owners of the Chalfonte-Haddon Hall Hotel began
converting it into the Resorts International. It was the first legal casino in
the eastern United States when it opened on May 26, 1978. Other casinos were
soon constructed along the Boardwalk and, later, in the marina district for a
total of twelve today. The introduction of gambling did not, however, quickly
eliminate many of the urban problems that plagued Atlantic City. Many people
have suggested that it only served to exacerbate those problems, as attested to
by the stark contrast between tourism intensive areas and the adjacent
impoverished working-class neighborhoods. In addition, Atlantic City has been
less popular than Las Vegas, as a gambling city in the United States. Donald
Trump helped bring big name boxing bouts to the city to attract customers to
his casinos. The boxer Mike Tyson had most of his fights in Atlantic City in
the 1980s, which helped Atlantic City achieve nation wide attention as a
gambling resort. Numerous highrise condominiums were built for use as permanent
residences or second homes. By end of the decade it was the most popular
tourist destination in the United States.
Modern
day
With the redevelopment of Las Vegas and the
opening of two casinos in Connecticut in the early 1990s, Atlantic City's
tourism began to decline. Determined to expand, in 1999 the Atlantic City
Redevelopment Authority partnered with Las Vegas casino mogul Steve Wynn to
develop a new roadway to a barren section of the city near the Marina.
Nicknamed "The Tunnel Project", Steve Wynn planned the proposed
'Mirage Atlantic City' around the idea that he would connect the $330 million
tunnel stretching 2.5 miles (4.0 km) from the Atlantic City Expressway to
his new resort. The roadway was later officially named the Atlantic
