This season, NFL Sundays look a tad different thanks to the new Tropicana Atlantic City Gridiron Pit. It’s being billed as the ultimate watch and wager experience, incorporating blackjack, food and beverage, an interactive fan zone, and giveaways all in one space that sets itself apart in the Atlantic City casinos landscape.
The Tropicana Gridiron Pit debuted just in time for the Philadelphia Eagles’ home opener against the Dallas Cowboys. It just so happened to be the kickoff game to the 2025 NFL season.
Joseph Giunta, senior vice president and general manager of Tropicana Atlantic City, said the guest response since launching the Gridiron Pit has been “phenomenal.”
“Players are loving the unique opportunity to enjoy live football games while playing blackjack – it’s created an atmosphere that’s both electric and immersive. It’s clear this fusion of sports and gaming is resonating with our guests in a big way,” Giunta said.
Gridiron Pit adding buzz to casino floor
Tropicana’s Gridiron Pit is located next to the popular Chickie’s and Pete’s Sports Bar and Caesars Sportsbook. Add in the nearby sports betting kiosk, and Giunta refers to the new space as “a natural fit.”
It features a little bit of everything, including:
- Three large HD screens with dedicated sound bar for primetime games
- Six blackjack pits with $10 to $15 minimums
- Tailgate-inspired menu items from Chickie’s and Pete’s
- Big Wheel of Prizes
This is in addition to the Caesars Sportsbook viewing area featuring panoramic LED screens and a 250-square-foot odds board. Seats, however, are not guaranteed. Football fans can reserve a VIP couch, stadium seat, premium table, premium VIP couch, or perimeter seating. Prices range between $27.80 for perimeter seating and $270.37 for a premium VIP couch that seats up to six. The latter includes a $100 beverage credit.
Now there are multiple ways to enjoy college and pro football action. Regarding the timing of Tropicana’s newest amenity,” Giunta said “We chose to open the pit this season to breathe new life into a previously underutilized area on the casino floor.”
“Now a once quiet corner is buzzing with energy, drawing in guests and creating a dynamic hub of activity,” Giunta said.
Adding to the NJ sports betting experience
Retail sports betting is not a big revenue generator for Atlantic City casinos. Out of the $7.5 billion wagered on sports through August of this year, the latest New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement revenue report shows only $3.2 million has come from betting windows located at nine AC casinos and two New Jersey racetracks. The other $7.2 billion is from NJ sports betting apps, one of which is the Caesars Sportsbook that operates under the Trop license.
Legal sportsbooks at the Jersey Shore give gamblers and football fans a reason to keep coming back once prime season and beach days end. Tropicana is a property that specializes in amenities thanks to its Havana-themed entertainment complex known as The Quarter with its own IMAX theatre. Add the Gridiron Pit to the list of entertainment offerings that make the property more than just another AC casino.
“[The Gridiron Pit] reinforces our commitment to providing year-round entertainment and positions us as the go-to destinations for football fans,” Giunta said.
With Atlantic City being Philadelphia Eagles country, many of those football fans are visiting the Tropicana to root on the defending Super Bowl champs.
“Game days, especially away games, bring a noticeable surge in activity, as fans who aren’t traveling to Philly choose to gather here instead,” Giunta said.
