ATLANTIC CITY – Whenever the subject of casino gambling in New York has cropped up in the past, critics have used Atlantic City as an example of everything that could go wrong with this type of venture. They would cite the lack of development in the community surrounding the casinos and the high crime statistics. Well, that was then and this is now, and New York needs to take a second look at what’s happening in southern New Jersey.

The Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa’s entry into the Eastern casino world set off competitive developments by the other major casinos, and these improvements are attracting visitors who used to look down on Atlantic City as a place for senior citizens to throw away their Social Security checks.

The luxurious Borgata was the first casino to open in more than 13 years, and it’s been no. 1 in the gaming business since it opened, according to its marketing director, Michael Facenda. When the Borgata announced the project in Atlantic City, more than $650 million in capital announcements quickly followed, he said. Today, a total of $1.1 billion in capital projects is planned, and Borgata, only two years after opening, represents about one-third of that.

Mr. Facenda said the decision to expand Borgata was made only four months after it opened, because it couldn’t accommodate all the bettors who want to be there. After staying there this week, I found it easy to understand why there’s such a demand.

I’ve been visiting Atlantic City once a year for more than 15 years because I think it’s fun. I do not have a gambling problem, but I love looking out on the ocean. I soak up the honky-tonk atmosphere of the boardwalk, and I even enjoy the bus, which I’ve had to travel on in the past because my husband once loathed the place. He has changed his mind in recent months because Atlantic City has come a long way from the seedy town depicted in the Burt Lancaster film “Atlantic City.”

I was given a Mother’s Day gift of a paid stay at the Tropicana Hotel’s new Havana Tower, and, for the first time, my hubby had as great a time as I did. He’s not a gambler either, but he enjoyed the comfortable rooms, the fine restaurants, and the free lounge entertainment available for casino customers. The shops are open late, and a 24-hour deli/grocery offers reasonable prices for guests with after-hours appetites.

Last week we decided to treat our son and his family to their first vacation since the birth of his daughter, and we wanted to splurge a bit on the best Atlantic City had to offer. We were quite surprised that the best was not only affordable but also compared very favorably with anything our city has to offer.

The Borgata hotel manages to offer the upscale ambience of Manhattan without its outlandish prices. All the rooms are appointed with top-of-the-line furnishings, and fine art is abundant throughout the hotel and casino. The Borgata offers all the accommodations of a first-class resort/spa, so that guests who fear losing money in the casino can enjoy the luxurious indoor heated pool, which opens onto an outdoor veranda where they can loll in the warm rays of the sun after their swim. The Jacuzzi here is one of the best I’ve enjoyed anywhere.

I want to assure everyone that I have received no discounts or compensation from the Borgata in exchange for any favorable comments about the hotel. Indeed, I travel under my married name to avoid any conflict of interest. I am sharing this experience with my readers because summer’s here and gas prices are still high, so why not stay close to home? Let’s face it: Europeans aren’t crazy about us, so why spend our hard-earned money on those who hate our guts?

I’d love to be able to tout something like the Borgata even closer to home in New York City. The actor Danny Aiello and Stapleton Studios had a perfect plan to develop the former naval base here at Staten Island until the mayor and the city’s Economic Development Corporation quashed their idea to build a movie studio, hotel, marina, restaurants, and theater on that property. Two years later, what is regarded as prime real estate remains in limbo. We have tons of beachfront property ripe for private investment, but until our politicians can figure out how to spur development without taxing businesses and residents to death, I’ll be crossing that bridge to Jersey – and having a great time.