Bodog Beat

The Sands Casino in Atlantic City was imploded last night to make way for a multi-billion dollar construction project. (Image Courtesy of AC-Poker.com)

The Sands Casino Hotel in Atlantic City was imploded last night to make way for a multi-billion-dollar gaming resort in the first ever East Coast casino demolition. Pinnacle Entertainment purchased the property last year with the plan to demolish and rebuild. The new construction is part of the city's ongoing face lift to make it more like the East Coast Las Vegas that it aspires to be.

"The implosion is a milestone event in the history of Atlantic City and of Pinnacle Entertainment," said Daniel R. Lee, CEO of Pinnacle Entertainment. "Our plans can now move forward to develop a project that will help transform the Atlantic City gaming, hospitality and convention industry."

Kim Townsend, CEO of Pinnacle Atlantic City, said, "This celebration marks the end of our first year in Atlantic City, and underscores our commitment to the community and the region. We look forward to building a new-generation gaming resort that will add to the success, energy and excitement of Atlantic City."

More than 700 VIPs, including New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine, gathered to watch the spectacle that included a six-minute fireworks display followed by the 17-second implosion. Thousands of people watched the events from the Atlantic City beach and boardwalk, as well as from hotel rooftops and balconies.

The Sands covered approximately 6.5 acres of Pinnacle Atlantic City's current 20-acre site, which is where the new gaming resort will be situated. The Sands, which opened in 1980 as the Brighton Casino Hotel, was among the smallest of the city's casino hotels.

Of course, the best way to make Atlantic City more like Las Vegas is to pick it up and move it somewhere other than New Jersey, but that's also completely impossible. So, good luck with that.