Poll finds gamblers prefer Las Vegas, New Orleans

Atlantic City is the nation's second-largest gambling market, but it's America's third choice among all casino destinations, a new poll shows.

The Fairleigh Dickinson PublicMind poll puts the seaside casino resort behind Las Vegas and New Orleans when it comes to where gamblers would like to spend their time and money.

Las Vegas was the first choice of 47 percent of respondents who were asked which casino destination they'd most like to visit. New Orleans was second at 10 percent, followed by Atlantic City at 8 percent, Reno at 5 percent and St. Louis at 4 percent.

"Atlantic City is really in a national, if not international, competition for visitors," said Donald Hoover, a professor who teaches in FDU's International School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. He's also a former casino worker at the Tropicana Casino and Resort in Atlantic City.

"Businesses and planners need to start thinking and acting like they're in a national market," he said.