It was supposed to be the "anti-casino." A towering, $2.4 billion glass monolith at the quiet end of the Boardwalk that would finally drag Atlantic City out of its decades-long slump. But if you walk past that same spot today, you won’t see the word "Revel" anywhere. Instead, you'll see the word Ocean.
The story of Revel Entertainment Atlantic City NJ isn't just about a building that failed. It’s a case study in what happens when corporate ego meets the brutal reality of the New Jersey shoreline. Most people remember it as the place that went bankrupt twice in two years. Some remember it as the "no-smoking" casino that accidentally alienated its entire customer base. Honestly, it was a beautiful disaster.
The Vision That Cost $2.4 Billion
Kevin DeSanctis, the man behind Revel Entertainment, had a dream. He didn’t want another dark, dingy gambling hall where people lost track of time. He wanted light. He wanted floor-to-ceiling windows. He wanted a "lifestyle" resort. Basically, he wanted Vegas on the East Coast, but without the cigarette smoke and the cheap buffets.
The problem? Atlantic City isn't Vegas.
👉 See also: ¿Quién es el hombre más rico del mundo hoy? Lo que el ranking de Forbes no siempre te cuenta
When Revel opened in April 2012, it was the tallest building in the city. It had 1,399 rooms, a 2-acre rooftop "Sky Garden" with 30,000 live plants, and enough glass to cover several football fields. But from day one, it felt... off. To get to the casino floor, you had to take an escalator that felt like it was climbing to the moon. You couldn't smoke anywhere. If you wanted a cheap burger, you were out of luck—it was all high-end dining by chefs like Jose Garces.
Why Revel Entertainment Atlantic City NJ Actually Failed
It’s easy to blame the smoking ban, but the issues went way deeper than a few lost Marlboro sales.
- The Debt Load: You can't spend $2.4 billion on a building and expect to break even by selling $20 cocktails. The interest payments alone were eating the property alive.
- The "Vibe" Problem: Revel tried to be too cool for its own good. It ignored the "bus crowd"—the retirees and day-trippers who actually keep Atlantic City running. By the time they realized they needed regular gamblers and launched the "Gamblers Wanted" campaign in 2013, the damage was done.
- The Power Plant: This is the weird part most people forget. Revel was tethered to a dedicated central utility plant. The costs to keep the lights on and the AC running were astronomical—roughly $1.5 million a month just in fixed fees.
By September 2014, just over two years after its grand opening, Revel shut its doors. It was a ghost town. 3,100 people lost their jobs. The city was left with a 47-story glass tombstone.
✨ Don't miss: Philippine Peso to USD Explained: Why the Exchange Rate is Acting So Weird Lately
The Bizarre Intermission: Glenn Straub and "TEN"
After it closed, things got weird. A Florida developer named Glenn Straub bought the place for $82 million—about four cents on the dollar. For years, he fought with the city, the state, and the utility company. He floated ideas like turning it into a "university for geniuses" or a place to house refugees.
Eventually, he tried to rebrand it as TEN Atlantic City. You might still find old social media accounts for "TEN" if you dig deep enough. But it never opened. Not for a single day. Straub’s tenure was defined by lawsuits and "Coming Soon" signs that never meant anything.
The Rebirth: Ocean Casino Resort
In 2018, the property finally found its footing when it was sold to Bruce Deifik and rebranded as Ocean Casino Resort.
🔗 Read more: Average Uber Driver Income: What People Get Wrong About the Numbers
They did what Revel refused to do:
- They allowed smoking in designated areas.
- They put in a massive sportsbook (right when sports betting became legal in NJ).
- They fixed the "maze" layout so you could actually find the casino floor.
- They brought in more accessible food options alongside the fancy stuff.
Today, in 2026, the building is actually thriving. It’s no longer the "Revel" everyone laughed at. It’s a dominant force on the North End, proving that the building itself wasn't the problem—the strategy was.
Actionable Insights for the Modern AC Visitor
If you're heading down to the property that used to be Revel Entertainment Atlantic City NJ, here is how to actually navigate it now:
- Park at the top: The parking garage is massive. If you park on the upper levels, you get some of the best views of the Atlantic Ocean without paying for a room.
- The Sky Garden is still there: One of the few "Revel" features that survived is the outdoor park. It’s quiet, beautiful, and the best place to clear your head after a bad run at the tables.
- Check the North End: For years, this part of the Boardwalk was dead. Now, with Ocean and Hard Rock (the old Taj Mahal) right next door, it's the liveliest part of town.
- Look for the "Old" Revel: If you look closely at the architecture—the "ball" on top of the building or the sweeping curves of the lobby—you can still see the $2.4 billion ghost of the original vision.
The story of Revel is a reminder that in business, being "the best" doesn't matter if you aren't what the customer actually wants. It took a total collapse and a few billion dollars in losses to figure that out, but the North End is better for it now.
Next Steps for Your Trip
To make the most of the current property, you should download the Ocean Rewards app before you arrive; they often load "new member" play credits that aren't advertised on the kiosks. If you're interested in the history, take a walk to the staircase near the Ovation Hall entrance—it’s one of the few spots where the original "Revel" scale and ambition still feel truly massive.