N.J. casino imposes dress code on guests

John Curran

Tuesday, March 8, 2005 | 9:18 a.m.

ATLANTIC CITY -- Once, all you needed was money in your pocket. Now one casino-hotel wants you to wear nice pants, too.

Tropicana Casino and Resort is imposing a dress code for late-night visitors to its new retail and entertainment center, the casino announced Monday.

Effective immediately, anyone who visits The Quarter after 11 p.m. on weekends or holidays may not wear baggy jeans, work boots or work shoes, T-shirts, "inappropriate athletic gear" or other clothing Tropicana considers inappropriate.

The dress code won't apply in the casino itself, or elsewhere in the Tropicana complex. Violators could be asked to leave.

"The Quarter is fast becoming the hippest place to hang out in Atlantic City," said Dennis Gomes, president of resort operations for Aztar Corp., Tropicana's parent company. "Our guests arrive fashionably dressed and we want to maintain that level of sophistication."

The dress code is believed to be the first one imposed by a casino since 1978, when Resorts International -- the first New Jersey casino -- required men to wear sport jackets. The requirement quickly fell by the wayside in favor of casual dress.

"It's ridiculous," said Michael DiDomenico, 38, of Cherry Hill, who was shopping at The Quarter on Monday, dressed in a gray Saratoga Race Course T-shirt, sweatpants and white Nikes. "When you come to a casino, you dress casual. If they're going to do this, I'll go to another casino and spend my money there."

The establishment of the dress code comes at a time when the 12 gambling halls, long the domain of silver-haired low rollers, are fighting each other to expand their appeal to upscale younger gamblers.

Tropicana spokeswoman Maureen Siman said the policy was instituted over the weekend after suggestions were made by tenants of The Quarter, a multistory streetscape that includes retail outlets, nightclubs, restaurants, a comedy club and an IMAX theater.

"A place like 32 Degrees (Luxe Lounge), Red Square, Cuba Libre, these places have experience in operating these upscale, sophisticated bars and restaurants where dress codes are standard. It just encourages people to dress appropriately," she said.

Security guards will play fashonistas, prosecuting the sartorial scofflaws.

"They are being trained and will handle it on an individual basis. They (customers) will be handled professionally and respectfully," said Siman, who would not rule out ejection as an enforcement measure.

The decision to impose the dress code only in the wee hours stems from the fact that most of the restaurants in The Quarter stop serving at 11 p.m., she said. They permit casual dress. The policy will remain in effect through 4 a.m. on weekend nights and holidays. Siman would not rule out the possibility of it being extended to weeknights as well.

Lillian Bach, manager of White House Black Market, a women's clothing boutique, said she liked the idea of a dressier clientele but said The Quarter is already attracting that.

"I don't know where this is coming from. I haven't seen that at all," she said when a reporter showed her the list of banned items.

"Atlantic City's getting a little snooty, huh?" said casino expert Anthony Curtis, publisher of the Las Vegas Advisor, an online newsletter.

Curtis said the casino will alienate some would-be customers, but that might be by design.

Historically, casinos never cared what gamblers wore, so long as they gambled, he said.

"If you've got the dough, you can come in with boots full of mud and you'll be welcome," he said. "I can only surmise that they feel the need to keep the place cleaned up and keep the dressed-down youngsters out of the area," he said.

"I don't think it's right," said slot player Carole Ostrinsky, 45, of New York. "You should be able to dress the way you want."