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Las Vegas Monorail Looks at Expanding to McCarran Airport

Las Vegas Monorail Looks at Expanding to McCarran Airport

The Las Vegas Monorail may be expanding despite ridership numbers lower than expected. The Clark County Commission is allowing the monorail to do a feasibility study to determine if and how the monorail should be extended to McCarran Airport.

Currently, the monorail has about 30,000 riders each day. But officials hope a McCarran expansion would dramatically increase that number.

Las Vegas Monorail CEO Curtis Myles said, "The airport today brings in 56,000 people, about 80-percent are destined for locations between Russell Road and Sahara Boulevard, which is where our current system operates."

Officials say bond sales would likely fund the expansion. And the timing of the proposed expansion would coincide with the estimated completion of terminal three at McCarran International Airport.

Stratosphere Ride Shutting Down

Stratosphere Ride Shutting Down




Time is running out for people who want to ride the world's highest roller coaster.

The Stratosphere roller coaster will thrill riders for the last time next Friday. After that it will be removed, piece by piece with a crane, over a three month period.

The roller coaster opened on the same day as the hotel, back in April 29, 1996.

Officials say they're getting rid of the ride to make room for another more exciting one. There are still plenty of other thrill rides, 900 feet up on top of the Stratosphere.
Thrill Rides

Thrill seekers of all ages can experience the ultimate in excitement at Stratosphere Las Vegas! At over 100 stories above the ground, the Stratosphere boasts the world's four highest thrill rides; the Big Shot, X Scream, the High Roller roller coaster and Insanity the Ride.



Insanity-The Ride consists of an arm that extends out 64 feet over the edge of the Tower and will spin passengers at up to three 'G's.' As the ride spins faster and faster, the riders are propelled up to an angle of 70 degrees. Riders will experience the thrill of being flung over the edge of the Tower and literally facing downward at the City of Las Vegas below. The ride is programmable with various ride options. An unobstructed view of historic downtown Las Vegas rewards those riders brave enough to experience three 'G's' at a height of more than 900 feet.

Last hurrah for Westward Ho

The story tells it all for the Ho.
Last hurrah for Westward Ho

Patrons turn out, turn wistful on closing day for budget hotel-casino

By JENNIFER ROBISON
REVIEW-JOURNAL




Westward Ho employees and patrons dance through the casino Thursday, ahead of the closure of the 40-year-old Strip casino.
Photo by Jeff Scheid.



Rita Bedell, left, from North Carolina hugs Westward Ho cocktail waitress Jerlis Meadows after the casino closed on Thursday afternoon.
Photo by Jeff Scheid.

Caesars Palace just won't cut it for Lynn Travassaros.

No fancy shopping malls, Wolfgang Puck restaurants or Celine Dion concerts here -- Travassaros prefers the dim, low-ceiling confines of the 40-year-old Westward Ho, with its 99-cent margaritas, $6.95 buffet and Elvis Presley impersonator.
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Travassaros, her husband, Spiro, and her mother, Marie Lyons, have traveled from Huntington Beach, Calif., to stay at the Western-themed property three times a year for the past 25 years, stopping in while en route to ski vacations at Lake Tahoe. As members of the hotel's preferred-customer club, they earned several free room nights each time they visited.

Sitting at a slot machine inside the Westward Ho three hours before the hotel's permanent closure Thursday at 5 p.m., Travassaros mused about where the family will stay now that the property is shuttered.

"We could go to Caesars Palace or Mandalay Bay, but they're just not the same thing," Travassaros said. "They're impersonal. The Westward Ho was just a fun place to go."

The end of the Westward Ho means Travassaros probably will come to Las Vegas less often -- maybe once a year, she said.

Travassaros wasn't the only wistful Westward Ho patron bidding adieu to the hotel Thursday.

In the hours before it closed, the hotel bustled with tourists. The seats at every table game were occupied, the deli had standing-room only and available slot machines were as hard to find as a $6 steak at Wynn Las Vegas.

But one look outside told a different story: All the doors of the 700-room motel behind the casino were open. Most of the rooms were bare. Workers walked from room to room filling cleaning carts with linens. The marquees were blank. Customers streamed out of the casino clutching promotional signs as memorabilia.

Executives of Westward Ho Properties, which owns the hotel, announced in September that the resort's 12-acre parcel was under contract to a Fortune 500 company. Officials declined to name the company, but speculation abounds that the Westward Ho -- once the world's largest motel -- will fall to a high-rise condominium project.

The sale is scheduled to close by the end of the year.

The Westward Ho, wedged between Circus Circus and the Stardust, isn't the only budget hotel-casino to close on or around the Strip this fall. The 166-room Bourbon Street just east of the Barbary Coast closed last month to make way for an unnamed Harrah's Entertainment development. And the trend will continue into 2006, as MGM Mirage closes the 200-room Boardwalk on Jan. 9 in preparation for the company's $5 billion CityCenter project.

David G. Schwartz, director of the Center for Gaming Research at UNLV, said the loss of affordable hotel rooms raises questions about the market segments Las Vegas can cater to in the future.

"I don't think the sky is falling, but as more affordable properties go offline and more premium properties come online, we have to think about what is going to happen with the value-oriented traveler," Schwartz said. "Will they still be attracted to Las Vegas? Will they go to an Indian casino or maybe to Laughlin, Jean or Mesquite?"

Fewer budget properties on the Strip also could translate into better business for casinos in the urban core of Las Vegas, Schwartz said.

"If someone wants a room for $40 or $60 a night downtown, it could be a case of a silver lining for everybody. You would have the more affluent consumer on the Strip and draw more people downtown, too," said Schwartz, who recollects stopping in at the Westward Ho for a 75-cent Heineken on a visit to Las Vegas about six years ago, before he moved to the city in 2001.

"It was pretty cool," he said of the property.

Fletcher Milan liked it, too.

The Cleveland resident visited the Westward Ho with his wife, Donna, twice a year for the past nine years. When Donna Milan called in early October to book the couple's fall trip, the reservation agent told her the property was closing.

"We were upset. This is one of the friendliest properties in town," said Fletcher Milan, who was sitting at a bank of slot machines inside the casino's back entrance just before closing time. "They go out of their way to help you. We'll miss it."

The Milans aren't sure they will come back to Las Vegas now that the Westward Ho is gone. They like the property's north Strip neighborhood, but Fletcher Milan said rumors of redevelopment at the Stardust and the Riviera have him concerned about the Strip's "aim toward the high-roller crowd."

"The more expensive properties can't accommodate us," he said.

Donna Milan -- who won $300 at the Westward Ho Thursday after playing $2 on the penny slots -- isn't sure posh rooms are the best business strategy.

"If you spend all your money on your room, you have no money for gambling," she said, noting that the couple typically spent $50 a night on a room at the Westward Ho.

Jim Dacher, a Rockford, Ill., resident who was milling about a small champagne fountain in the property's final hours, also came out to see the hotel one last time. Dacher and his wife, Norma, started staying at the hotel when it opened 40 years ago.

Jim Dacher said he hated to see the Westward Ho close.

"It was a working-man's casino. They seemed to appreciate our business, and we always had a good time," he said.

The end of the Westward Ho era heralds the end of an era for Dacher, too: He won't be coming back to Las Vegas.

"I'm 80 years old," he said. "This is our last hurrah."

Las Vegas quotes

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"Las Vegas is the most honest fake city in the world." --Frank Scoblete

"Vegas is becoming an adult pinball palace." --Mark Pilarski

"To the devoted climber there is the lofty peak of Mt. Everest; for the avid golfer there is the wind-swept fairway at St. Andrews; and for the gaming devotee there is the neon-studded allure of Las Vegas." --Marvin Karling Ph.D

"Las Vegas is operating on the lower levels of human need--money, sex, and power. --Ian Andersen

"Las Vegas is loaded with all kinds of gambling devices. Dice tables, slot machines, and wedding chapels." --Joey Adams

"It's mathematically impossible to win (long term) at a game where the other side has the advantage. Vegas was built by players trying to disprove this fact." --Bob Dancer

"Every now and then when your life gets complicated and the weasels start closing in, the only cure is to load up on heinous chemicals and drive like a bastard from Hollywood to Las Vegas ... with the music at top volume and at least a pint of ether."
--Hunter S. Thompson

"I sometimes think of Las Vegas as the Jerusalem of chance. A holy city." --Frank Scoblete

"There are only two sorts of people walking the streets of Las Vegas at 2 a.m. on a winter's night: muggers and broken souls not worth mugging." --Anthony Holden

"The one phrase you'll never hear used to describe Las Vegas is ‘understated elegance.’”
--Barry Meadow

"Las Vegas suffers from all those infrastructural maladies and offers every ounce of the promise. For the immigrant with no English, the autoworker with no assembly line, the desperate hunch player with a fatally flawed dice system, it is the place for fresh starts, second chances, and last stand.” --John L. Smith

"Las Vegas is the only place in the world where you can get tanned and faded at the same time." --Sal Sagev (this is anonymous, Las Vegas spelled backwards)

"More people miss more flights out of Las Vegas than anywhere else." --Andrés Martinez

"Las Vegas is a magnet for the exploration of human darkness." --Adam Fine

And now an only-in-Vegas news report, from the Internet: “It seems that there was a robbery spree of convenience stores overnight and into the wee hours on Friday morning. One of the potential targets was a store in Green Valley, and the masked gunmen entered brandishing automatic weapons and demanding money. One of the perps approached a fellow who was playing video poker in the store and demanded his wallet. The VP player turned it over to the crook, who immediately saw that it contained no money. Apparently, around this time, a bread truck pulled into the lot to make an early-morning delivery, spooking the robbers, who fled the store. Our true trooper turns back to his machine and continues to play. He holds a T,K hearts and calmly draws the J,Q,A for a $1,000 royal. Only in Vegas.

