HAMPTON — In poker lore, a hand comprising of a pair of aces and eights is known as a “Deadman’s Hand.” It’s a nod to Old West folk hero Wild Bill Hickock, who according to legend was shot dead in a card game while holding that exact hand along with an unknown hold card.
On Hampton Beach, however, the management team at Aces and Eights Casino at 169 Ocean Blvd. has a far more upbeat story to tell. They are betting their new 14,000-square-foot renovation and new plans to stay open year-round will prove to be a winning hand for charities and attract more gamblers.
The Lupoli Companies own not only Aces and Eights but the entire block at 169 Ocean Blvd., which includes the Hampton Beach Casino property and the sprawling parking lot behind it. Christie Cartwright, director of communications and marketing for the company, said the expansion and decision to move from seasonal to year-round at Aces and Eights was not necessarily part of a potential large-scale $400 million redevelopment plan outlined by President and CEO Sal Lupoli in May.
The Aces and Eights renovation started at the end of March and Mike Lupoli of Lupoli Companies and his staff cut the ribbon on the new space in July. The new space took over what used to be BAD BRGR and several other entities on the first floor of the Casino building. The expansion features 92 new historical racing machines, essentially slot machines that comply with state gaming laws, along with a slew of table games like roulette, blackjack and poker.
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Current Issue - October 2024