Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City sits at 1000 Boardwalk, in the building that was the Trump Taj Mahal. It reopened under the guitar logo in June 2018 and has been one of the city’s two biggest casinos ever since. In 2025 its casino floor won $550.8 million from gamblers, second only to Borgata, according to New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement figures.
The resort is run by Hard Rock International, which owns it with New Jersey’s Morris and Jingoli families. It says it has put nearly $700 million into the property since 2018, and a further $50 million in 2026.
From the Taj Mahal to Hard Rock
The Trump Taj Mahal opened on April 2, 1990. It closed on October 10, 2016, losing money and in the middle of a workers’ strike. Hard Rock bought the empty building in 2017, renovated it and reopened it in June 2018. Ocean, the former Revel, reopened at the north end of the Boardwalk the same week.
Hotel
The hotel has two towers, North and South, with about 2,000 rooms between them.
- North Tower: the former Chairman Tower, opened in 2008. The 2026 capital plan covers more than 700 standard rooms, over 60 suites and eight penthouses here, plus the corridors and walkways.
- South Tower: the original Taj tower. Its exterior has been cleaned and restored as part of the same plan. The named suites, including the Fillmore, Apollo and Roxy, are in this tower.
Rooms come in classic, bay-view and ocean-view versions in both towers. Smoking is allowed only in designated rooms, and cigars and marijuana are banned throughout the hotel. You must be 21 to book a room.
Casino
Hard Rock says the casino has more than 2,300 slot machines. Alongside the main table games pit there is a separate Asian table games area, and slot jackpots can be self-paid at the machine. The casino got new carpet in 2026.
There is no poker room. Hard Rock opened in 2018 without traditional poker, and the nearest live game on the Boardwalk is at Tropicana.
Unity by Hard Rock is the loyalty program.
Sportsbook
The Hard Rock Sportsbook is at the north end of the casino, next to Sugar Factory. It has a sports bar with more than 40 TVs, a video poker bar and six betting kiosks that run 24/7. You can bet on major US sports, plus tennis, golf, UFC and NASCAR, including futures and live bets. There is no horse betting here.
Counter hours are limited, so check before you go. You can also load cash into an online account at the windows.
Online casino and sportsbook partners
Brands running online under Hard Rock’s New Jersey license include:
- Hard Rock Bet: online casino and sportsbook. See our Hard Rock Bet Casino review and Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook review.
- bet365: online casino and sportsbook. See our bet365 Casino review and bet365 Sportsbook review.
Restaurants and bars
The newest addition is Sitar, a modern Indian restaurant with Boardwalk views, on the first floor near Sound Waves. It opened in summer 2026, with a grand opening on July 17. Federal Donuts & Chicken, the Philadelphia chain, opened on the second floor near the hotel elevators the same year.
| Type | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Fine dining | Council Oak Steaks & Seafood, Kuro (Japanese), Il Mulino New York, Sitar |
| Casual | Hard Rock Cafe, Fresh Harvest Buffet, Sugar Factory, YOUYU Noodle Bar, The Terrace |
| Quick bites | White House Subs, Federal Donuts & Chicken, The Flavor Tour, Starbucks |
For drinks, there is the Lobby Bar, Council Oak Lounge, Center Bar and Hard Rock Beach.
Entertainment
Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena is the big room, used for concerts and comedy. Headliners booked for 2026 include Rod Stewart, James Taylor, Charlie Puth and Nikki Glaser. Sound Waves is the smaller theater, and the Vibe stages host live music. Rock memorabilia is displayed throughout the building.
Spa, pool and beach
The resort has Rock Spa & Salon and the Body Rock fitness center. The pool is on the 4th floor of the South Tower and is open daily, with longer hours on Fridays and Saturdays. The resort also has its own stretch of beach off the Boardwalk.
Parking and getting there
Hard Rock is mid-north on the Boardwalk, between Resorts and Ocean. The self-park garage has a 6-foot-4-inch height limit, and valet is also available. Rocktane, the resort’s gas station and car wash, added chargers for 16 vehicles in 2026.
Without a car, take NJ Transit’s Atlantic City Rail Line from Philadelphia to the rail terminal by the Convention Center, then the Atlantic City Jitney along Pacific Avenue.
Smoking is allowed in designated areas of the casino floor, as at every Atlantic City casino. Cigars are not allowed at table games or bars.
See how Hard Rock compares with the other eight properties in our Atlantic City casinos guide.
21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
FAQ
Is Hard Rock Atlantic City the old Trump Taj Mahal?
Yes. The Taj Mahal closed in October 2016, and Hard Rock reopened the building as Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City in June 2018.
Does Hard Rock Atlantic City have a poker room?
No. Hard Rock has not offered traditional poker since it opened. The closest live poker room on the Boardwalk is at Tropicana.
Can you bet on horse racing at the Hard Rock sportsbook?
No. The Hard Rock Sportsbook takes bets on team sports, tennis, golf, UFC and NASCAR, but not horse racing.
Which online casinos use Hard Rock’s New Jersey license?
Hard Rock Bet and bet365. Both also run online sportsbooks under the license.
What is new at Hard Rock Atlantic City in 2026?
A $50 million capital plan covering North Tower rooms, suites and penthouses, new casino carpet and South Tower exterior work, plus two new restaurants: Sitar and Federal Donuts & Chicken.
Where is the pool at Hard Rock Atlantic City?
On the 4th floor of the South Tower.