Bally's Atlantic City

The site now occupied by Bally's was originally the location of two separate hotels - the Marlborough-Blenheim Hotel and the Dennis Hotel.

The Marlborough House was built in 1900 by Josiah White III between Ohio Avenue and Park Place on the Boardwalk, in the Queen Anne style.[3] White expanded the successful resort in 1905, hiring Philadelphia architect Will Price of Price and McLanahan to design a new, separate wing, built entirely of concrete, which opened in 1906 as the Blenheim.[4][5] The hotel was then renamed the Marlborough-Blenheim.

Dennis Hotel, c. 1906, showing 1892 wing on the left and larger 1906 wing on the right, with turrets of the Blenheim behind it

The Dennis Hotel began as a pre-Civil War cottage along Michigan Avenue, built by William Dennis. After the war, it was acquired by Joseph H. Borton, who extended the hotel and then built a large addition in 1892, in the French chateau style.[6] The hotel was sold to Walter Buzby just after the turn of the twentieth century. Buzby hired Philadelphia architect Walter Smedley a fellow Quaker, to design a huge new six-story eastern wing, which was completed in 1906.[7] It is the oldest portion still standing. In 1910, the 1892 Michigan Avenue west wing was demolished and replaced with a larger six-story wing, also designed by Smedley.[8] In 1925, Buzby had Smedley design a huge ten-story rear wing, containing a new lobby and ballrooms, which would connect the eastern and western wings extending to the Boardwalk. In 1929, with Smedley's practice having closed, Buzby hired another Philadelphia Quaker firm, Price and Walton, to design a seven-story addition to the 1910 Michigan Avenue west wing, which extended it seventy feet toward the ocean, bringing it even with the 1906 wing.[9] This gave the Dennis its current form.

Dennis Hotel, 1978, showing 1929 extension on the left, 1925 rear wing and 1906 wing on the right

In 1969, the Buzby family sold the Dennis for $4 million to Gary and Lewis Malamut, owners of the adjacent Shelbourne Hotel. When they defaulted on the mortgage in 1975, the hotel was returned to the Buzby family. It was soon after foreclosed by the First National Bank of South Jersey.[10]

On March 14, 1977, wealthy, flamboyant art dealer Reese Palley and local attorney and businessman Martin Blatt purchased the Marlborough-Blenheim from the White family.[11] They intended to spend $35 million on renovations, preserving the Blenheim wing, while razing the Marlborough to make way for a modern casino hotel. Palley successfully got the Blenheim wing placed on the National Register of Historic Buildings. In June 1977, Bally Manufacturing, the world's largest producer of slot machines, leased the Marlborough-Blenheim from Palley and Blatt for 40 years, with an option for a further 100 years.[12] On August 17, 1977, Bally announced that it had purchased the neighboring Dennis Hotel for $4 million from the First National Bank of South Jersey.[10] On October 25, 1977, Josiah White IV, grandson of the Marlborough-Blenheim's founder, presided over the closure of that hotel, locking its front door.[13]

After Bally took control of the two properties, it announced plans to raze all three hotel buildings - the Marlborough, the Blenheim, and the Dennis, despite protests, to make way for the new "Bally's Park Place Casino and Hotel", an $83 million casino/hotel designed by California-based Maxwell Starkman Associates. The new resort was to have a 39-story, octagonal hotel tower and a huge three-level podium, containing a 75,000 square-foot casino, along with other resort and convention facilities.[14] However, in an effort to offset costs and open the casino as soon as possible, the Dennis Hotel was retained to serve as the temporary hotel for Bally's until a new tower could be built.

In November 1978, Bally demolished the Marlborough-Blenheim and quickly cleared the land to begin building Bally's Park Place Casino. On December 30, 1979, the casino opened with the newly renovated Dennis serving as its hotel. In 1989, Bally constructed a 750-room hotel tower in a modern style, with an exterior of light pink glass. On July 2, 1997, The Wild Wild West Casino opened as the second casino at Bally's.

The boardwalk entrance to Bally's Casino.

In 2000, Bally's Park Place changed its name and became Bally's Atlantic City. The adjacent Claridge Hotel and Casino was purchased and incorporated into Bally's in 2003, and was renamed the Claridge Tower. The casino in the Claridge Tower was named The Ridge. The casino was renovated in 2008 from a standard casino floor to an upscale lounge-casino.

