Resorts International's new casino opened its doors at 10:00AM on May 26, 1978. Initial gaming laws in New Jersey only allowed casinos to operate for 18 hours during the week and 20 hours during the weekends. This situation produced massive lines outside of Resorts, and people waited hours to get inside after Governor Brendan Byrne cut the ceremonial opening ribbon. The first acts in the hotel's 1700-seat Super Star Theater were Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme, with Lawrence throwing out the first dice roll at one of the casino's craps tables.