Tony Pace coming to Atlantic City Hilton Theater

Atlantic City Hilton –

Pace redefines entertainment in his musical comedy "Up on the Roof" coming to the Atlantic City Hilton Theater

LISTING ONLY. Press release to follow.

Tony Pace
Dates: January 8-12
January 17-22
January 29-31
February 1 & 2
Times: 7pm and Fridays at 9pm
Tickets: $30

The Free Black Jack Game

The Free Black Jack Game Need an online source to practice your black jack skills, here is a site that will assist you in perfecting basic strategy.
http://www.black-jack.ws/
If you are looking for free black jack games, you have come to the right place. We provide you with blackjack casinos reviews where you can play blackjack for fun or for real cash. We also offer you a free blackjack game at this page to sharpen your black jack skills. BlackJack is probably the most popular casino card game on the internet. BlackJack began in the early 1800s in France. The game was called 'twenty one'. It came to the US in the 1900s and was soon the most popular casino game in the Vegas casinos.

At the internet today, there are hundreds of online casinos offering the game of black jack. Most casinos allow to play for free to experience the casino software and tryout the casino games. At this site we give you several online casinos where you could play online blackjack for free or for real.

The fun thing about playing black jack online is the opportunity to chat with other players. Ofcourse you don't have to chat or play in a multi-player room. You can also choose for a private black jack table to play privately against the dealer.

For your convenience we provide you with a free black jack game to practice your skills. Click the link or the pic to start the game.

MGM Mirage Coming to Atlantic City

More competition will always make it better for us players.

MGM Mirage Coming to Town

This portion of my column is dedicated to those naysayers who continue to say Pinky is wrong when he writes that MGM Mirage is going to build a magnificent casino hotel on the remaining 70 acres they own at the Renaissance Pointe site. It will be located between the Borgata and Harrah's.

I know that many of you remember the history of the development of the 130 acres of former dumpsite that has become Rennaisance Pointe. Steve Wynn, whose Mirage Corporation was given the site by Atlantic City to build a mega-casino hotel, came up with several renditions of what he wanted to build on that site. He showed a lot of renderings, but never produced a development. However, Mirage became a partner with the Boyd Gaming Corporation, who fulfilled the commitment by constructing the Borgata Casino Hotel & Spa, which helped revitalize Atlantic City's casino industry.

MGM Grand purchased Steve Wynn's Mirage Corporation and they became the MGM Mirage Corporation. A couple of years ago Terry Lanni, CEO of MGM Mirage, told attendees at a casino meeting at Boardwalk Hall that the company was going to build on their Atlantic City site. Unfortunately, their Atlantic City plans were put back in the closet and they remained there until earlier this year. Due to the success of the Borgata facility, which is 50-percent owned by MGM Mirage, the plans have been taken out of the closet.

As this writer has revealed, MGM Mirage has put together a construction team that has been having meetings in Las Vegas. They are getting ready to come to Atlantic City sometime in the early part of 2006 to make an announcement. They will then begin their permit phase and hopefully, by mid year, they anticipate putting their plan into the construction phase of development. Believe me, it is going to happen. You can bet on it.



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Enzo Stuarti Now Singing in Heaven

Forty-four years ago, Jack Berenato, owner and operator of Luigi's Restaurant, at Arkansas and Pacific avenues, asked me if I would be interested in managing a nightclub he was building, adjacent to the restaurant, to be called Luigi's Gondola Room. He was informed that this writer had no experience in that field. He said we would learn together. And that we did. We went to New York and met with several booking agents at Toots Shore's restaurant. It was there that we lined up most of the acts for that summer. They included Leslie Uggams, Dick Haymes, Fran Jeffries, Allen and Rossi, Kitty Kallen, Earl Grant and several others.

We had a date open in early July and an agent told us about Enzo Stuarti, a singer who had received rave reviews and just closed at New York's Plaza Hotel. We booked him along with a relatively unknown comedian named Pat Cooper. It turned out to be one of the best shows we had all summer, so good that we booked them back for the Labor Day weekend.

Cooper, as most of you know, turned out to be an outstanding comic who has played the Atlantic City casino circuit for years. Enzo Stuarti returned on many occasions and was acclaimed for his powerful voice and warm, friendly personality. He taught his audience something as he ended his show with a statement that I adopted as a way of life. His closing line was, "In this world there are not strangers, only friends who haven't met."

Stuarti personified that idea as he greeted one and all and treated everybody equally no matter who they were. Earlier this week, Stuarti took a booking he couldn't refuse. He has an eternal booking in heaven's top nightclub, alongside Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr. He led a full, rewarding and enjoyable life and made those who saw his act feel like they were a part of his family. This column closed using that theme for many years in its earlier days and in tribute to Enzo Stuarti and because many of us need to be reminded of this concept, it will again become the closing line of this column.

Las Vegas Casino Death Watch

Las Vegas Casino Death Watch

Ever wondered what is in store for your old favorite las vegas casino? Here is a cool site that will keep you updated.
Preamble
This is Nick Christenson's Las Vegas Casino Death Watch page. Here we track the hotel/casinos that we feel are most likely to close their doors in the near future.
This page focuses on the larger Las Vegas Strip and Downtown hotel/casino combination properties. We're not going to make quite the same effort to keep track of the locals places since unless their name has "Station" or "Coast" in it, they all look to us like they might close their doors at any time. Of course, these days there aren't that many locals joints that don't have "Station" or "Coast" in their names. Also, these properties don't tend to have the same sort of history associated with them that the more familiar names do.
We also don't plan to expand the Death Watch to casinos outside of Las Vegas. We're not nearly as familiar with those places, and we can't get as much good information about them. Besides, Las Vegas is still where the big expansion is, and where many of the major closings have been.
Please note that this is not intended to be some sort of insult to these properties, and we're definitely not trying to kick anyone when they're down. We're a big fan of the "Old Vegas" style. We'd much rather have spent time at the Desert Inn then, say, New York, New York. We think of the properties listed below much like an aging relative or sick friend. We'll shed a tear when they're gone, but it may be time to take a dose of reality and come to terms with the fact that these places may not be around much longer, so we should enjoy them while they're still with us.
We also encourage folks to give business to these places. I never got a chance to visit the Dunes, the Landmark, the Sands, the Hacienda, or the Pioneer. While this isn't likely to rate very high on my list of life's big disappointments, if I had an opportunity to see these places in their prime, I'd certainly want to do so. This list is designed to help folks appreciate historic Las Vegas locations before they're gone.
Finally, this information is compiled by us and represents only our opinions. There are no good reasons to think that our predictions here mean anything. We have no "inside information", and compile this list only from what we hear from folks we meet and articles we read. This information is likely to be wildly inaccurate, so take that as you will.
For those of you interested in Las Vegas casino ownership information, We've created a page to track that information. Fans of the Death Watch may want to check it out. Several people have asked for information on who owns what property, whether they're publicly tradable or not, and what their stock ticker symbol is. All this information is available on the new page.