In 2005, Harrah's Entertainment (later Caesars Entertainment) purchased Bally's along with Caesars. In 2008, Harrah's spent $38.5 million to purchase the row of shops between the Dennis Tower and the boardwalk, and then spent a further $23 million to demolish the shops and restore the open plaza, and to restore the facade of the Dennis Tower and renovate its rooms.[15]

The Dennis Tower wing of Bally's, 2019

In 2012, The Ridge closed its gambling and food amenities. The tower's 500 hotel rooms continued to be used for Bally's guests until it was sold in 2013 to be reopened as the independent Claridge Hotel.[16]

In October 2017, ownership of Bally's was transferred to Vici Properties as part of a corporate spin-off, and the property was leased back to Caesars Entertainment.[17][18]

In April 2020, Twin River Worldwide Holdings (later Bally's Corporation) agreed to buy Bally's Atlantic City from Vici and Caesars. The deal excluded the Wild Wild West Casino which contains "The Book" sports betting facility, which would be transferred to Caesars Atlantic City. Twin River also announced that they would acquire a license to give Bally's their own sports book, online sports betting, and I-Gaming. The sale was completed in November 2020.[19]

The Wild Wild West Casino from the boardwalk.

Opened on July 2, 1997, as an expansion of Bally's Atlantic City, it was originally extensively themed to the American Old West, with waterfalls, faux gold mines, and a running stream. It is notable for being one of the only fully themed casinos on the East Coast. The exterior features a facade made to resemble an old western town, while the inside featured a large mountain and other western town facades. The western theme has since been toned down in favor of a party atmosphere in order to attract a younger demographic.

Renovations to the Wild Wild West Casino began in June 2012 and were completed on February 21, 2014. The Virginia City Buffet was closed, and the casino floor area was reduced in size; for a period of time in 2012, all live table games and most slot machines were removed.[21] Table games returned to the casino with the completion of renovations, occupying the newly renovated back area. A World Series of Poker-branded poker room allows simultaneous live and online play. A new stage for live entertainment was also part of the renovations.[22]

Further renovations occurred in 2015 and 2016. The animatronic gold miner and large rock formation/waterfall near the main boardwalk entrance were removed; this space now features a large area for bands to perform, as well as some live table games. The only slot machines besides those in Coyote Kate's Slot Parlor are located near the new stage. The area between the stage and the far back poker rooms remains vacant, but plans may still be in the works for more to be added.

On President's Day weekend 2016, Bally's opened the new Boardwalk Saloon. The bar offers ceiling to floor windows with views of the boardwalk and beach and an entrance with accordion folding glass doors which can remain open for access to outdoor seating on the Boardwalk. It replaced the Rita's and the North entrance to the casino.

During the sale and acquisition of Bally's Atlantic City by Bally's Corporation, ownership of the Wild Wild West casino transferred to Caesars Atlantic City. Outside of an indoor connection to the Wild Wild West, as of November 18th, 2020, Bally's Atlantic City has no affiliation with the property.

Bally's proper does not have an all-you-can-eat buffet, but it promotes the "Palace Court Buffet" on the 3rd level of its former sister property Caesars Atlantic City, with which it shares an indoor connection. Complimentary buffets issued by Bally's Atlantic City are honored at Caesars Atlantic City.

Taste of the Shore is a food court in the "Gateway" area between the hotel lobby and the Claridge Hotel. It comprises:

• Sack O' Subs
• Walt's Original Primo Pizza

• Bally's Beach Bar (On the beach in front of the main casino; weekends during summer months only)
• Boardwalk Saloon (Wild Wild West casino section)
• The bar at the Laurel Lounge (6th level, "Caesars Rewards (formerly "Total Rewards") members of "Diamond" tier and above only)
• The bar/lounge at Guy Fieri's Chophouse (6th Level)
• Harry's Oyster Bar (Dennis Tower at Boardwalk Level)
• L-Bar (The Lobby Bar)
• Mountain Bar (Wild Wild West casino section; weekends only)

There are a few stores in the complex:

• Park Place Jewelers (hotel lobby)
• Studio (Gateway)
• The Gift Shop (hotel lobby)
• The Spa Pro Shop (8th level)

Bally's Atlantic City contains the Spa at Bally's featuring an indoor heated swimming pool, six hot tubs, two saunas, basketball and racquetball courts, a gym, and a large outdoor deck with views of the ocean all located on the 8th level.

Boxing matches are held at the casino.[23]