Ocean Resort Casino & Sportsbook plan a June 28 grand opening.
Ocean Resort Casino announced it will partner with William Hill USA to operate its sportsbook. Ocean Resort Casino, which plans a June 28 opening, is the successor to the majestic yet ill-fated Revel Casino in Atlantic City.
William Hill USA is the American division of a world-famous UK bookmaker. William Hill USA operates 115 out of 183 Nevada sportsbooks. William Hill also has a foothold in New Jersey’s sports betting industry, as it has a partnership with Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport. William Hill plans a $5 million sportsbook complex on the Monmouth Park grounds.
It was the Monmouth Park/William Hill partnership which originally spurred the US sports associations to sue the State of New Jersey over its sports betting laws. When William Hill and Monmouth Park sought to open a sportsbook in October 2014, the leagues sought a restraining order and filed a lawsuit.
This is the second major partnership Ocean Resort Casino has signed. Earlier this year, Hyatt agreed to manage the Ocean Resort Hotel. The hotel will be part of the Hyatt Unbound Collection.
Jordan Deifik Confirms Partnership
Jordan Deifik, CEO of Integrated Properties and spokesman for Ocean Resort Casino, confirmed the partnership with Press of Atlantic City on Thursday. The casino plans a grand opening for June 28 and hopes to have the sportsbook ready for the opening, pending license approvals by the Division of Gaming Enforcement and other New Jersey regulators.
7500-Square Foot Sportsbook
When it opens, the Ocean Resort sportsbook will be a 7,500 square foot media room for sports bettors. The dozens of video screens will show sporting events available in the sportsbook. It is expected to be in the middel of the gaming floor.
For high rollers and special guests, the sportsbook will have private suites. During big events like the Super Bowl and March Madness, Ocean Resort Casino will cater to VIP bettors.
Ocean Resort Casino Compared to Revel
Ocean Resort Casino is going to have a different marketing philosophy than its predecessor, Revel Casino. When Revel opened in April 2012, it was a Las Vegas-style resort-casino. Revel Entertainment catered to VIP high rollers in a blue collar city.
For instance, Revel Casino required hotel guests to book at least 2 nights at a time. Atlantic City tourists who were in town for one night automatically were barred from staying at the resort.
In some ways, Revel’s grandeur worked against it. Many interviewed after the casino closed in September 2014 considered the huge escalator ride into the resort to be offputting.
Bruce Deifik and Integrated Properties
Bruce Deifik, the founder and CEO of Integrated Properties, plans to use a different philosophy. Integrated Properties is a hotel and leisure company based in Denver which has properties in 5 states. Coming from the hotel industry, Bruce Deifik appears to have a more mindful approach to customer relations.
While the Revel Building will remain the most opulent and impressive skyscraper in Atlantic City, the Deifik family wants to create an operation that welcomes all visitors. The Deifiks are partnering with top brands in their niches. The William Hill venture is one example, but the strategic partnership with Hyatt brings a huge customer database to the Ocean Resort hotel operation.
Ocean Resort Casino’s Business Outlook
Ocean Resort Casino should have advantages Revel never had. The US economy is stronger now than it was during the 29 months Revel Casino operated — from 2012 to 2014. New Jersey online gambling is now established and refined, so Ocean Resort Online should have fewer technical issues and growing pains — though it will enter the market late.
The timing is just right for sports betting. Ocean Resort’s sportsbook could be one of the first Atlantic City bookmaker operations. The influx of betting when the NFL regular season opens in September should be a boon for all the Atlantic City casinos. By that time, William Hill USA could be in multiple Atlantic City sportsbooks.
