My first-ever taste of Atlantic City, in December 1989, was seeing the Rolling Stones at historic Boardwalk Hall. The expanding East Coast gaming market in particular exemplifies the continuing elevation of “dinner and a show” within the casino setting. gaming centers have since evolved into exceptional epicurean and entertainment destinations. Today, about two-thirds of casino revenue in Vegas comes from restaurants, bars, concerts, and other non-gaming experiences.įollowing suit, other U.S. flagship Spago to Las Vegas and sparked a celebrity-led transformation of casino cuisine. Menus mostly lagged until 1991, when Wolfgang Puck, rolling the dice at a time when inexpensive buffets were the norm, brought his legendary L.A. While food and live shows have been part of the casino experience since the industry’s earliest days, both generally played second fiddle to gambling until The Rat Pack and Elvis Presley brought star performers into the equation.
