Atlantic City’s Golden Nugget Eliminates Free Parking for Customers

Free parking has always been an option for players visiting casinos across the US. For decades, it was an unwritten rule that casinos would offer no charge for parking. However, over the past few years, it seems casinos are dropping the freebie and starting to put pricing in place for on-site parking. In Atlantic City, the last remaining NJ casino that had free parking has now decided to start charging.

Golden Nugget Atlantic City recently decided to open a new parking system for visitors. The self-park garage opened late last month, and players must now utilize a pay-or-earn format. It’s a unique concept that players will need to get used to when traveling to the area.

Last month, Golden Nugget Casino opened a new parking system that uses license plate recognition tech—the entrance and exit use technology to determine who is parking in the garage. A mobile QR code recognizes vehicles and utilizes a digital payment processor for parking. Players can also connect their player rewards card to the parking area.

The Marina District starts with $10 base parking, and players can have parking validated by spending so much on gambling, shopping, or dining. Players must scan a QR Code to validate parking and include a phone and license plate number. To do so, players are asked to visit the 24K Select Club desk or go to a cashier cage on the casino floor.

Players who fit into the high-tier rewards groups, are hotel guests, active-duty military, or veterans, will not have to pay for parking. However, validation is required to avoid a charge.

Golden Nugget is one of the smaller casinos in Atlantic City. It was popular among players due to its no-charge parking. For this year, the casino has generated just over $86 million in earnings from players on-site.

The amount is the lowest of the nine casinos in the area, with a decline of just over 2% this year. The parking pricing may cause an even lower delay, especially considering other locations have lower pricing per space.

Most of the Atlantic City casinos have lower parking prices in self-parking areas. Harrah’s Resorts AC is located in the Marina District and has affordable parking. Pricing ranges from $10 to $15 a day. Borgata Casino charges $5 a day.

Atlantic City casinos must pay the state for allowing every vehicle to park inside its structures. State law requires $3 per day for each space that is occupied. The largest portion of the total, $2.50, will go to the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority. The remaining $0.50 goes to the Casino Revenue Fund.

Parking fees bring in a large number of revenues to the state. From 2017 to 2022, the NJ Division of Gaming Enforcement reported that almost $115 million was provided by parking fees. It’s important to note that 2020 is negated since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down venues for almost the entire year.

In other New Jersey news, the former Trump Plaza was expected to be redeveloped to provide a corridor for the Convention Center and retail space in the boardwalk and beach area. The goal was to create a new space for casino visitors and travelers to have additional options for travel. However, the plans have been put on hold with no development plan.

In 2021, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority gave Atlantic City a $50,000 planning grant for the Trump Plaza space to be changed. The former casino was imploded, and the money was expected to be used soon after.

However, it has been almost two years, and the property is now up for sale. There is no redevelopment on the table, and we may see a completely new plan put into place if the property is purchased.