Revel CEO Jeff Hartmann (center) cuts the ribbon during the grand opening of the Pearl Lounge May 10.

ATLANTIC CITY — On Friday, May 10, Revel launched its new 3,000-square-foot, $3 million private VIP area for premier slot players called the Pearl Lounge, located just off the main gaming floor and designed to complement casino’s Ultra Lounge, a private space for high-end table players.

In a media event May 10, Revel management noted that slots business was particularly slow for the casino, and was a significant part of the reason it underperformed in its first year of gaming. The Pearl Lounge will have about 70 new slot machines that will range in betting denominations from $5 to $100 (capable of accepting bets of up to $300).

All Revel guests are welcome to play the slot machines inside Pearl Lounge, but only “Beach” level players will be permitted to access a private players’ lounge Mondays through Thursdays. The lounge will have a bar (which includes four bar-top video poker machines), a dining area with leather upholstered walls, granite counters, three LED flat-screen TVs, and a bottle-storage system. The highest-tier players, known as “Pearl” level, will have the lounge all to themselves Fridays through Sundays. All food and drink will be complimentary for club members and card holders inside the lounge.

The Pearl Lounge also features its own private cage with a cashier, an ATM machine, and private bathrooms.

“The Pearl Lounge is really the first in a series of steps were taking to re-launch the property,” said Revel chief executive officer Jeffrey Hartmann in the media event.

Other Revel changes include the addition of designated smoking areas for gamblers, a 24-hour moderately priced value-priced restaurant called Relish, a noodle bar by chef Jose Garces, and the HQ Beach Club beach bar. All are schedule to be open by Memorial Day weekend.

See a video of the ribbon-cutting ceremony below.

Revel Out at the Shore is a new concept set to debut in May at Revel.

Every Wednesday beginning May 1, The Social, which has a completely new entertainment slate this spring, will feature live entertainment starting at 6pm, geared to the LGBT crowd.

Jaymes Vaughan and James Davis, the Team Chippendales from the CBS show “Amazing Race,” kick off the series May 1. The duo will perform its new single and will pose for pictures with fans.

The rest of the Revel Out at the Shore series in May includes:

May 8: Michael MCassey
May 15: Liz Dufour
May 22: Matthew Kenworthy
May 29: Bob Egan

For more visit Revelresorts.com/outattheshore

GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP, N.J. – According to a media release, a “big-name artist whose identity will not be announced until the night of the event” tops the Revel-provided entertainment at the 33rd Annual Stockton College Scholarship Benefit Gala on Saturday, April 27, at Revel in Atlantic City.

“Don’t Call Me Francis,” (pictured below, right) a high-energy dance band (and big-name local band in its own right, also brought in by Revel), will perform following the surprise entertainer’s after-dinner show. The Stockton Faculty Band (below left) will play during the cocktail hour and dinner.

“Over the past 10 years, the Gala has raised more than $5 million for scholarships, benefiting hundreds of students during that time,” said Dr. Philip Ellmore, executive director of the College Foundation of the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, in the release.

“The need for student scholarships has never been greater, and the Gala provides a wonderful way for Stockton’s alumni and friends to make a difference in the lives of our students. Please join us for what promises to be a great evening.”

Tickets are $225 per person for the event, which includes a cocktail reception, silent auction and dinner, followed by entertainment and dancing.

The Gala’s honorary chairman is Dirk Schavemaker, senior vice president of Operations at Revel. The co-chairs (and co-founders of the Schultz-Hill Foundation, a nonprofit organization supporting southern New Jersey arts, history and education) are John Schultz and Gary Hill. The chairperson of the auction is Lisa Johnson, president of Lisa Johnson Communications.

The Foundation is seeking additional sponsorships and donations to the silent auction. To donate or become a sponsor, visit stockton.edu/gala.

ATLANTIC CITY — Revel is gearing up for spring with an Eggcellent Egg Hunt Weekend. This fun event will take place Friday, March 29, through Sunday, March 31.

The Egg Hunt will have prizes ranging from an overnight stay at Revel to dining certificates and free slot play. During the property-wide Eggcellent Egg Hunt Weekend, participants are encouraged to visit various venues within Revel to receive stamps for eggs containing prizes. Each stamp collected will also earn participants an entry into the grand prize drawing.

The winner will receive the “Spring Renewal” package at Bask salon and spa valued at $1,000. Participants who visit all venues will be given an egg containing a prize of a minimum $50 value. These prizes include a Luke’s Kitchen & Marketplace gift basket, Bask day passes, restaurant dining certificates, reward dollars and more. To redeem Egg Hunt stamps, visit the Revel Card Center.

