Borgata Explained

Casino:Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa
Theme:Tuscany, Modernism
Address:1 Borgata Way
Location:Atlantic City, New Jersey
Rooms:2,767[1]
Space Gaming:161000square feet
Attractions:Borgata Poker Room
Shows:Borgata Comedy Club
Notable Restaurants:American Grille
Angeline by Michael Symon
Izakaya
Mixx
Old Homestead Steakhouse
Owner:Vici Properties
License Holder:MGM Resorts International
Casino Type:Land-based
Renovations:2005, 2007, 2011
Architect:BLT Architects, Cope Linder Architects, SOSH Architects (Interior Design/Renovations)

Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa is a hotel, casino, and spa in Atlantic City, New Jersey. It is owned by Vici Properties and operated by MGM Resorts International. The casino hotel features 2,798 rooms and is the largest hotel in New Jersey. Borgata opened in July 2003 and is the top-grossing casino in Atlantic City.

History

Borgata was part of a major project in Atlantic City nicknamed "The Tunnel Project", started around 1999. When Steve Wynn planned the Le Jardin in Atlantic City, he wanted to connect a $330 million 2.5miles tunnel from the Atlantic City Expressway to the new resort, later named the Atlantic City-Brigantine Connector, which would funnel incoming traffic off the Atlantic City Expressway into the city's marina district. This caused major controversy, as it would cut through a residential neighborhood; competitor Donald Trump sued Wynn for it saying that it was a "driveway" to Wynn's casino. The Tunnel Project did progress, even after Le Jardin was cancelled, and finally opened in 2001.

Borgata opened on July 2, 2003, at 11:45 pm, as a joint venture between MGM Mirage and Boyd Gaming. The main tower - the third tallest building in Atlantic City - is visible from many miles away due to its facade of reflective gold glass. The firms Marnell Corrao Associates of Las Vegas, and Philadelphia’s Bower Lewis and Thrower Architects (BLT) worked on the project.[2] In late 2005 and early 2006, Borgata underwent a $200 million casino and retail expansion, and the new wing opened in June 2006. As part of the expansion, Borgata installed a poker room, the largest in Atlantic City. In June 2008, Borgata opened its second hotel, The Water Club.[3]

In early 2010, it was reported that MGM Mirage might sell its ownership share in Borgata.[4] On March 12, 2010, MGM Mirage announced it would sell its stake in Borgata and stop doing business as a gaming licensee in New Jersey.[5] On March 17, 2010, MGM Mirage announced that the New Jersey Casino Control Commission (CCC) approved the settlement agreement between the Company and the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) under which the Company would sell its 50% ownership interest in the Borgata.[6]

In September 2014, the CCC reversed its earlier decision and allowed MGM back into the state, after finding that Pansy Ho's role in MGM Macau had been reduced.[7]

MGM agreed in May 2016 to purchase Boyd's 50 percent stake in the Borgata for $900 million in cash and assumed debt.[8] MGM then sold the property to its affiliated real estate investment trust, MGM Growth Properties, for $1.18 billion and leased it back.[9] The sale to MGM Resorts was completed in August 2016.[10]

Vici Properties acquired MGM Growth, including the Borgata, in 2022.[11]

Gaming

The 161000square feet casino floor offers about 4,000 slot machines, 180 table games, and 50 poker tables. Borgata’s poker program features daily tournaments and high-stake tournaments in conjunction with the World Poker Tour. For weekly events, buy-ins range from $30 to $1,000, but the hotel also hosts other major events throughout the year.[12] The Borgata also has a sportsbook called the Race & Sports Book that offers sports betting.[13]

Borgata has extensive online gambling operations.[14]

In 2009, a player at the casino broke records at the craps tables, rolling a pair of dice 154 times, including 25 passes, without "sevening out".[15] Patricia Demauro, a New Jersey grandmother, had a lucky streak which lasted four hours and 18 minutes, breaking the world records for the longest craps roll and the most successive dice rolls without "sevening out".[16] [17]

Hotel towers

Main tower

The Main Tower at Borgata stands 431 ft tall and contains 1,997 guest rooms and suites. It was opened in conjunction with Borgata in 2003.

MGM Tower

MGM Tower is a 38-story, $400 million boutique hotel connected to Borgata. It was originally named The Water Club.[18] Built in 2008, it features 800 guestrooms and suites; Immersion, a two-story spa on the 32nd floor, 18,000 square feet of meeting and event space, three residences, five pools (indoor and outdoor), and retail shops.[19]

Entertainment

Borgata Event Center

The Borgata Event Center is the main music venue for the resort. The capacity is 2,400.

