Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City will celebrate the Grand Opening of its new Moneyline Bar & Book and Level One Cocktail Bar & Lounge on Saturday, June 29, 2019, reinforcing its position as the gambling market’s top destination for sports and entertainment.

The MGM Resorts Luxury Destination announced the debut of the $12 million-plus investment in the casino resort on May 22.

According to the official press release…

Global design, architecture, engineering, space planning and space management firm, Nelson Worldwide, designed the new space with the sports aficionado in mind. The 8,000 square foot venue is located across from the Race & Sports Book and is connected to the all new Level One Cocktail Bar & Lounge through an escalated corridor.

Screen for days:

Surrounding the venue is a 40-foot wide by 11.5-foot tall LED video wall with an additional 17 – 98-inch and 86-inch displays, while a 35-foot long bar, complete with 19 built-in slot machines is featured at the center of the venue. The huge bar is under the glow of a coach’s playbook-inspired sort of abstract light feature.

Seating is plentiful, with options including at the bar in flex-back gaming stools, at one of several high-top tables complete with device chargers, comfortable booths, or banquette seating in the VIP lounge. Guests can place wagers at one of six betting windows or at one of the interactive sports betting kiosks at Moneyline.

Destination bar:

The new venue is much more than a sports book, as it will also serve as the newest destination bar at Borgata, complete with its own dining program led by Executive Chef Tom Biglan. Complementing the impressive menu is a 24-tap craft beer list along with nightly entertainment and more.

President & Chief Operating officer for Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, Marcus Glover, said…

“Since Borgata arrived in the market more than 15 years ago, we have maintained a steadfast dedication to property growth and development, and we believe our new concepts confirm our position.

“When conceiving Moneyline and Level One we knew we wanted to provide our guests with an experience that was more than a transactional venue for sports wagering. We felt Borgata’s guests deserved something that would advance the market by bringing together sports, culinary, entertainment, gaming, and nightlife into a destination experience they can enjoy seven nights a week.”

Level One ups the ante:

Meanwhile, Level One Cocktail Bar & Lounge adds to the nightlife roster at the MGM Resorts International owned and operated property, serving as an intimate venue for curated entertainment, high-end gaming, and expertly crafted cocktails. The 3,600 square foot venue features customizable seating with sofas, lounge chairs, and ottomans for private groups.

According to the press release, Level One is IT spot in Atlantic City and will showcase a unique cocktail menu by Craig Schoettler, master mixologist.

Situated just steps from another of the property’s hot spots, Premier Nightclub, the new Level One venue will refresh Borgata’s nightlife brand, with its offering of experiential cocktail programming along with table services packages, live music and DJ throughout the week. And on game nights, lounge guests will be able to play blackjack while also enjoying the event.

Borgata beats the competition:

After the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the 1992 federal ban on sports betting in May 2018, the Boardwalk city’s top casino said it would take wagers from the first-day state regulators allow it. Borgata made good on the promise, and just three days after New Jersey Governor, Phil Murphy, signed a bill (A4111) allowing licensed casinos to establish legal sports books, the city’s reigning market revenue leader debuted The Race & Sportsbook on June 14, 2018. And six months later, Borgata revealed that it would begin work on the $11-plus million expansion of its sports book.

Since accepting that first bet, the hotel casino has launched BorgataSports.com and mobile sports-betting app, a partnership with GVC Holdings. The website features a complete range of U.S. and choice international sports, with customers being able to sign-up, make deposits and withdraw money directly from a mobile device from any location within the state of New Jersey.

First time ever:

In related news, for the very first time, more legal bets were placed on sports in a state not named Nevada.

On Thursday morning, the Nevada Gaming Control Board reported that $317.4 million had been bet on sports for the month of May, while operators in the northeastern U.S. state, in just its 11th month of being in business, managed to haul in $318.9 million, $1.5 million more, according to ESPN.com.

The news service further reports that New Jersy has made quick work of breaking away from the newcomers, having taken in in excess of $3 billion…. yes, that’s billion with a B, in wagers in its FIRST complete year operating. And while the Silver State will take in significantly more for the year at around $5 billion, it’s still pretty impressive considering that just five years ago the former East Coast gambling monopoly saw four of its 12 casinos close. Good on ya, New Jersey!