SSmoking ban&apos,s casino exemption denounced

I feel this article will have a divided stance on casino patrons, if casinos want to please both sides they should create true non-smoking areas, like having separtae floors, not the areas simply divided by an imaginary line over which the smoke drifts anyway.
Smoking ban&apos,s casino exemption denounced: An Atlantic City bar owner said the compromise would kill her businesses. State Senate approval is expected today (The Philadelphia Inquirer) By Elisa Ung, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Philadelphia Inquirer Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 15--TRENTON -- Cathy Burke says legislation that would ban smoking in all indoor places except casino gaming floors would put her out of business. Burke, owner of the Irish Pub on the Atlantic City Boardwalk, says the roughly 90 percent of her customers who smoke will move next door and have a cigarette in a casino. "This is the stake through our heart, without a doubt," she said yesterday at a Statehouse news conference organized by the New Jersey Restaurant Association. Acting Gov. Richard J. Codey this year brokered a compromise that included the casino exemption, and the state Senate is expected to approve the measure today. The bill would then head to the Assembly, where Speaker Albio Sires (D., Hudson) said he would be "interested in looking at it" during the lame-duck legislative session -- assuming the casino exemption was attached. Burke said that while she opposed any smoking ban, the casino exemption would hurt her much more than an outright prohibition. Already, she said, she has a hard time competing with the "millions of free drinks" given to gamblers on casino floors. State Sen. John Adler (D., Camden), a primary sponsor of the bill, pointed out that smoking would be allowed only on casino floors. Some casinos have bars in gaming areas, but smoking would not be permitted in the rest of the casinos' bars or restaurants, he said. "We know that in states that have banned smoking... that it has been good for the hospitality industry and good for public health," Adler said. Keith Johnson, owner of Laurel Lanes Bowling Center and Brewster's Pub on Route 73 in Maple Shade, said bowling-alley owners had hoped for an exemption of their own, one that would allow smoking rooms. Otherwise, he said, his patrons could step outside for a smoke wearing bowling shoes, step in a puddle, and slide on the slick alley floors. Armando Frallicciardi Jr. said the ban would hurt his popular Trenton restaurant, Lorenzo's, where the state's political elite meet for a meal and often a smoke. "When people are doing business deals, that seems to be when they want to have cigars or cigarettes," he said. Of a group of 13 state troopers in his restaurant recently, seven were smoking cigars, Frallicciardi said. "I find it a little alarming that the same state troopers we pay to protect us... somehow the state has to protect them from themselves."

NORTH LAS VEGAS TO GET ANOTHER STATION CASINO

NORTH LAS VEGAS TO GET ANOTHER STATION CASINO

Station Casinos, Inc. (NYSE: STN--"Station") and The Greenspun Corporation have announced that they have entered into an agreement to develop Aliante Station, a hotel and casino in Aliante, a 1,905-acre master-planned community in North Las Vegas. Station will develop and manage the facility, which will be located on a gaming-entitled 40-acre site on the northeast corner of Interstate 215 and Aliante Parkway within the Aliante master-planned community. The agreement calls for 50/50 ownership of the project, with Station receiving a management fee.

"When we conceptualized and developed Aliante, we incorporated a hotel/casino as part of our overall master plan in order to provide the entertainment amenities that many residents are looking for," said Brian Greenspun, Chairman of the Board of The Greenspun Corporation. "We have a great relationship with the Fertittas and Station Casinos as a result of the success of Green Valley Ranch Resort and we are confident that they will develop and operate a high-quality project for our residents and the surrounding North Las Vegas community," Greenspun concluded.

"We are excited about the opportunity to develop and operate a hotel and casino in Aliante, the most successful master-planned community in North Las Vegas," said Lorenzo Fertitta, President of Station. "North Las Vegas is one of the fastest growing cities in the country and Aliante is the premiere location in North Las Vegas for a hotel and casino. We believe that market is ready for our product."

The master-planned community currently features a golf course, city parks and an extensive 24-mile trail system. Aliante is a partnership between American Nevada Corporation and Del Webb Communities.

According to City of North Las Vegas demographers, North Las Vegas' population is expected to continue to double every eight years with an average annual growth rate of 9.4%. This year, North Las Vegas' population exceeded 180,000 residents. The U.S. Census Bureau also named North Las Vegas the second fastest growing city in the country from 2000-2003 with a population increase of 25%.

Station will immediately begin designing the hotel and casino and anticipates breaking ground on the project by late 2006 or early 2007. "As the premiere provider of local's entertainment, we look forward to bringing hotel rooms, restaurants and entertainment such as gaming and movie theatres to an area we believe is hungry for these types of amenities," said Fertitta.

Subsidiaries of The Greenspun Corporation and Station are partners in Green Valley Ranch Resort and Casino, Barley's Casino & Brewing Company and The Greens Cafe, all of which are located in Henderson, Nevada.

Borgata Launches PowerPrize Jackpot and Players Card Bonus

Borgata Launches PowerPrize Jackpot and Players Card Bonus
Borgata's Biggest Giveaway Ever Where Everyone Playing With a My Borgata Card Wins
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa has unveiled its biggest giveaway ever, the PowerPrize Jackpot and Players Card Bonus, paying out $129,799 in cash to one lucky winner and $31,375 in slot dollars to 691 My Borgata customers in its debut weekend. The promotion guarantees to award My Borgata cardholders with $1 million in cash within the first 30 days.
"I was playing the nickel slots so I never would have imagined that I'd win the PowerPrize Jackpot," said My Borgata customer, Judi DeSilva of Springfield, PA. "It was so exciting when the jackpot hit! Borgata associates rushed to my side, brought me champagne, and arranged for me to stay in a suite with the most magnificent views."
As the inaugural PowerPrize Jackpot winner, Mrs. DeSilva received her jackpot win of $129,799 cash and 691 My Borgata cardholders won $31,375 in slot dollars.
The PowerPrize Jackpot starts at $100,000 and must pay-out before the jackpot reaches $150,000. Every time the jackpot hits, one lucky customer playing slots with their My Borgata card will be randomly selected to win the PowerPrize Jackpot. Everyone playing slots with their My Borgata card when the PowerPrize Jackpot hits wins the Players Card Bonus -- $25 or $50 in Bonus Slot Dollars.
Borgata associates are included in the excitement as well. Every time the PowerPrize Jackpot hits, one Borgata associate will be randomly selected to win an extra one percent of the total PowerPrize Jackpot amount, courtesy of Borgata. The most recent winner, a housekeeping shift manager and day-one Borgata associate, received $1,297 in cash.
"For over one million customers, Borgata has become their place to stay, play, and win," said Larry Mullin, Chief Operating Officer for Borgata. "With the addition of The PowerPrize Jackpot and Players Card Bonus, all customers with a My Borgata card are guaranteed winners. On behalf of Borgata, we are excited to offer our biggest promotion to date and continue to provide our customers the best rewards."
Images are available upon request.
For more information on The PowerPrize Jackpot and Players Card Bonus visit www.powerprizejackpot.com.
About Borgata
Borgata is a joint venture of Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE: BYD) and MGM MIRAGE (NYSE: MGM). Located at Renaissance Pointe in Atlantic City, it features 2,000 guest rooms and suites, 125,000 square feet of gaming, 163 gaming tables, 3,600 slot machines, 11 destination restaurants, 11 retail boutiques, a 54,000 square foot spa, 70,000 square feet of event space, and parking for 7,100 cars.
For more information on Borgata, and/or to obtain a copy of this press release visit www.theborgata.com or use AOL keyword: borgata. Additional news and information on Boyd Gaming can be found at www.boydgaming.com, additional information on MGM MIRAGE can be found at www.mgmmirage.com.

Trump's A.C. casinos to receive $110M. face lift

Trump's A.C. casinos to receive $110M. face lift


ATLANTIC CITY-Last year, Donald Trump's casinos were out of luck and nearly out of money.

Chapter 11 followed, but instead of destroying the cash-poor company, the bankruptcy reorganization allowed Trump to shed hundreds of millions of dollars of debt and tap new funding for expansion and renovation projects.

In the first phase of its post-bankruptcy rebuilding plan, Trump Entertainment Resorts Inc. announced Wednesday it will spend $110 million to give its three aging gambling halls a makeover.

"There won't be any product like it in Atlantic City. When we get done, it will be beautiful," Trump said in an interview from his New York office.

Trump, who is chairman of the company bearing his name, now has the money to back up his boasts. The bankruptcy reorganization cut $100 million from the company's annual debt payments and included a new $500 million line of credit. An extra $253 million will come from the recent sale of Trump's riverboat casino in Gary, Ind.

"The company is very strong financially," Trump said. "It came out of bankruptcy really well and really powerful. We have tremendous lines of credit and terrific cash flow."

The first phase of the renovation plan will include projects in 2006 and 2007. The company is still discussing the total cost of the rebuilding program, including the price tag for a new hotel tower scheduled to open in 2008 at Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort.

"We haven't really determined it. But the word is, whatever is necessary," Trump said of the construction costs.

Trump Entertainment already has refurbished many of the hotel rooms at the three casinos and will now give the public areas of the buildings a facelift - in the process, adding some of the excitement and pizzazz needed to attract fickle gamblers.

"The renovations include a variety of projects designed to enhance the inherent strengths of each of the three properties," said James B. Perry, Trump Entertainment's chief executive officer. "Our goal is to focus on what matters most to our customers, and to create unique and exciting venues designed to add value to their Trump Atlantic City experience."

