It's been a rough half-decade for Atlantic City. The once bustling gambling town shuttered several casinos and found itself in severe financial trouble. That struggle even prompted the state to take control of city management.
But now what was once despair has turned into hope.
The summer openings of Hard Rock Atlantic City and Ocean Resort Casino bring a level of excitement back to the city it hasn't seen in years. And as the summer creeps ever closer, that excitement is coupled with the question of which AC casino will come out on top.