The venue can be converted into the Borgata Ballroom, a special events center for formal dinners, receptions, training, or business presentations. It has a capacity of 3,200 and 1,700 .

Borgata Festival Park

Opened in 2015, the Borgata Festival Park, an outdoor venue, is used during the summer months and has a capacity of 4,500.

Borgata Music Box

The Borgata Music Box is a versatile venue used for music and comedy acts. The capacity is 1,000. It converts to the Borgata Theater, a private venue designed for meetings and presentations. The theater is designed for crystal clear sound. Capacity 1,000. In 2013, comedian Lewis Black performed his ninth stand-up comedy special at the Borgata Music Box.

Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts

Boxing and mixed martial arts matches are held at the casino.[20]

Spa

Borgata's spa, named Spa Toccare, is a 54000square feet spa with a salon, a barbershop, a fitness center, and an indoor pool.

In popular culture

The Borgata appears in multiple popular culture works, such as:

In films

Several scenes in the film The Bounty Hunter (2010) were filmed on the premises of the Borgata.[21]

In television

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: DGE Announces 1st Quarter 2019 Results. State of New Jersey. Gurbir S. Grewal. May 22, 2019.
  2. News: Full House on the Boardwalk. 10 February 2005 . Interior Design News . 10 February 2015 .
  3. News: Sloan . Gene . Travel Destinations: Atlantic City is building a Las Vegas image. USA Today . July 7, 2006 . 2007-10-22.
  4. Web site: MGM may exit Atlantic City . LVRJ.
  5. News: MGM Mirage to sell Atlantic City casino stake. Associated Press. March 12, 2010.
  6. Web site: Settlement Agreement Approved in New Jersey MGM Mirage to Sell Interest in Borgata Hotel & Casino . phx.corporate-ir.net .
  7. News: New Jersey lets MGM keep half of Borgata casino. Las Vegas Sun. Parry. Wayne. AP. September 10, 2014. 2014-10-24.
  8. News: Heitner. Darren. MGM Buys Boyd Gaming's Share Of Borgata For $900 Million. 2 June 2016. Forbes.
  9. News: Boyd Gaming selling its stake in the Borgata to MGM. Vegas Inc.. Morris, J.D. . May 31, 2016. 2016-05-31.
  10. News: Boyd Gaming finishes sale of its half of NJ's Borgata casino. Las Vegas Sun. Parry, Wayne . AP. August 1, 2016. 2016-08-01.
  11. News: Casino landlord Vici closes $17B buyout of MGM Resorts spinoff. Las Vegas Review-Journal. Eli Segall. May 2, 2022. 2022-05-08.
  12. News: Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa a Fan Favorite Among East Coast Poker Rooms. All In . November 18, 2015. 2015-11-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20151208085234/http://www.allinmag.com/poker/inside-poker/the-action/nov-18-2015-borgata-hotel-casino-spa-fan-favorite-among-east-coast-poker-rooms. 2015-12-08. dead.
  13. Web site: Sports Betting & Off-Track Wagering In NJ. Borgata. January 23, 2019.
  14. Web site: PokerNews.com. Brandon Shane MOved to NJ to Play Online Poker. September 2016.
  15. Keaton, Brooke (March 3, 2021). "The Amazing Story Of The Grandma And The Longest Craps Roll In History"
  16. Web site: Patricia Demauro - the woman who broke craps world records. Michael Kaplan. 888casino. October 3, 2017. September 27, 2018.
  17. Holy Craps! How a Gambling Grandma Broke the Record. Claire Suddath. Time. May 29, 2009. September 27, 2018.
  18. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/borgata-hotel-casino-spa-announces-130000656.html
  19. Web site: Wittkowski . Donald . 10 years later, Borgata still Atlantic City's top casino . . June 8, 2019 .
  20. Web site: Undisputed Middleweight Champion Bernard Hopkins Announces First Official Fight Card Under Golden Boy East Banner; Company Forms Alliance With Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City. theborgata.com. 2019-03-24. 2019-03-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20190325012354/https://www.theborgata.com/press/press-releases/archive/golden-boy-east-banner. dead.
  21. Web site: Gerard Butler Inspires OMG Press Release of the Week . https://web.archive.org/web/20180124135832/https://www.zagat.com/Blog/Detail.aspx?SCID=42&BLGID=26852 . dead . January 24, 2018 . Zagat . March 11, 2010 .