Casino Gaming in Atlantic City: A Thirty Year Retrospective 1978 - 2008

Many excellent books have been written in recent years about Atlantic City, its people, its historic Boardwalk, its early 20th century glory years, its post World War II decline, its seedy side and its connection to organized crime. Many offer compelling tales and lore of its neighborhoods, colorful history as well as powerful (but not always savory) political and civic characters. The goal of this multidisciplinary academic project, however, was to conduct an objective analysis of the impact of 30 years of gambling in Atlantic City on the city, region and state. We brought together academicians (from The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, Drexel University and Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey), industry consultants, and current and former public servants in a collaborative effort that will help scholars, policy makers and industry leaders alike understand the complex ways in which legalized casino gambling changed the course of Atlantic City, the region and the great State of New Jersey.