When they arrived in Atlantic City these blackjack bosses were looking for a way to increase the house’s edge over the player. Many of the pit bosses and supervisors had learned the trade in Las Vegas. The casino operators in Atlantic City were familiar with running a successful blackjack pit. Blackjack was going to be the primary card game.

There was never any doubt that blackjack would be offered in Atlantic City. It did pass, however, and on Resorts International opened the first casino in Atlantic City. A similar measure to approve gambling throughout the state had been previously defeated, and the bill permitting casinos in Atlantic City only passed by a small margin. In 1976 the people of New Jersey voted to allow casino gambling in the confines of Atlantic City.

Built right on the beachfront, the casinos of Atlantic City were destined to be a popular tourist destination from the very beginning.