Participants must be 21 or older and be a Revel Card holder. Those interested in participating must register at the Revel Card Center and pick up their complete list of participating venues. Visit revelresorts.com for more.

— Christina Rodriguez

Don Henley.

Local radio station KOOL 98.3 is launching a new series called KOOL Conversations, which will feature an intimate conversation with today’s top stars and a KOOL 98.3 personalitity.

The series kicks off tonight at 6:30pm with an exclusive conversation with music legend Don Henley, who is performing at Revel in Atlantic City Friday, Feb. 1.  The inaugural KOOL conversation will be hosted by 98.3’s Jennifer Scott.

Atlantic City Weekly has learned that pop superstar Alicia Keys will be bringing her 2013 Set The World on Fire tour to Revel on Saturday, April 13.

Keys, a 14-time Grammy winner, will return to Atlantic City in support of her new album Girl on Fire.

Her 24-city North American tour kicks off March 7 in Seattle.

Tickets go on sale Feb. 1 at 10am.

Click here for more upcoming casino shows in Atlantic City.

Don Henley

ATLANTIC CITY — Legendary Eagles front man and rock icon Don Henley is set to perform at Revel’s Ovation Hall on Friday, Feb. 1.

As a soloist, Henley has experienced success with hits such as  “Dirty Laundry,” “Heart Of The Matter,” “Boys Of Summer,” “The End Of The Innocence” and “All She Wants To Do Is Dance.” In 1998, Henley was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Eagles.

Ticket prices range from $65.50 to $155.50 and go on sale Friday, Jan. 11, at 10am at all Ticketmaster locations, ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-745-3000.    — Christina Migioia

What didn‘t happen during Kanye West’s three-night stint at Revel?

On the first night, Friday, Dec. 28, the rap star took to the Atlantic City resort’s Ovation Hall stage in an all-white outfit, performing a 75-minute set, during which he wore a pair of masks that made international headlines. The next morning, Rolling Stone offered: “[Kanye] rocked a couple of bizarre full-head masks – a diamond-encrusted one on his remix of Rihanna’s ‘Diamonds’ and … some kind of yeti costume (or a werewolf George Washington).”

During Saturday night’s show, West spoke (read: rant) to the crowd on several subjects, including his sanity (”They’ll try to tell you Kanye’s so crazy, so deranged. … I ain’t crazy, I’m just not satisfied”), the upcoming Grammy Awards ceremony in February (”Don’t expect to see me at the Grammys this year,” he said despite receiving six nominations), Lady Gaga, his women’s fashion line and receiving death threats via Twitter.

What made the Twitter word explode was West’s announcement during his Sunday night show that his girlfriend Kim Kardashian was pregnant.

Kardashian was in the 5,000-plus crowd, along with Kris Jenner and Jay-Z.

As soon as West told the crowd that he and Kardashian are expecting their first child, the crowd went nuts — and the Internet soon did as well.

West told his fans to congratulate his “baby mom” and that the pregnancy was the “most amazing thing.”

Revel hosted West five times in 2012, his only solo U.S. appearances since 2011, according to MTV.

This New Year’s Eve, Atlantic City is the place to be for EDM lovers as it hosts some of the hottest names in electro house music to celebrate the start of 2013.

Along with Bader Field’s Life in Color, which features the likes of Steve Aoki and David Solano, Revel’s HQ nightclub has enlisted a stellar cast of DJs sure to make the last of 2012 memorable.

Kicking off the countdown to 2013 is Swedish sensation, Sebastian Ingrosso, whose chart-topping singles such as “Don’t You Worry Child” will set the tone for the wild weekend to come.

Ingrosso invades HQ Nightclub Thursday, Dec. 27 with tickets priced at $30.

Following Ingrosso on Friday, Dec. 28 is his fellow Swedish House Mafia member, internationally famed Axwell, $40 for ladies, $60 for guys. Sold out shows Alesso and Otto Knows, Saturday, Dec. 29, and the iconic Kaskade, Sunday, Dec. 30 will only intensify the hype for the big night with unforgettable performances.

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Revel is enjoying its first December holiday season in Atlantic City and unveiled a Christmas tree in the resort lobby,  a 15’ faux Virginia Pine with 4000 lights on Saturday, Dec. 1.

Go here to enjoy the video.