Atlantic City, the Governor promised, would become “Las Vegas East.”įour years later, Christie’s plan has failed. Also in development were bold new marketing plans and nonstop air routes to deliver fresh gamblers. There would be a sparkling new tourist district, with more conventions, restaurants, retail outlets, and non-gambling attractions.

Christie then announced a plan to return Atlantic City to its rightful place as the East Coast’s premier entertainment destination. The number of visitors had fallen, and casino revenues were plummeting. Standing in front of Boardwalk Hall, next to the mayor and members of the city council, Christie declared, “Atlantic City is dying.” The city, once known as the World’s Playground, had become unclean and unsafe. The news out of the city had been growing steadily worse, and by the time of Christie’s appearance it was clear that, nearly four decades after it had legalized gambling in an attempt to avoid economic ruin, Atlantic City was back where it had started. In the summer of 2010, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie travelled by helicopter to Atlantic City for what the local media described as a historic press conference.