Atlantic City casinos kick off Labor Day Weekend 2023 with just as much excitement as they did for the unofficial start of the summer on Memorial Day weekend – just a little more than 12 weeks ago.
But the fun thing about the “unofficial” end of the summer at the New Jersey shore is that it really isn’t an “official” end to anything.
Rather, it’s the start of a big weekend of lots of things to do – and extra time to visit the Atlantic City casinos, beach and Boardwalk.
From early risers to nightlife, there is something for everyone during Labor Day Weekend 2023 in Atlantic City, which annually hosts more than 27 million visitors a year, making it one of the most popular tourist destinations, according to Visit AC online.
What to do for Labor Day Weekend
You can eat, drink, soak up the sun on the beach, hit the slot machines or gaming tables. There are a number of Labor Day Weekend special promotions at various casinos that allow chances to win big, big prizes.
The Golden Nugget Atlantic City Labor Day Weekend Sweepstakes includes a $250,000 prize through Sept. 2 with 10 winners every 30 minutes.
Similarly, Ocean Casino Resort offers a Labor Day weekend sweepstakes beginning Friday, Sept. 1, through Sept. 3 with a chance to win a share of $300,000. There are 10 winners every 30 minutes from 2 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. And all Ocean Rewards cardholders receive one free entry each day. Magical Mystery Doors takes the stage at Ovation Hall, with the final show on Sunday.
Also on the Boardwalk, Resorts Casino Hotel is offering special deals along with their partners Steel Pier, and Showboat’s Lucky Snake Arcade and Island Waterpark which opened this summer. Resorts promotions through Labor Day include Bar Bingo, which allows you to combine bingo with musical knowledge to wind food credits and slot cash. You can also taken in Disco Inferno at the Superstar Theater on Sunday, followed by T-shirt giveaways the next day.
Labor Day entertainment abounds with Atlantic City casinos
Tropicana Atlantic City lights up the sky on Saturday, Sept. 2, with the summer finale of fireworks. The display is launched from the beachfront and viewed from the Boardwalk, beginning at dusk.
Concerts like the one at Hard Rock Atlantic City provide a chance to relax on Sunday after a day on the beach. Hard Rock features Sting at the Etess Arena with classic tracks like “Every Breath You Take” to current chart toppers. There’s also a Michael Jackson tribute on Saturday and Sunday at Golden Nugget Atlantic City.
Everyone loves dinner and a live show. And there’s one at Caesars Atlantic City with Spiegelworld’s “The Hook.” The show provides live entertainment Wednesday through Sunday after opening over the summer. Get your food fix before or after the show with dinner at Superfrico.
Check out The Pool After Dark starting at 10 p.m. on Friday and again at 10 p.m. on Saturday at Harrah’s Atlantic City. You can purchase tickets online as the party continues until 3 a.m.
Need a reason to laugh? Listen to Gabriel Iglesias perform stand-up comedy at Borgata’s Event Center with a mix of storytelling, parodies, and sound effects that bring his personal experiences to life on stage Saturday Sept. 2 .
Eating and drinking over Labor Day Weekend
If you want to stay up late Labor Day Weekend, Bally’s The Yard offers Five O’Clock Friday beer specials on Friday, followed by music from Turning the Tide and DJ Philly Will from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. every day.
Drink specials on Saturday and Sunday include a shot and beer combo. Bally’s Beach bar offers drink specials and live entertainment Friday through Sunday as well as drink discounts during Latin Night on Monday.
If you didn’t get to the beach this summer, you can still get a great view of Absecon Island on Labor Day weekend with draft beers, wines and small menu plates at the Claridge VUE Rooftop Bar & Lounge. Located on the 23rd floor, Claridge opens every day at 4 p.m.
There’s still plenty of time to take a bike ride on the historic Atlantic City Boardwalk and stop at Margaritaville on Pennsylvania Avenue, the Casino Café & Grille at Bally’s Atlantic City in the beach block on Pacific Avenue off the boardwalk, or just grab a coffee or a cold drink at Starbucks at the Ocean Casino at 500 Boardwalk.
Atlantic City Labor Day union summer recap
Labor Day celebrates the women and men who campaigned tirelessly for workers’ rights in the labor movement of the late 19th century.
It’s a good time to remember the hard work of members of Unite Here Local 54, the largest casino workers’ union in AC, which urged legislators in Trenton in spring 2023 to pass a smoking ban in casinos. Local 54 represents close to 10,000 Atlantic City casino employees.
During the summer, Unite Here Local 54 recognized a new president. Donna DeCaprio spent 19 years as the local’s secretary treasurer and served as a lead negotiator for landmark contract agreements in 2022 that gave AC casino workers their largest raises ever.
DeCaprio is credited with getting the job done without a strike, which could have seriously damaged an Atlantic City casino industry that was already struggling with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and soaring inflation.
And her decades-long working relationship with executives of the city’s nine casinos, as well as her understanding of what workers face each day, helped seal the deal.
“This is extremely hard work that they do,” said DeCaprio, who started her career in the casino industry making sure the bar was properly stocked and cleaned at the Trop World casino in 1987.
