No luck required

These days, play money is harder to come by, and as a result, more difficult to part with.

As a result, few places have been harder hit than Atlantic City. Revenues at gambling venues in America's Playground slipped 7.6 percent in 2008. And with the drop in revenue has come a decline in great deals, with Atlantic City's 11 casinos offering much less in the way of comps. But there are places looking to lure back a dwindling audience with certain perks. You just have to know where to look.

Getting there: Car trips can get costly when adding up gas, tolls and parking. It's hard to beat a bus deal, which often comes with incentive bonuses such as credits for gambling. Academy Bus offers different plans monthly and has many pickup and drop-off locations in Monmouth and Ocean counties.

ACES high: If you happen to be in or near New York or Newark and want to get your Atlantic City fix conveniently and affordably, the brand-new ACES (Atlantic City Express Service) train runs Friday through Sunday. One-way rates start at $39. Upon arrival, you'll be shuttled to your choice of either Caesars, Harrah's or The Borgata.

June swoon: If you don't mind the weekday getaway, you can get reasonably priced casino hotel rooms through June at certain locales. For example, Trump Marina offers $79 a night for weeknights from June 1-18. Showboat will get you in at $89 a night for the dates of June 1-4, while Showboat and Bally's have that same $89 rate from June 7-11. Resorts maintains a $90-per-night rate for all weekdays in June.

Friday Night Live!: As usual, there's no shortage of A-list acts performing in A.C. this summer and all year. But with those shows usually comes a steep price tag. You can find some quality entertainment in the smaller casino halls. The Hilton has established a rock tribute series, ""Friday Night Flashbacks,'' that runs from June 26 to Sept. 4 with ticket prices as low as $10 for some of the nation's best tribute bands and cover acts.

Show me the funny: The Borgata and Tropicana feature regular comedy shows of up-and-comers that are well below the cost of featured acts in the big rooms. Prices for comedy shows at the Borgata's Music Box is $20, while the Comedy Stop Cafe & Caberet shows range from $23-$26.

Top of the Walk: The Atlantic City Outlets, also know as "The Walk,'' always has deals within its 88 shops and restaurants. Before you go, check out www.acoutlets.com/coupons to see if you can stretch your shopping dollar.

Off-casino dining: There are several well-established and well-reputed restaurants off the boardwalk that will leave money in your pocket after you've stuffed your shirt. Angelo's Fairmount Tavern on Fairmount Avenue has filling pasta entrees ranging from $11 to $15 and many non-steak entrees that hover around the $20 mark. At Ducktown Tavern on Atlantic Avenue, which is open 24 hours and has three happy hours a day, there's one $21 entree, and nothing else above $16.

Hero-ic effort: Of course, you can always go to the famous White House Sub Shop landmark on Arctic Avenue for good, cheap eats. Most full-sized subs, which are oversized, go between $10 and $12. Patrons travel from other states for the experience. Just avoid going at lunch time, as the line tends to go out the door.

Culture shock: Off the boardwalk, the Dante Hall Theater on North Mississippi Avenue offers great entertainment for those who prefer an intimate show over the glitz and glam of casino shows. For example, the popular Rhythm Kitchen plays June 26-27 at $20 a show. Dante Hall also offers multishow discounts.

Thunder over the boardwalk: Mark Aug. 19 on your calendar. The Atlantic City Airshow, presented by the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, is free to anyone on the beach and the boardwalk and always something to see. Aerial performances and demonstrations are scheduled from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Go fish: The Atlantic City Aquarium, which is off the boardwalk and on North New Hampshire Avenue, has multiple exhibits and a live feeding show. Adult admission is $7. Seniors are $5. Children 4-12 are admitted for $4.

Say what?!: The Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum on the boardwalk at New York Avenue claims to be the "strangest place in Atlantic City,'' which is quite a statement. See a lock of George Washington's hair, a statue of Michael Jordan made of paper, plastic, wire and glass and a scale model of the Santa Maria made from 27,000 matchsticks. Adult admission is $14.99. Children 5-12 are admitted for $9.99. But save a buck by printing out a coupon from www.ripleysatlanticcity.com.