Walk down the Atlantic City boardwalk and you'll see a lot of history. Most of it is neon and salt-air-worn brick. But if you're looking for the digital heartbeat of New Jersey’s gambling scene, you have to look at Resorts Casino Hotel. It’s the Atlantic City casino affiliated with PokerStars, and honestly, that partnership changed everything for local players.
It wasn't always a sure thing.
Back in 2013, when New Jersey first flipped the switch on legal online gambling, everyone was scrambling. You had the giants like Borgata and Caesars trying to plant their flags. But Resorts, the oldest casino in the city, made a move that felt a bit like a gamble itself. They teamed up with PokerStars. At the time, PokerStars was still navigating a messy reputation fallout from the "Black Friday" era of offshore poker. It took years of regulatory hoop-jumping before the Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) gave them the green light.
The Weird History of the Resorts and PokerStars Deal
You might think these partnerships are just about putting a logo on a website. It's way deeper. New Jersey law is pretty strict: any online gambling site has to be tethered to a physical, brick-and-mortar casino.
Resorts provided the "land-based" anchor. PokerStars provided the tech.
When they finally launched in March 2016, the hype was massive. People were tired of playing against the same thirty guys on smaller sites. They wanted the software they grew up with. They wanted the "Spade." Since then, the Atlantic City casino affiliated with PokerStars has acted as the gateway for some of the biggest online tournaments in US history, including the New Jersey Championship of Online Poker (NJCOOP).
It’s a symbiotic relationship, really. Resorts gets a cut of the digital rake, and PokerStars gets a legal, regulated home in the US market. Without that physical building on North Carolina Avenue, PokerStars basically doesn't exist in Jersey.
Why the "Tethering" Rule Actually Matters to You
Ever wonder why you can't just open a PokerStars account in any state?
Blame the Federal Wire Act and individual state laws. In New Jersey, the DGE wants to know exactly where the servers are. They want to know who to fine if something goes wrong. Because PokerStars is tied to Resorts, you have a physical place to go if you have a massive dispute—though, let's be real, you're usually just talking to a live chat agent.
✨ Don't miss: Appropriate for All Gamers NYT: The Real Story Behind the Most Famous Crossword Clue
But there’s a perk most people ignore. You can actually walk into the Resorts cage in Atlantic City and deposit cash directly into your PokerStars account. Or withdraw your winnings. No waiting for a bank transfer. No "pending" status for three days. You just hand over your ID, show your account info, and get your stack of 20s.
The Shift to Shared Liquidity
For a long time, the PokerStars NJ pool was a bit of a lonely island. You only played against other people physically located in New Jersey.
That changed recently.
Michigan joined the party. Now, the Atlantic City casino affiliated with PokerStars facilitates a player pool that spans multiple states. This is a huge deal for prize pools. More players means bigger "guaranteed" pots. We went from seeing $50,000 guarantees to six-figure Sunday majors almost overnight.
If you're sitting at a table in the Resorts poker room—which, by the way, is relatively small compared to the Borgata—you're playing a different game than what's on your phone. The live room at Resorts is often overshadowed by their digital presence. It’s a bit ironic. The oldest casino in town is basically the king of the "new school" digital grind.
Realities of the Software
Let's talk shop. People love the PokerStars software because it doesn't feel like it was coded in 1998. It’s fast. The "Aurora" graphics engine they rolled out a while back makes the tables look slick, though some old-school grinders complain it hogs too much RAM.
If you’re playing on the Resorts-backed platform, you’re getting:
- Integrated sports betting via FanDuel (they are all under the Flutter Entertainment umbrella).
- Casino games that share a wallet with your poker bankroll.
- The "Chest" rewards system, which... look, people have opinions on that. It's not the straight rakeback of the glory days, but for casual players, it’s a fun dopamine hit.
Is Resorts the Only PokerStars Partner?
Technically, in New Jersey, yes.
🔗 Read more: Stuck on the Connections hint June 13? Here is how to solve it without losing your mind
While Flutter Entertainment owns a piece of a lot of different pies, the PokerStars brand is legally tethered to the Resorts license. Resorts actually has two "skins" for poker: PokerStars and their own Resorts-branded poker site (which is way less popular).
They also host DraftKings for sports betting. It’s a busy license.
What to Expect When You Visit
If you go to Resorts looking for a massive "PokerStars Experience" center, you might be disappointed. It’s not a theme park. However, during big series like the NJSCOOP, you’ll often see branding around the casino. Sometimes they run "Main Event" qualifiers where you can win a seat online and play the final stages in a live setting, though most of the action stays on the glass.
The hotel itself has that Art Deco vibe. It’s classic. But the tech behind the scenes is 2026-ready. They’ve invested heavily in the infrastructure to make sure the "tether" doesn't snap.
Addressing the Common Misconceptions
I hear this a lot: "If I have a PokerStars account from the UK, can I use it at Resorts?"
No.
Absolutely not.
If you have a global PokerStars account (.com), it is completely separate from the PokerStars NJ (.nj) account. You have to create a new one. You have to verify your social security number. You have to be geofenced. The Atlantic City casino affiliated with PokerStars is only authorized to service players who are physically standing within the borders of New Jersey (and now Michigan through the multi-state agreement).
💡 You might also like: GTA Vice City Cheat Switch: How to Make the Definitive Edition Actually Fun
Another one? "The games are rigged because it's affiliated with a casino."
The DGE audits the RNG (Random Number Generator) constantly. Resorts would lose their multi-billion dollar gambling license if they messed with the shuffle. It's just not worth it for them. You're losing because that guy in Cherry Hill just happened to hit his two-outer on the river. That’s just poker.
Actionable Steps for Players
If you're planning on using the Resorts/PokerStars connection, don't just wing it.
First, check the "Propositions" tab in your account. Since Resorts is the land-based partner, they often run cross-promotions where online play earns you "Star Coins" that can sometimes be traded for hotel stays or dining credits at the Atlantic City property.
Second, use the cage for banking. If you're in AC for the weekend, it's the fastest way to move money. Skip the ACH transfer wait times.
Third, monitor the multi-state updates. As more states like West Virginia or potentially Pennsylvania join the shared liquidity pool, the value of playing on the Resorts-tethered site goes up.
Resorts might be the "old" casino on the block, but their partnership with PokerStars has made them the most relevant player in the digital space. Whether you're grinding $0.01/$0.02 or jumping into a $500 buy-in tournament, that connection to the Atlantic City boardwalk is what keeps the lights on and the cards moving.