Atlantic City gambles on entertainment and sports betting to bring back the boom times

First came the dancers, all hotpants and lace. Then came the fireworks, dripping silver sparks from the concert hall ceiling.

And then came the splinters, as business leaders and celebrities – including the Black Panther star Michael B Jordan – smashed dozens of guitars.

This was how the Hard Rock empire opened its Atlantic City hotel and casino this week, part of an effort to revive “America’s playground” and shed years of gloom, closures and the long shadow of Donald Trump.

“We believe in Atlantic City, we believe in New Jersey,” shouted Jim Allen, the company’s besuited chief executive, to the sort of reception usually reserved for Bruce Springsteen in these parts.

A few minutes after he opened…

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