlin]]
* [[Golden Nugget Lake Charles]]
* [[List of tallest buildings in Atlantic City]]
* [[List of integrated resorts]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{sister project links|auto=y|d=y}}
* {{official website|http://www.goldennugget.com/atlanticcity/}}
{{coord|39.378547|-74.429176|region:US_type:landmark|display=title}}

{{Trump businesses}}
{{Landry's, Inc.}}
{{Atlantic City casinos}}

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[[Category:Mixed martial arts venues in New Jersey]]
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