It opened in November 2004 and soon became one of the most popular entertainment destinations in Atlantic City. The Quarter is a 200,000-square-foot entertainment complex with 20 shops and 20 restaurants, and the IMAX theater. 'We'll be very vigilant about making sure that doesn't happen, and that's part of why there's a pilot program at first for this.'Īssuming all goes well, Rodio said Tropicana eventually plans to have 100 to 125 slot machines added to The Quarter, along with an undetermined number of live-staffed table games such as cards, roulette and craps. 'There are a bunch of families around there for the restaurants and the IMAX theater, and there is a concern about underage gambling I'll be honest about that,' Rodio said. The pilot program will last 90 days, during which the gaming enforcement division will monitor how it is working. He said the machines should be up and running by Thanksgiving, once installation of the hardware, electrical wiring and security cameras is completed. 'On a unit-by-unit basis, I expect these machines will out-perform the ones in the regular casino.'

'We'll get a lot of impulse play, from people waiting to sit down for dinner or waiting for their reservations or for a movie at the IMAX,' he said. Rodio said the machines are designed to give people waiting for dinner or a movie something fun to do while they're waiting.

An exception was later made to allow casinos in the Marina District, where the Borgata, Harrah's and the Golden Nugget are. Since gambling began here in 1978, it was limited to the beachfront block along the Boardwalk. 'This will be the first time ever in the history of Atlantic City that there's gaming on the city side of Pacific Avenue,' he said. It hopes to eventually have 100 to 125 slots and live table games in The Quarter. Tropicana president Tony Rodio told The Associated Press the casino got approval Friday from the state Division of Gaming Enforcement for a pilot program with 11 slot machines and two electronic table games. The Tropicana Casino and Resort is expanding gambling to The Quarter, its shopping and dining area across the street from the casino. Come Thanksgiving, gamblers in Atlantic City won't have to be on a casino floor to gamble.

Tropicana slot machines