Frank Sinatra and his Rat Pack -- Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin, Joey Bishop, and Peter Lawford -- were frequent denizens of The Sands, one of the best recognized casino and resort names in the world, located one block from the Atlantic City boardwalk. The Copa Room, where Sinatra and friends would sometimes perform, echoes those glory days with a wide variety of entertainers—including Frank Sinatra, Jr.
The two-level, mirror-and-neon casino appropriately enough reminds one of a nightclub. Voted as having the best slots odds overall in Atlantic City by American Casino Guide 2001, and best overall slots by Atlantic City magazine, the Sands casino offers baccarat, blackjack, 3 Card Poker, Caribbean Stud Poker, craps, Let It Ride, roulette and Spanish 21.
Poker didn't come to Atlantic City until mid-1993, when live poker was legalized by the state legislature. But, even then, it wasn't featured much in the casinos, who thought it interfered with more profitable forms of gambling. Poker had its ups and down in the town, and didn't achieve its current presence in the casinos until the television-driven boom arrived.
The Sands Poker Room, with 15 tables on the 4th floor, is open from noon until 4 am, Monday through Thursday; on weekends, it is open 24 hours. Poker tournaments feature No Limit Texas Hold'em on Sundays at 2 pm (with a $60 buy-in), on Wednesdays at 2 pm ($20 buy-in), on Fridays at 6 pm ($50 buy-in) and on Saturdays at 5pm ($150 buy-in.) The Poker Room offers both smoking and non-smoking tables.
Major poker events include "Showdown at the Sands: The Million Dollar Deal Poker Tournament," which offers $1.5 million in guaranteed prize money, including a $1 million first prize. Players compete in supersatellites in No Limit Hold'em, 7-Card Stud, and Omaha 8-or-Better. Each supersatellite winner receives a guaranteed $10,200 seat.
