If a major event happens near Caesars Atlantic City, you can expect one thing to always be true—the casino will significantly gouge visitors for parking.
That’s the claim of New Jersey Assemblyman Chris Brown, who has asked for a state investigation of price gouging at the Caesars parking garage whenever there is a special event held near the property.
In this case it was the opening of The Playground, a new entertainment and shopping venue that opened across from Caesar’s Boardwalk property. The venue used to be owned by Caesars and is in the site of the old Ocean One Pier directly across from the casino.
Parking at Caesars garage was raised to $30 for the opening.
Brown, R-Atlantic, calls that “price gouging,” saying it is exactly the same as when Caesars raised its parking fee to $50 during two free beach concerts held in the resort last summer.
Brown has written to the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement asking the agency to hold a public hearing on the pricing practices of parent company Caesars Entertainment Corp.
“The corporate greed that has led to the gouging of customers over parking is detrimental to the customer appeal of Caesars and the resort,” Brown said in his letter.
Caesars Entertainment released a statement that detailed the parking privileges that its customers receive under its Total Rewards loyalty program.
“Our Total Rewards program allows our most loyal patrons and hotel guests the convenience of free parking in our garages and easily accessing the restaurants, spas, concerts, and shopping amenities available at our hotels and casinos in Atlantic City, especially during our most peak times of the year,” the statement said.
Brown said the price spikes during last summer’s concerts—when parking rates rose from $10 to $50—led “to a public outcry and damaged the image of the city. Caesars’ practice of severely increasing parking fees at its garages (Caesars and Bally’s) is undermining the goals of the Tourism District and subverting the public interest in developing Atlantic City,” Brown said.
Brown later told the Press of Atlantic City that he believes there are legal grounds to investigate Caesars’ parking policies because they may violate provisions of the New Jersey Casino Control Act that protect consumers.
“I believe we have a section of the act to argue that they can’t do that,” Brown said of steeply higher parking rates.
Rebuck said the Division of Gaming Enforcement will look into Brown’s parking complaints, but does not plan to hold a public hearing. Rebuck also said he will discuss the issue with Casino Control Commission Chairman Matthew Levinson before responding to Brown’s letter, according to the Press.
New Jersey does charge a mandatory parking fee at casinos to be used for redevelopment projects, but that fee is only $3. Casino are free to charge any amount they feel the market will bear.