Trump Entertainment must spruce up its casinos to keep pace with its competitors on the Boardwalk and in the Marina District. Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa has started construction on a $525 million expansion project and Harrah's Atlantic City has plans for a $550 million makeover.

At the flagship Taj Mahal, renovations will include transforming a corridor that leads from the parking garage into a promenade featuring new stores and restaurants. A new high-end Asian gaming area, noodle bar and casino lounge also are planned.

Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino's outdated Boardwalk entrance will be given a facelift, complemented by changes to the lobby area to make it more accessible. The New Yorker deli will be replaced by a new restaurant.

When combined with Trump Plaza's newly added Liquid Bar and EVO Restaurant, the first floor from the Boardwalk entrance to the hotel lobby will have a more exciting and contemporary look, Perry said.

Trump Marina Hotel Casino will undergo renovations to its meeting and convention space. A new restaurant also is planned.

To boost morale among its workforce, the company has budgeted money for new staff uniforms at all three casinos and improvements to the employee cafeterias.

In addition to the $110 million rebuilding plan for 2006 and 2007, Trump Entertainment already has spent $32 million for renovation projects this year. By the middle of 2006, the company will have completely updated the standard guest rooms at all three properties and refurbished the casino floor at Trump Plaza, Perry said.

The centerpiece of the renovation program is a previously announced 800-room hotel tower at the Taj Mahal. Construction is scheduled to start next June, with completion in 2008.

Trump said the cost of the tower is still being determined. Designs have not yet been unveiled, but Trump promised the project will add a stunning new dimension to the Taj Mahal's skyline.

"It's going to be a really beautiful tower," he said.

At the same time it is refurbishing the Atlantic City casinos, Trump Entertainment is scouting expansion opportunities in other gaming markets. The company recently announced it will seek a gaming license for a new slots parlor in Philadelphia when Pennsylvania introduces casino-style gambling in 2006 or 2007.

Trump Entertainment replaced the now-defunct Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts Inc. when the company emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May. Trump's casino empire was threatened by a crushing $1.8 billion debt when it filed for Chapter 11 in November 2004, but the company's fina399.7M. month for A.C. casinos
Tropicana, others manage to avoid holiday slowdown
By DONALD WITTKOWSKI Staff Writer, (609) 272-7258
Published: Saturday, December 10, 2005
Updated: Saturday, December 10, 2005

ATLANTIC CITY-This is usually the time of year when Black Friday is much more important than blackjack and the mall is much busier than the gambling hall.

But it seems that there was no holiday shopping-related slowdown this November for the casino industry. Gaming revenue climbed 6.6 percent to $399.7 million for a record-breaking month, according to figures released Friday by the state Casino Control Commission.

It was the first time in Atlantic City's 27-year history of gaming that November's casino "win" came so close to the $400 million mark, a figure normally associated with the busy summer tourism season.

"That's pretty positive," said gaming analyst Brian McGill of Susquehanna Financial Group.

Slot revenue was up 5.7 percent to nearly $290 million and table winnings jumped 9 percent to $109.7 million. Eight of the 12 casinos posted gains for the month and five standouts had double-digit increases.

Atlantic City's tourism usually drops off dramatically after the summer season, with the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas among the weakest for casinos.

Casinos begin to lose business to the malls after Black Friday, the traditional start of the holiday shopping season. However, one casino has transformed itself into a more mall-like holiday setting and the results have been extraordinary.

Gaming revenue at Tropicana Casino and Resort surged nearly 25 percent in November thanks to the spillover effects from The Quarter, the sprawling retail and entertainment complex that opened in late 2004.

It seems that when customers weren't shopping or eating at The Quarter, they were spending their money on Tropicana's gaming floor. Tropicana's slot win soared 31.5 percent and table-game revenue increased nearly 12 percent in November.

Embracing the holidays like no other casino has done before, Tropicana has turned The Quarter into a winter wonderland complete with towering Christmas trees, lavish decorations and festive music. It kicked off the holiday season on Nov. 2 with a tree-lighting ceremony that drew hundreds of onlookers.

"We took advantage of our unique position in the marketplace as Atlantic City's only enclosed dining, entertainment and retail destination," Tropicana spokeswoman Maureen Siman said in a statement. "By launching our First Annual Holiday Spectacular on Nov. 2, we took advantage of and jump-started the retail season."

McGill said other casinos will most likely use Tropicana's mix of nongaming and casino attractions as a model for their expansion projects. He said November's results underscored the importance of giving customers more to do than just gamble.

"I think one glaring number that jumps off the page is Tropicana," he said. "It still shows that more nongaming amenities are certainly better than not. I think that's what is going to drive performance going forward."

Meanwhile, other casinos that posted double-digit gains in November were Caesars Atlantic City, Harrah's Atlantic City, Resorts Atlantic City and Showboat Casino Hotel.

Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa was No. 1 overall in November revenue - at $55.3 million - but the Las Vegas-style megaresort fell well short of the double-digit increase that it usually racks up each month.

Overall, Borgata's revenue was up 3.5 percent on the strength of a 12.3 percent gain in table winnings. Slot revenue, though, slumped 1.5 percent.

McGill said Borgata is "capacity constrained" and that revenue growth will depend on completion of its $525 million expansion project. The first phase will add new gaming space, restaurants and retail when it opens next spring. An 800-room hotel tower is planned for late 2007.

"I think with Borgata, until they get the expansion opened next year, we're not going to see the double-digit increases we've come to know," McGill said.

ncial turnaround included a profitable third quarter this year.

ATLANTIC CITY LOCAL HISTORY

ATLANTIC CITY LOCAL HISTORY
ATLANTIC CITY Pictures


The original inhabitants of Absecon Island were the Lenni-Lenape Indians who traveled over the Old Indian Trail from the Mainland to spend the summer months on the island. Thomas Budd was the first recorded owner of Absecon Island who arrived in Atlantic County in the late 1670’s. Back then a piece of beachfront property was valued at a mere $0.04 an acre, and today is worth millions of dollars per acre.

Jeremiah Leeds was the first white man to build a permanent structure on the island in 1785, and was the first official residents of Atlantic City. There home was called Leeds Plantation. Jeremiah Leeds’ second wife Millicent got a license to operate a tavern after Jeremiah’s death in 1838. This was the first business in Atlantic City.

Dr Jonathan Pitney, a prominent physician felt that the island had much to offer, and had ideas of making the island a health resort. But first the access to the island had to be improved, so with the help of civil engineer, Richard Osborne, the Camden-Atlantic City Railroad was built. Construction began in 1852 and the first train arrived on 5 July 1854 after a 2-½ hour trip. Richard Osborne named the city, while Dr Pitney planned the placement of the city streets and named them. Streets running parallel to the ocean would be named after the great bodies of water of the world, while streets, which ran east/west would be named after the States.

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Lady Luck Las Vegas Casino to Terminate Employees

Las Vegas Casino to Terminate Employees

Thousands of locals could be out of a job early next year amid word that a downtown casino is closing for renovations.
A packet of information is what many Lady Luck Casino employees received Sunday night when they came to work. It includes a letter saying they'll be out of a job by Feb. 11. The letter says a substantial portion of the Lady Luck will close between Feb. 11 and Feb. 25 for remodeling and management anticipates this substantial closure for 12 months.
"We regret to inform you that your employment at the Lady Luck Casino and Hotel will be permanently terminated during this 14-day window."
Employees tell Eyewitness News they believe this means that after the 14-day window, they are not guaranteed their jobs back.
The partial closure will affect the hotel and casino owned by Las Vegas based Henry Brent Co. About 2,000 employees work at Lady Luck.
The company purchased the property earlier this year with plans to remodel and expand it. The new information says the property is partially closing because as the construction plan was developed it became more apparent it would be nearly impossible to provide guests with a quality experience or to attract the number of guests needed to maintain staff throughout the renovation.
The casino owners also own a series of restaurants and nightlife venues across the street. They plan to keep those open during the renovation.
Employees say there are meetings throughout Monday to inform all employees of the situation. The information packet does say management will be coordinating job fairs with local employers to help employees find new jobs.

Limerick slots people reaction

An Atlantic City casino owner hopes to bring slot machines to Limerick, Montgomery County.

The idea is the talk of the township.

WFMZ'S Jaccii Farris has the story.


REPORTER:

Limerick Pennsylvania...population 14 thousand.

On the horizon one can't help but notice the Exelon Nuclear Power Plant.

But if Atlantic City Borgata Casino owner William Boyd has his way, a stand alone slot parlor will soon emerge from the shadow of the cooling stacks.

