This once-booming segment of the local economy dipped drastically, and Atlantic City's overall economic vitality soon plummeted. In fact, Atlantic City eventually became one of the United States' most depressed local economies. The magic ingredient proved to be the legalization of gambling. Once the practice was introduced here in the 1970s, tourists soon returned to Atlantic City. Today, the city remains one of the United States' most frequented destinations, drawing more than 35 million visitors each year.
Visitors stop here to gamble and then move on.
Less than 25 percent of all tourists actually book a night in a hotel, so many hoteliers have found that turning their properties into casinos proves to be a more profitable calling. Casinos are open 24 hours a day here, and Donald Trump's name is emblazoned on four of them. Other non-Trumped casinos include Caesars Atlantic City, Bally's Park Place Casino Hotel and Tower, Sands Hotel Casino and Showboat. If you're not shelling out big bucks in the game halls, you're likely to be spending money at the numerous shops, entertainment halls and restaurants located within the same buildings. The Steel Pier, located along the boardwalk, is a good change of pace from the greed-fest going on further up shore.