{"id":287858,"date":"2023-09-02T00:39:31","date_gmt":"2023-09-02T05:39:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/?p=287858"},"modified":"2023-09-01T11:53:47","modified_gmt":"2023-09-01T16:53:47","slug":"atlantic-city-casinos-tow-free-self-parking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/atlantic-city-casinos-tow-free-self-parking\/","title":{"rendered":"Atlantic City Casinos Tow Free Self-Parking, But Resorts Not Fully to Blame"},"content":{"rendered":"

Atlantic City casinos are struggling to lure back guests<\/a> to the New Jersey gaming town post-pandemic. The latest news won’t do the resort town any favors.<\/p>\n

\"Atlantic
Harrah’s Atlantic City parking. Free self-parking has disappeared from Atlantic City casinos in recent years, but many guests can easily have their charges refunded. (Image: TripAdvisor)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As of Sept. 1, there are no longer any casinos that offer free self-parking for all visitors. Though most will comp parking charges after guests spend a certain amount in the resort, and most casino rewards members also have their parking tolls refunded, the parking rates might turn off some visitors mulling a trip to the East Coast casino capital.<\/p>\n

Free valet and self-parking were once a staple in Las Vegas and Atlantic City. But the perk that was afforded to patrons of all spending levels and rewards statuses is long gone.<\/strong><\/p>\n

MGM Resorts began the trend of eliminating complimentary valet and self-parking in Las Vegas in 2016. Caesars Entertainment soon followed, and that led to nearly every Strip property introducing parking charges<\/a>. Atlantic City casinos have also since folded on free parking, though unlike in Las Vegas, the resorts aren’t fully to blame.<\/p>\n

State Parking Charge<\/b><\/h2>\n

New Jersey allows commercial casinos in Atlantic City in exchange for a significant share of the gaming resorts’ revenue. Along with collecting 8% of brick-and-mortar gross gaming revenue generated by the nine casinos, the state levies a $3 per day charge for each parking space occupied by casino patrons.<\/p>\n

Each casino is responsible for tracking the number of parked cars in its garages<\/a> and paying $3 per vehicle per day to the state. The parking fees add up quickly.<\/p>\n

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The New Jersey Casino Control Commission says casino parking fees totaled more than $18.6 million during the 2023 fiscal year that ended June 30. Parking fees, however, have significantly declined over the years, as new casino competition in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast has resulted in fewer visitors down the New Jersey shore.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

In fiscal year 2007, for example, parking fees totaled $37.3 million. They were down to $20.1 million a decade later in 2017.<\/p>\n

Atlantic City casinos don’t fully pass along the state parking charges to guests. For even non-rewards members who don’t have their parking comped, the self-parking rates are typically below what the state charges the casino.<\/p>\n

Unlike in Las Vegas where parking rates are typically per 24 hours, Atlantic City casinos<\/a> charge per in and out — or by visit. Rates also vary by demand at several properties.<\/p>\n

Atlantic City Self-Parking Rates (per visit)<\/strong><\/p>\n