WALTER ZAREMBA:

157 "If they are talking about a thousand slot machines..that's assuming a lot of people so that's going to be some traffic changes that's going to required in that particular area."

REPORTER:

Limerick manager Walter Zaremba says nothing official has been presented to the township.

The unofficial plan would put the casino next to a proposed high end outlet mall near route 422.

Zaremba says while he's confidant the outlet mall will be good for the local economy.
There are too many questions regarding the slot parlor.

WALTER ZAREMBA:

409 "Is he going to get a license, how big is the place going to be will this site handle this facility will it allow the people to come and go."

Businesses along Ridge Pike...Limerick's main drag, are split over the idea.

LORI FREESE:

1523 If it's going to mean a lot more traffic I don't think this town can afford much more traffic than what we already have."
REPORTER:

Bright Beginnings Child Care Center employees

Say they're also worried about crime.

(NAT OF DOOR OPENING)

But next door at flowers by the bunch...owner
Michael Mazzlerle says the casino will be a winfall of jobs and local business.
MICHAEL MAZZERLE

1727 "Casino's need flowers just like houses yea I think it's a very good thing."
REPORTER:

The Developer is expected to hold public hearings and could be required to get a zoning change from the township should the proposal move forward.

In Limerick, Montgomery County, Jaccii Farris 69 News.

Limerick slots site proposal expected

Limerick slots site proposal expected

Boyd Gaming is to announce plans to seek a parlor license. It would spend $300 million to augment Borgata revenue.


Boyd Gaming Corp., joining the heated competition for new slots licenses in Pennsylvania, wants to build a $300 million slots parlor in Limerick Township, Montgomery County.

The casino company, which is a co-owner of the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City, is expected to announce as soon as today its proposal to build on a 125-acre parcel in the township, which is best known as the site of Peco Energy Co.'s Limerick nuclear power plant.

The proposed casino would be along Route 422 at the Sanatoga exit, next to the soon-to-be-built Philadelphia Premium Outlets Mall.

Before it can build its casino, Boyd must secure one of 14 gambling licenses to be issued by the state Gaming Control Board. Boyd is vying for one of two highly coveted licenses for a stand-alone slots parlors in undetermined locations.

"They must first answer the question, 'Will they get a license?' " said Harry Curtis, gambling analyst with JPMorgan Chase & Co. "They will have to convince the regulatory board that this is an appropriate location for the state.

"The state will attempt to maximize tax revenue, so it will want to put licenses in the most productive locations," he said. "We don't know where those are yet."

Under the state's gambling law, Philadelphia will have two slots locations; and Pittsburgh, one. The board will issue two other licenses for resorts, while seven licenses are designated for racetracks.

The deadline to apply for a license is Dec. 28, with the board scheduled to award all 14 licenses by late next year. The process has been mired in delays over a key question: whether to divide the state into regions for slot suppliers.

Last week, a proposal was put forward to allow the licensing-application process to continue while the Gaming Board resolved the supplier issue.

Board spokesman Nick Hays said summer 2006 was now the earliest date for the State Gaming Board to begin issuing conditional licenses for racetrack casinos.

Boyd owns 19 casino properties in six states, including New Jersey and Nevada. By establishing a presence in Montgomery County, industry analysts say, Boyd creates a feeder market for the Borgata in Atlantic City - Boyd's largest and most expensive casino property.

"Initially, we feel that the tracks and parlors in Pennsylvania will have a negative impact on results in Atlantic City," Curtis said. "But when you net that out against the cash flow that they will get from Pennsylvania, Boyd should be significantly ahead."

Atlantic City attracts about 23 percent of its customers from Philadelphia and its surrounding suburbs, and about 45 percent from New York, according to the Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority.

Curtis said that by selecting a suburban site, Boyd is following the steps of Harrah's Entertainment Inc., which is converting a harness track in Chester, Delaware County, into a slots parlor. Harrah's owns four casinos in Atlantic City.

"If the Montgomery County site is one of the selected locations, then it will enjoy a regional oligopoly and a local monopoly," Curtis said. "So the returns for Boyd ought to be strong."

Other major gambling companies with a presence in Atlantic City, including Trump Entertainment Resorts Inc. and Aztar Corp., are positioning themselves to take advantage of similar opportunities.

Trump Entertainment has leased land in the city's Nicetown section to build a potential slots parlor. Phoenix-based Aztar introduced plans last month for a $325 million casino in Allentown similar to its Tropicana casino in Atlantic City.

Boyd spokesman Rob Stillwell described Montgomery County as "an underserved market," and he said the new casino would be intended to serve the Philadelphia region's highly populated northern and western suburbs. He said the facility would open with 3,000 slot machines, with the possibility of adding 2,000. It would include restaurants, lounges and other amenities.

Boyd Gaming was started in Las Vegas in 1974 by Sam Boyd and his son, Bill. For many years, it was known primarily as a midsize operator. In 2003, with its partner, MGM Mirage, it opened the $1.1 billion Borgata in Atlantic City. The move catapulted the company to gambling's Big Leagues.

Many credit the Borgata, Atlantic City's top-grossing casino, as the catalyst in the resort's transformation from a largely day-tripper market to an overnight destination.

Since the casino's debut 21/2 years ago, Atlantic City has attracted a younger, more affluent crowd. Its success has spurred other operators, including Harrah's Entertainment and Aztar to upgrade their properties.

Over the last two years, Atlantic City has been building up its nongambling attractions.

Boyd's July 2004 acquisition of Coast Casinos Inc. gave it a larger presence in the local market in Las Vegas. That, along with the May 2004 acquisition of Sam's Town Shreveport contributed to a 39 percent increase in Boyd's revenue in the first nine months of this year, to $1.7 billion. Net income for the first nine months of 2005 was $122 million, or $1.35 a share.

Boyd Gaming is a name that has long circulated in Harrisburg as a potential license applicant. Bill Boyd, the company's chairman and chief executive officer, contributed $50,000 in June to the Democratic Governor's Association after Gov. Rendell made a pitch for the organization during a spring fund-raiser.

Stillwell, the company spokesman, said the contribution had nothing to do with applying for a slots license in the state.

He said the company had been interested in Pennsylvania for years. "We generally give to both sides of the aisle," he said.

Boyd Gaming to Seek Pennsylvania Gaming License

Boyd Gaming to Seek Pennsylvania Gaming License


Boyd Gaming Corporation
(NYSE: BYD) today announced that the Company has acquired property and intends
to apply for a gaming license in Pennsylvania. The 125-acre site, part of a
260-acre planned retail and commercial development located in Limerick
Township about a 20 minute drive from the extensive retail and highway hub in
King of Prussia, is intended to serve the highly populated northern and
western suburbs of the Philadelphia metropolitan area.
(Logo: www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/p...9/BOYDLOGO )
William S. Boyd, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Boyd Gaming,
commented, "With most of the known gaming sites in the Philadelphia area
located in the eastern and southern sections, we believe we have identified an
excellent location to conveniently serve a large and growing population with a
first-rate gaming and entertainment facility. In addition, our location will
be very convenient to the cities of both Reading and nearby Pottstown."
The Company is planning to develop the project in connection with
prominent Pennsylvania business and professional leaders. The group of
limited partners includes Pat Rooney, Jr., Thomas Brogan, David Sweet and
Sylvan Lutkewitte. Bill Boyd remarked, "We are pleased to be joined in our
application for this project by such an outstanding group of Pennsylvanians."
If selected, the Company plans to invest approximately $325 million in the
development of the first of four planned phases of a first-class casino
entertainment facility. The first phase of the project will be designed for
3,000 slot machines, four restaurants, three bars and lounges, a 2,000-space
parking garage and other amenities.
The site is located on Route 422 at the Sanatoga exit, adjacent to
Philadelphia Premium Outlets, a planned 120-store upscale outlet center on
approximately 78 acres of the 260-acre site to be built by Roseland, New
Jersey-based Chelsea Property Group, a division of Simon Property Group
(NYSE: SPG). The outlet center is slated to open in 2007. Bill Boyd stated,
"We look forward to working with Chelsea to create a successful shopping and
entertainment complex for the large population in the Philadelphia suburbs and
southestern Pennsylvania."
Boyd Gaming, which will own a substantial majority of and control the
project, and its partners are planning to file applications with the
Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board later this month.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning
of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements include
information regarding the Company's expectations, goals or intentions
regarding the future, including but not limited to statements regarding, the
Company's intent to apply for a Pennsylvania gaming license, the timing for
filing such application, statements regarding the location of the property and
the benefits of such location (including the region that the new property is
intended to serve), statements regarding the anticipated development of a
first-class casino entertainment facility on the property (as well as
subsequent development phases), the amount of the Company's anticipated
investment in the first phase of the development project, the type and amount
of amenities to be included at the new casino and statements (including the
anticipated number of stores and estimated opening date) regarding the
Philadelphia Premium Outlets to be located adjacent to the location of the
property. Forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties,
and actual results may differ materially from those discussed in any such
statement. In particular, the Company can provide no assurances that it will
be granted a gaming license in Pennsylvania, that the Company will be able to
develop the property as currently anticipated, or at all, that any development
on the property will benefit from the property's location, that the amount of
the Company's anticipated investment in the first phase of the new development
project will approximate current expectations, that the Company's new
development project will include the anticipated amenities or achieve market
acceptance, that the Company will be able to development subsequent phases of
the project and that the adjacent premium outlet stores will be completed, and
if completed, will provide any benefits to the new development project. Among
the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are the
following: the failure to obtain a gaming license or other necessary
regulatory approvals in Pennsylvania, competition, increased costs (including
marketing costs) financial community and rating agency perceptions of the
Company, changes in laws and regulations, including increased taxes, the
availability and price of energy, weather, regulation, economic, credit and
capital market conditions and the effects of war, terrorist or similar
activity. In addition, the new development project is subject to those risks
inherent in the development and operation of a new business enterprise,
including unanticipated design, construction, regulatory, environmental and
operating problems and lack of demand for the project. If the new development
project becomes operational, it will face many of the same risks that the
Company's current properties face. The cost of any project, including the new
development project, may vary significantly from the Company's expectations,
and the Company may have a limited amount of capital resources to fund cost
overruns on any project. If the Company cannot finance cost overruns on a
timely basis, the completion of one or more projects, including the new
development project, may be delayed until adequate funding is available.
Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ are discussed
under the heading "Investment Considerations" and in other sections of the
Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004 on file with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, and in its other current and periodic
reports filed with, or furnished to, the Commission from time to time. All
forward-looking statements in this document are made as of the date hereof,
based on information available to the Company as of the date hereof, and the
Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

