Bally's Park Place . Park Place and the Boardwalk, (609-340-2000 or 1-800-225-5977).As any Monopoly player knows, Park Place is prime real estate. The casino hotel sits on an 8.5-acre beachfront property that includes the historic 19th-century Dennis Hotel, in addition to a complex of new facilities. Bally's added its new Wild West Casino in 1997. The themed casino was built to resemble a western frontier town, complete with a mountain, waterfalls, animated prospectors and a running water stream flowing throughout the property. Bally's offers another 80,000 square feet of casino space, shops, a spa, convention facilities and nine restaurants.

Borgata. Renaissance Pointe, (1-866-MYBORGATA or 609-317-1000). The newest Atlantic City property features 2,002 guest rooms and suites, 125,000 square feet of gaming, 11 destination restaurants, 11 retail boutiques, a 50,000 square foot spa, 70,000 square feet of event space and parking for 7,100 cars.

Caesars. Arkansas Ave. at Boardwalk, (609-348-4411 or 1-800-443-0104). It's big, it's gaudy, it's a tribute to excess — it's ancient Rome. From the faux night sky with over 12,000 points of light to the 120,231-square-foot casino, Caesars thinks on a global scale. Because it has few low-limit tables, Caesars is generally seen as a haven for high-rollers. But extensive slot areas offer low-budget options. Aside from it's fabulous facilities and entertainment options, Caesars has a big Planet Hollywood branch and is located only one block from the Ocean One Mall.

Harrah's. 777 Harrah's Blvd. at Brigantine Bay, (1-800-2HARRAH or 609-441-5000). Situated on 22 acres on the bay side of town, a roof-deck fitness center, 1,626 guest rooms, seven restaurants, shops, and a Broadway-style theater. Some of the other features include a miniature golf course (in-season), a high-limit slot area with vibrating chairs, and a underwater-themed breakfast and dinner buffet, the FantaSea Reef. The casino markets to mid-level players and is generally solid in all areas of service.

Resorts. North Carolina Avenue at Boardwalk, (609-344-6000, 1-888-771-1SUN). Resorts was first through the gate when legalized gambling came to Atlantic City in 1978. The company bought one of Atlantic City's grand old seaside hotels for $6 million, converted it to a casino and made its money back in its first three weeks of operation. Atlantic City's first casino recently completed a $50 million renovation that added a new style, new games and new entertainment.

Sands. Indiana Avenue at Brighton Park, (609-441-4000 or 1-800-257-8580). Another casino at the heart of the Boardwalk strip, the Sands provides easy access from the Atlantic City Expressway. It features a range of gambling options to fit players of all levels. The hotel includes a salon and spa and 535 rooms and suites. The Epic Buffet features an affordable option for gluttony and is generally considered one of the best in the city.

Showboat. 801 Boardwalk at Delaware Avenue, (609-343-4000 or 1-800-621-0200). Mardi Gras is the year-round theme at this northernmost Boardwalk property. The casino has no headliner entertainment but just strolling through the casino is a delight to the senses as Dixieland bands and other performers entertain around the clock. The casino hotel has 1,309 rooms. Gaming is dominated by slots, but the casino floor includes a good mix of table games. Showboat features a health spa, international salon and eight restaurants.

Tropicana Casino and Resort. Iowa Avenue and Boardwalk. (1-800-THE TROP or 609-340-4000). New Jersey's largest hotel, Atlantic City Tropicana boasts1,624 luxury rooms and suites, plus a health club, luxury slot-playing in the Crystal Room and a new, Broadway-style theater. Three gourmet restaurants are complemented by five more casual dining options, including the Beachfront Buffet and Hooters, a branch of the popular national chain. One of the best entertainment deals in town is at Top of the Trop, the 20th-floor lounge where jazz artist Michael Pedecin plays several nights a week. The Trop is known as a good place for mid-level gaming and includes a nice poker room.

Trump Marina. Huron Avenue and Brigantine Blvd., (609-441-2000 or 1-800-365-8786). The casino formerly known as Trump's Castle is now marketing itself to a younger crowd. Sultry Trump girls du jour beckon from billboards from Philly to the sea, asking travelers to “Play the Wild Side.” The casino has brought some of the hottest names in rock to its showrooms, and the property includes dance and waterfront clubs that add another dimension to the casino experience. High-rollers like the V.I.P. service and the sometimes lofty table limits. The property shares the marina district with Harrahs.

Trump Plaza. Mississippi Avenue at the Boardwalk, (609-441-6000 or 1-800-677-7378). If the Trump Taj Mahal is a spectacle of gaudiness and extravagance, the Plaza is its sensible twin sister. Adjacent to the historic Boardwalk Convention Hall, the Plaza is simple and elegant. Tables limits tend toward the higher end but the casino does offer a mix of lower-limit options. The Trump Plaza has some rooms with whirlpools, a swimming pool, and great dining options.