On Friday, May 26, 1978, the doors opened for the Resorts Casino, one year after the Casino Control Act of 1977 allowed New Jersey to become the second state to allow casino gambling. It was within this resort that the first Atlantic City slot machine was installed.
For decades, gambling was illegal in New Jersey. But that didn’t stop Atlantic City from gaining a reputation as an exciting vacation land full of beaches, booze, boardwalks, and betting. Officials often looked the other way, letting people gamble on the down-low.
Today, the very first Atlantic City slot machine is guarded by plexiglass just inside the entrance to the casino. While many of its brethren have been broken and junked, it still remains operational.
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