Revel to Close Poker Room in August – What Lures You to Atlantic City? [POLL]

It’s been called “Camden by the Sea”; but despite the all-out effort to upgrade the image of the resort city, it’s still reeling from competition from places like Philly, Yonkers, the Poconos, and the like.

And now the often troubled casino and hotel Revel announces that it’s closing its poker room come August.

Yes, “gamblers wanted” says the promo, but apparently gamblers aren’t coming.

At least not to the high class poker room, which Revel has announced will be closing in August.

Not a very good sign; unless you’re one of the believers that poker doesn’t fit the image of Revel.

What the hell does?

Perhaps it’s the shows.
In fact, in general, what lures you to AC?

Free beaches? Nightlife? Gambling? What?

Specifically, regarding Revel, when poker goes out the door, what else follows?
I’m guessing it’ll leave a very big shiny building by the sea.

According to this:

Gamblers might be wanted at Revel Casino-Hotel, but come August they won’t be playing poker.

The resort’s newest casino, which recently launched a “Gamblers wanted” marketing blitz, will close its poker room next month the casino said in a statement Tuesday.

“After careful consideration and in an effort to further improve the overall operating performance of Revel Casino-Hotel, management has made the decision to close our poker room operations effective August 2013,” the statement read.

A year ago the casino, which recently emerged from bankruptcy, debuted its upscale poker lounge with intentions of rivaling Borgata’s stronghold on poker in the resort.

Located above the main casino floor and not far from Revel’s prime concert venue, Ovation Hall, the poker room was designed to attract gamblers as they exited the arena, casino officials had said.

Despite boasting the fourth-largest poker room in the city based on number of tables, Revel placed second to last in June poker revenue out of the nine casinos offering the game. Revel saw $90,888 in revenue at its 37 poker tables compared to top performer Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, which brought in $1.8 million with its 80 tables, according to the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.

Revel, however, left open the possibility that it might offer poker again following the expected Nov. 26 launch of Internet gambling in New Jersey. The casino has yet to announce its online gambling partner.

“Offering poker as an amenity on the property will be considered in the future as a component of an overall strategy related to our online opportunities,” the statement read. “We have a very talented team of professionals who work in poker operations and we are actively working to place as many as we can in other areas.”

Now it could be that poker isn’t thought of as an upscale enterprise for as upscale a casino as Revel.

But then again, it might be said that Revel prices itself out of the market in a good many of their other amenities.

And to my mind, this doesn’t portend very well, not only for Revel, which is supposed to be the crown jewel of casinos in AC, but for the resort overall.

Overall, I do have to wonder, if not the majesty of a “world class” gambling mecca, what lures you to Atlantic City?