Harrah’s Atlantic City Sets Opening Date for Expanded Arcade

Posted on: October 24, 2023, 12:06h. 

Last updated on: October 27, 2023, 02:22h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.

Harrah’s Atlantic City will open its new arcade space next month with 60 games featuring classics like skeeball and air hockey to the latest games in virtual reality.

Harrah's Atlantic City casino arcade
Harrah’s Atlantic City is soon ready to welcome guests to its new arcade. Reps with the resort’s parent company, Caesars Entertainment, say The Arcade will provide added fun for guests of all ages. (Image: Harrah’s Atlantic City)

Atlantic City is becoming a hotbed of sorts for arcade gamers. The Boardwalk is home to the “Biggest Arcade in America” with the 200,000-square-foot Lucky Snake at the Showboat, a non-casino resort. Lucky Snake also features a 40,000-square-foot indoor go kart track.

Dave & Buster’s is readying a 21,000-square-foot restaurant and arcade in the Tanger Outlets shopping center a block inland from Caesars Atlantic City. Dave & Buster’s is to open sometime “in early December,” company reps say.

Harrah’s, one of three casinos in Atlantic City operated by Caesars Entertainment, will open its own arcade on Nov. 1. The 5,328-square-foot facility called “The Arcade” is illuminated with bright neon lights and “offers a high-energy, multi-sensory experience for all ages and skill levels.”

Along with the aforementioned games, a Caesars release said The Arcade will offer an assortment of machines in various themes. A major highlight will be an “epic claw machine” called Big One Extreme. As for virtual reality, offerings are to include a game based on “Rabbids,” the popular video game series centered on a fictional species of mischievous rabbit-like creatures.

Bring the Family

The Arcade at Harrah’s Atlantic City is located near The Pool and will be open daily from 10 a.m. The Arcade will close at 10 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday nights but remain open until 2 a.m. on the weekends.

The kid-friendly gaming zone is the latest family-friendly amenity to open at Harrah’s.

We are thrilled to open this vibrant, exciting entertainment space offering fun for all ages,” said Gregg Klein, senior vice president and general manager at Harrah’s. “We aim to create fun experiences and unforgettable memories for all our guests, so The Arcade is truly the perfect addition to the resort.”

For guests of legal gambling age, Harrah’s recently updated its casino floor with the latest slot machines and new table games. The Marina District casino also recently opened new quick-service dining outlets from celebrity chefs Bobby Flay (Bobby’s Burgers) and Guy Fieri (Chicken Guy!).

The Arcade at Harrah’s, Caesars reps tell Casino.org, is in addition to the resort’s “Family Fun Station” located on the fourth floor of the Coastal Tower. The family-friendly amenity is where Harrah’s houses a small arcade room and kid-friendly indoor swimming pool.

Guests Needed

Harrah’s Atlantic City is hoping to reverse a concerning trend of dwindling hotel occupancy numbers.

In 2017, the resort’s 2,590 rooms were occupied nearly 87% of the time on an average nightly rate of $111. Two years later, those same hotel rooms were booked just 80% of the available nights but at a higher rate of $128.50.

In 2021, Harrah’s reported room occupancy of just 65%, though inflation rose average nightly rates to more than $164. Through two quarters of 2023, Harrah’s has rented its rooms only 63% of the time. It isn’t for a lack of trying, as the resort dropped its nightly charge to an average of $149 — down 9% in just two years.

Harrah’s in-person gaming revenue has similarly dropped in recent years. In 2017, the casino won $363.7 million on its brick-and-mortar floor. Harrah’s casino win fell to $312 million in 2019 and down to $257.8 million last year.