For 2008, Atlantic City plans openings, building

For 2008, Atlantic City
plans openings, building

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — In the face-lift that will gradually transform the way Atlantic City looks, 2008 promises to be the year the surgery begins.

The new year will see three new hotel towers open, the Tropicana Casino and Resort will get a new owner, work will pick up on a new $2 billion casino, details on yet another new casino will be unveiled, and gambling halls may finally start to recover from the beating that out-of-state slots parlors put on them last year.

The three new casino hotel towers opening this year will add more than 2,500 rooms to a city where it can be difficult to book a room at a casino hotel on a weekend.

Construction work will pick up this year on the $2 billion ocean-themed Revel casino at the end of the Boardwalk next to the Showboat. And by spring, Pinnacle Entertainment will reveal details about its Atlantic City casino.