Headquartered in Las Vegas, Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE: BYD) is a
leading diversified owner and operator of 18 gaming entertainment properties,
plus one under development, located in Nevada, New Jersey, Mississippi,
Illinois, Indiana and Louisiana. Boyd Gaming press releases are available at
www.prnewswire.com. Additional news and information on Boyd Gaming can be
found at www.boydgaming.com .

Atlantic City bets on the young

Atlantic City bets on the young

ATLANTIC CITY -- Robert Chew and his fiancee passed by the old-timers playing slots at the Showboat Casino, a favorite hangout for the gray-hair set. The couple -- he was sporting Gucci loafers, she was in Seven jeans and a sequined tank-top -- didn't even pause at the blackjack tables as they sauntered upstairs to the grand opening of the House of Blues, where a crowd of eager young fans waited to see the rapper Eminem.
''People used to laugh at me for coming to Atlantic City. They'd say 'Why do you want to go there? It's all old people,' " said Chew, sipping a glass of vodka and tonic. ''But no one is laughing now. Everyone wants to come here. This is like Vegas, baby!"
Once defined by the busloads of seniors headed for the nickel slot machines, Atlantic City is now drawing younger visitors looking to do something more than roll the dice. The transformation from a tired resort town to a sexy Vegas-style playground for younger patrons like Chew, 30, and his fiancee, Amy Nessler, 28, is picking up pace this summer as several flashy new clubs and restaurants make their debuts.
Not everyone is pleased about the newcomers along the boardwalk. Pam Voloski, a 71-year-old regular at the Showboat, came to see what all the commotion was about at the House of Blues, where Eminem was stirring the crowd to a frenzy.
''I don't like the kids being here," she said, leaning on her cane. ''I come here to get away from them."
Inside the club, Robin Leach, host of the popular 1980s show, ''The Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous", was enjoying the company of the young and the beautiful in the VIP room, where he was surrounded by five young women.
''This is Vegas -- ritz and glitz at its best," said Leach as he headed to the bar for more champagne.
Over the past two years, Atlantic City's casinos have spent $1.85 billion constructing dining, entertainment, and retail venues, according to the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, taking a page from Las Vegas, where nongaming ventures bring in about $4 billion annually.
This summer, more than a half dozen clubs are being constructed or opening, like the Showboat's House of Blues and The Resort's Nikki Beach, fueling a furious race for the freshest pop acts. Instead of Steve and Eydie or Tom Jones, stars like Alicia Keyes, Lenny Kravitz, and Counting Crows are featured on the boardwalk's billboards this summer.
''You used to have all lounge acts or has-beens, but now you have the main acts coming," said Donna Capito, 39, who was dancing and sipping wine with friends during the Eminem concert. ''It's really better than Vegas. We got the boardwalk and the beach. You feel like you are on vacation rather than being in the desert."Continued...
The $65 million House of Blues is the largest in the national nightclub chain and the newest club on Atlantic City's boardwalk. All of the 12 casinos in Atlantic City from Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort to Caesars Atlantic City have expanded or are renovating their casinos to add clubs, hotel rooms, and upscale restaurants that will appeal to a younger crowd, according to Joe Kelly, president of the Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce.
Last winter, Tropicana opened The Quarter, a $275 million, three-story complex with nightclubs, stores, and 40 restaurants. Caesars is building $175 million dining, entertainment, and retail complex scheduled to open next year.
Next month, rapper Jay-Z is scheduled to open his 40/40 sports bar and lounge along an entertainment district in Atlantic City. High-end stores such as Gucci and Louis Vuitton have also found a home in Atlantic City.
''I think the marketplace has recognized diversifying a product is a very good thing, meaning dining, entertainment, and retail have been recognized as products that really have a place here in Atlantic City," Kelly said.
Chew and Nessler said they come every weekend to party at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, the two-year-old complex that has been credited as the first to attract younger patrons. After the 43-story Borgata began breaking revenue records, other casinos followed suit, said Dan Heneghan, spokesman for the New Jersey Casino Control Commission.
About 25 percent of Borgata's revenues, or $100 million, comes from nongaming sources, according to company officials. Overall, only 10 percent of the revenues from all Atlantic City's casinos are from nongaming venues.
Larry Mullin, Borgata' s chief operating officer, said the company noticed an untapped market of potential customers from ages 25 to 39, who were going to Las Vegas instead of Atlantic City.
''There just wasn't a product out there that satisfied what they were looking for," he said.
Since coming on the scene in 2003, Borgata, which cost $1.1 billion and is expanding, has set new rules for the boardwalk. While Borgata contends its customers are of every age, tour buses that have brought the seniors into town for decades are not welcomed at Borgata. Instead of offering the free dinners that always drew senior citizens, Borgata offers expensive spa treatments, fancy menus at chic restaurants, and outlets for dancing.
In keeping with its new image, Atlantic City has changed its staid slogan from ''America's playground" to the spicier ''Always turned on." Billboards dotting the highway leading to the seaside resort feature scantily clad women.
''They do some wild dancing in there. I am from the old school," said Alonzo Clark, 75, who was relaxing on the boardwalk outside of the Tropicana where his wife was playing the slots. ''These kids drink and the next day they don't even remember they had a wild time the night before."
Guido Bonvicini, 75, who was sitting nearby, said he enjoys the energy the younger people bring to the resort.
''Actually, I like watching the young girls go by," he said, with a wink.

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Latest AC Construction News - Borgata, Sands, Harrahs

Latest AC Construction News - Borgata, Sands, Harrahs PINKY'S CORNER


TOM CARVER, THE FORMER head of the Atlantic City Casino Association, has been brought back to Atlantic City by Acting Governor Richard Codey. Carver will serve as the new executive director of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority. He replaces Curtis Bashaw, who said it was time to return to his roots in Cape May.
Bashaw did an admirable job during his tenure and was instrumental in bringing all of the Jersey Shore resorts together to enhance the development of the finest resort communities on the eastern seaboard. He set the path for the state's tourism department to promote and advertise the Jersey Shore as a package rather than individual communities. Bashaw's biggest achievement has been the program to revitalize the Atlantic City Boardwalk. His concept is to restore the historic architecture of storefronts and bring new electronic signs to put some pizzazz along the wooden way and enhance its attractions. This is a program that must be carried out.

Carver is a man who knows Atlantic City and the casino industry as well as everyone in this community. Tom was here in the industry's teething days. He helped to write the legislation that created the CRDA. He knows the players and the political atmosphere and is respected by the local elected officials. Carver is a nuts and bolts man who knows how to get things done. In his new position, Carver will take a hands-on approach to the CRDA's activities. He has let it be known that his operation will be transparent. He also stated that there is not enough money to be able to do all the things that people want the CRDA to do, as the largest portion of their funds are tied up in programs that already have been approved and are underway.

Tom Carver is an honest, straightforward individual who will use his tenure in this position to improve Atlantic City, southern New Jersey and the entire state. Tom, this columnist is delighted to welcome you back to Atlantic City.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Atlantic City Update

Under construction at this time is the new retail, entertainment, restaurant and casino addition to the Borgata Casino Hotel and Spa. The addition is expected to be completed and open for business in the spring of 2006. Borgata's new 800-room/suite hotel tower will begin construction in the summer. It has just over a two-year build-out remaining and should be completed in 2008.

Harrah's Entertainment presented their Atlantic City development program to the Casino Control Commission and the CRDA a few weeks ago. Harrah's Entertainment will spend $500 million to build a 1,000-room hotel tower and a retail, entertainment and restaurant complex at Harrah's Atlantic City. Company officials claim it will be second-to-none in the city. It is expected that construction will begin in mid-2006 and be completed in late 2008 or early 2009. Harrah's Entertainment also said the company will build a 1,000-room tower on a site at Caesars and refurbish that property's rooms and suites. There will also be changes in the restaurant line-up and retail units there.

The latest report on the Pier at Caesars is that tenants will be able to begin setting up their shops in late January or February and that it is expected to open its doors by summer. Those who have walked through the facility, which is situated over the Atlantic Ocean, say that it will be a must-visit site. It will draw shoppers from major metropolitan communities to shop, eat and play there. There are those who claim there is nothing like this pier facility anywhere else in the United States. Sheldon Gordon, the principal in the Gordon Group (developers of the Forum Shops in Las Vegas), selected the only site over the Atlantic Ocean that combines a ship-like atmosphere for the finest quality shops, restaurant and entertainment venues.

Noted here last week was the anticipated new casino complex for the Sands. Carl Icahn will begin constructing sometime in 2006, with completion in 2009. One more new casino that I believe will begin development sometime in 2006 will be a new MGM Mirage property on their 70-acre Renaissance Pointe site. The company has made no statements to confirm this yet, but there is enough undercurrent to lead one to believe that it is going to happen.

The construction industry is going to be quite busy in Atlantic City over the next three years. All of this development will bring another 6,000 to 7,000 rooms to Atlantic City for a total of over 20,000 rooms by 2009. This does not include additions to the Atlantic City Hilton, which are expected to be announced within the next year.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Time for Ideas

Before CE — the casino era — ideas were requested with regards to drawing visitors to Atlantic City during the winter season. One suggestion was to build a ski slope on the beach with man-made snow. What could be better than skiing alongside the ocean? Unfortunately, no one had the resources to build it so another good idea was laid to rest.

A few years ago, a summer visitor informed me that indoor ski slopes were built in Korea and that they were quite successful. All that was needed was a site large enough to handle such a facility, such as Bader Field.

Interest in this project was lost when there was no site available to accommodate the project. Last week, I learned that an indoor ski slope was just built in Dubai. It brought this idea back to me, especially in light of City Council's efforts to find new uses for Bader Field (the city's obligation to maintain the airport there is up in September 2006). With it came another idea and this one was to build a year round indoor water park with wave action. Can you just imagine indoor ski slopes next to an indoor water park on the Bader Field site? There would also be enough room for the high-rise, multi-tenant StudioCentre that was bidding to get a site on the Uptown Urban Renewal Tract.

Atlantic City needs attractions that will give our visitors exciting activities while they are here. This is idea time. If you have any concepts for that site, drop me a line or send me an e-mail and it will be put it in the hands of City Council.



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Support Our Troops

The third annual operation "Support Our Troops" is underway at McNaughton's Garden Center on Route 9 in Somers Point. Regardless of your political view regarding the war on terror, this is your opportunity to show our fellow Americans in uniform that we care about them. You are invited to bring personal hygiene items (hand wipes, lip balm, Q-tips, tampons), fun stuff (Nerf footballs, disposable cameras, playing cards) and munchies. It is very important that items be of individual sizes, as anything too big will not be sent overseas. The deadline for donations is Dec. 15. This may seem like a little to you, but to those overseas it is meaningful. Last year's collection topped 12 tons.

Absecon Lighthouse Lucy The Elephant

Absecon Lighthouse
Rhode Island Ave, at Pacific Ave, Atlantic City, NJ 08402
Telphone: 609-449-1360
Description: This 171-foot-tall lighthouse is New Jersey's tallest, and it still uses its original First-Order Fresnel lens. The view from the top is so spectacular, you'll forget about the 228 steps it took to get there.
Lucy The Elephant
9200 Atlantic Ave, Margate, NJ 08402
Telphone: 609-823-6473
Description: This huge ninety-ton National Historic Landmark was built in the early 1880's in hopes of attracting buyers to real estate mogul James Lafferty's choice beach property. Woodrow Wilson and Henry Ford were among the many visitors who came to see this remarkable elephant, and Lucy still draws 'em in today. Tour the interior and enjoy the view from atop her back. Disrepair forced her into retirement during the early 1960s, but she's back on the job thanks to ongoing renovations that began during the 1970s.

ATLANTIC CITY Culture and History

ATLANTIC CITY
Culture and History
Founded in 1793, the site of Atlantic City was the first town settled on Absecon Island. Fifty years later, Dr Jonathan Pitney led a group of businessmen in a venture to develop a bathing village and health resort on the island. The deal was sealed with a charter to operate a railroad from the boomtown of Camden, and by 1854 engineer Richard Osborne had designed and named Atlantic City.

Thousands of city dwellers from surrounding states took advantage of the inexpensive rail transport and flocked to the new town. City dwellers came to escape the summer heat and enjoy the seaside. With this influx of tourists, the city changed by developing amusement areas to maintain the interest of passing visitors. The world's first boardwalk was built in Atlantic City, and before too long amusement parks and nightclubs grew up along the stretches of wooden planks.

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Careerbuilder

In the 1920s the resorts were the playground of the rich and famous; it became a pre-Broadway stop on the theatre route.

The city's popularity was confirmed by the first Miss America Pageant, staged here in 1921 and cunningly held in September to extend the tourist season beyond the Labor Day weekend. By the 1930s, the population totalled 66,000, and local nightclubs attracted the nation's top talents - Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman to name a few - to the Steel Pier, which was dubbed 'the showplace of a nation'.

The rise of jet travel to vacation spots in Florida, the Caribbean and Europe led to the city's decline after WWII. Until the 1970s the city faced severe economic hardship, with a drop in tourism translating into rampant unemployment, drug abuse and crime. The 1964 Democratic Convention highlighted the city's woes; there was such a shortage of support services for delegates that it was clear the city could no longer accommodate an event of this magnitude.

In a hard-fought campaign, state voters were convinced that by allowing casino gambling the city could be revitalised. In 1978 the Resorts International casino opened its doors, attracting long lines at its blackjack tables and slot machines. By the 1980s, gambling was an around-the-clock business and the rail line with Philadelphia was resumed.

Today the city still has social problems and even more difficulty marketing itself as a family destination. While the casino industry has created 45,000 jobs and experienced record profits, little of this money has benefited the town, despite the many promises of prosperity made some 20 years ago. Local officials are lobbying for more attractions unrelated to gambling and the New Jersey legislature has redrafted casino law in order to force casinos to re-invest portions of their profits back into the city. Much like Las Vegas, Atlantic City is targeting a younger crowd with amusements, rides and outrageous architecture in its new developments.

Trump, Croce allied on slots for PA.

Donald J. Trump and Pat Croce both write books, love being in front of a TV camera, and have turned multitasking into an art form.
Now, they might run a casino together.
Yesterday, Trump announced that he had entered into a partnership with a group of local investors, led by former Philadelphia 76ers president Croce, to apply for a slots license in the city.
Trump Entertainment Resorts Inc., the casino company that operates Trump's three casino-hotels in Atlantic City, said it had enlisted Croce to invest in and support the building of a casino at the former Budd Co. factory site in the city's Nicetown section.
"I'm psyched to work with the Donald and his new executive team," the always upbeat Croce said yesterday. "It will be great to have the Donald in our town."
Trump, who names towers, universities, and just about everything else after himself, returned the admiration. He referred to Croce as "a good friend for many years."
"He's a great guy with great vision," Trump said yesterday. "He's very capable. He's a smart, tough guy, but everybody loves him.
"I think this combination is going to be unbeatable," said Trump, who plans to meet with Mayor Street today to discuss his casino proposal.
Under the partnership, Croce said he and "a handful" of local investors would be minority shareholders, with Trump being the operator, developer and majority shareholder.
Croce, who has written self-help books and can command top dollar as a motivational speaker, said the local investors he had assembled included restaurateur Pete Ciarrocchi, who owns the Chickie's & Pete's restaurant chain in Philadelphia, and three members of the musical group Boyz II Men.
"They are committed to our community, and they have been successful," Croce said. "Those were my two criteria."
Trump Entertainment emerged from bankruptcy in May and has made upgrading the Trump Taj Mahal, Trump Plaza and Trump Marina casinos in Atlantic City a priority amid fierce competition. Rivals, including the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa and the Tropicana, have made significant inroads in Trump's market share there.
Trump Entertainment executives, including new president and chief executive officer James B. Perry, have been saying for months that the company wanted to enter into a partnership to operate a slots parlor in Philadelphia.
"It won't be an exclusively Trump-owned facility," Perry said in a recent interview. "We have limited capability to invest ourselves, but we do have the ability to bring in partners to invest with us."
Under the state's gambling law, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board will begin awarding conditional licenses for some of the 14 venues in the spring. Philadelphia will get two slots parlors, and Pittsburgh one. Two other stand-alone slots parlors and two resorts will also get licenses, with the remaining seven licenses designated for racetracks.
So far, only Trump's company and Planet Hollywood have publicly stated that they plan to apply for one of the two licenses that are set aside for Philadelphia. The deadline to apply for a license is Dec. 28.
On Oct. 3, Trump Entertainment announced it had signed a five-year option to lease or buy land to develop into a casino at the former Budd site.
The company has not disclosed what its plans are for the Philadelphia slots parlor, but Perry said the Nicetown facility would offer more than just slot machines. Pennsylvania's gambling law does not permit table games, such as poker or blackjack. But Trump is likely to propose building an entertainment hall, shops, restaurants, and maybe a hotel on the Budd site.
The law allows each site up to 3,000 slot machines, with the ability to apply for an additional 2,000 slot machines.
For Croce, the new partnership comes after he spent more than a year rounding up investors and a casino operator to pursue a slots parlor. He said the Trump organization approached him in August about joining forces.
Croce had previously expressed interest in developing a casino at the former Adam's Mark Hotel on City Avenue, but said intense community opposition forced him to walk away from it. That site is controlled by discount retailer Target Corp., which plans to build a store there.
"They wanted a Target, not a casino," he said.
Some say the Trump-Croce pairing may help Trump's chances of landing one of the coveted city licenses and win over some who may be either sitting on the fence or opposed to the project.
"Any reason to bring in some local people with a pretty good reputation enhances the possibility," said gambling analyst Brian McGill of Susquehanna Financial Group. "It gives them a local connection."
Croce boasted of his hometown roots yesterday and what he envisioned for a casino.
"I was born and bred here," he said. "We have the pro teams that are an asset to the city, and we have the museums.
"Why not do the same thing with casinos, and build something that's new and special?"

Atlantic City Aquarium

Welcome to the Atlantic City Aquarium



Located in Atlantic City’s Historic Gardner's Basin, the Atlantic City Aquarium offers a fun and educational look into more than 100 varieties of fish and marine animals. The Atlantic City Aquarium's eight tanks total 29,800 gallons of live exhibits. Highlights include the Fish of the New Jersey Coast Aquarium, which holds 23,000 gallons and teems with sea bass, lookdowns, sand tiger sharks, northern stingray, bluefish, weakfish, and kingfish. The 750-gallon Touch Tank allows visitors to handle green, horseshoes, hermit and spider crabs, sea urchins, seastars, common periwinkle, channel and knobbed whelk, horse and blue mussels, and common shore shrimp. Each exhibit features computer-enhanced information stations for self-tours, in addition to a 16-station Ocean Life Education Center for personal, in-depth exploration by visitors.
The Center is also accessible to the public via boat. It has become a center for community gatherings and the perfect venue for parties and meetings.
Location
New Hampshire Ave. & the Bay, Atlantic City, NJ, at the confluence of Absecon Inlet and Clam Creek
Building Size
Fourteen thousand five hundred (14,500) square-foot, three-story cedar-clad building featuring Widow's Walk, observation deck and first floor porch.
Components
The Main floor atrium displays 29,800 gallons of live exhibits. The second floor features interactive exhibits, 16 computer stations and a 577-square-foot classroom/ meeting room with state-of-the-art communications technology. The second and third floor indoor/outdoor observation decks round out the facility.
Building Cost
$4.5 million
Opening Date
May 1, 1999
Funded by
CRDA, City of Atlantic City, Atlantic City Historical Waterfront Foundation
Operated by
Atlantic City Historical Waterfront Foundation
Designed by
Blumberg & Associates
General Contractor
TN Ward Company
Aquarium Contractor
Baumgardner Construction
Mission Statement
Since we are all dependent on the ocean where life began, our commitment is to educate, inform and create a bond for children of all ages with the oceans that surround our planet.

"I really don't know why it is that all of us are so committed to the sea, except I think it is because in addition to the fact that the sea changes and the light changes and ships change, it is because we all came from the sea. And it is an interesting biological fact that all of us have, in our veins, the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean, and, therefore we have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears. We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch it, we are going back from where we came."

John F. Kennedy, September 14, 1962

The Atlantic City Jitneys

Ups and downs for jitneys Popular transit buses battle spotty safety record in A.C.

ATLANTIC CITY-Tommy Holliday was leaving a winning session in a casino when the jitney he was riding in stopped in front of Bally's Atlantic City to pick up passengers.

"We got to the stop, and the guy right there went into the side of the jitney," Holliday said.

A red pickup truck sat in the center lane of Pacific Avenue, its front end jammed into the jitney's left side.

Holliday, a local resident, said it was the second time he was involved in an accident while riding a jitney. This one didn't seem to be the jitney driver's fault, he said.

In the previous incident, the driver was going too fast in a rain storm, lost control of the bus and hit another vehicle, Holliday said before hopping onto another jitney Friday afternoon. He wasn't injured, but a few other passengers got badly banged up in that one.

Jitneys have been a staple of Atlantic City transportation since 1915. For tourists and residents alike, they are a reliable and affordable means for getting around the city.

But as the buses bounce their way up and down Pacific Avenue, some say it's more like a thrill ride.

Unlike NJ Transit drivers, who are paid by the hour, jitney drivers own their own buses and keep the fares they collect. So the more fares they pick up, the more money they make. Franchises to drive one of the city's 190 jitneys sell for amounts well into six figures.

The Jitney Association held driver-training classes a few years ago, reminding the drivers to watch for traffic, pedestrians and construction, association President Manny Mathioudakis said.

Mathioudakis said in an interview last month that jitneys have gotten into repeated collisions, and insurers demanded an $8,500 annual premium per bus. The association trimmed the costs somewhat with driver training, security cameras and signs.

Adding to rider angst, nearly 75 percent of the city's jitneys failed a spot inspection by the state Motor Vehicle Commission in June. Of those, 52 had such serious violations that the state gave the owner 48 hours to make repairs or be pulled off the road.

Riders had mixed opinions on the jitneys' safety.

"I haven't had any problems with them," said a regular rider who declined to give his name.

One Atlantic City woman, who also wouldn't give her name, said she would take another means of transportation if she had the opportunity.

"Some of them are very nice, but a lot of them are a piece of work," she said.

"It matters who the driver is," said B. Meister, of Tinton Falls Monmouth County, who rides the jitneys on her twice-yearly trips to Atlantic City. "Sometimes you get a nice guy."

Stop and go

A Press of Atlantic City reporter took about 10 jitney rides for a first-hand view. Most drivers obeyed traffic laws but made quick starts and sudden stops as they picked up and dropped off passengers. One good bump bounced riders a foot or so into the air and left everyone on the bus gasping for breath.

But the reporter did witness one driver talk on a cell phone, which is against both Jitney Association policy and state law. And a sizable minority of jitney drivers failed to use a turn signal when pulling into and out of traffic. A couple of times, a jitney cut off and passed a fellow jitney driver to be the first to the curb to pick up waiting passengers.

"We get complaints on them, but I don't think their violations are worse than anyone else," said Capt. Bill McKnight, of the Atlantic City Police Department's traffic unit. "The design of the bus and Pacific Avenue make it feel worse than it is."

The crown of Pacific Avenue rises at every intersection, making the ride feel like a roller coaster, McKnight said. It feels more severe than in a passenger car because the jitneys are higher off the ground.

When the police get complaints of jitneys driving too fast, they put up speed traps, McKnight said, but the jitneys seldom get nailed by the radar guns.

Others see the situation differently.

In more than 30 years of practicing personal-injury law, Thomas Vesper, of Atlantic City, said he has handled hundreds of lawsuits involving jitneys. Some are the jitney driver's fault, sometimes they were cut off by another vehicle or jaywalking pedestrians.

Most jitney drivers are conscientious and "know they're operating a bus as opposed to a sports car," Vesper said. "But you have that silly 10 percent that give the jitney drivers a bad name."

Racing around town

The fact that jitney drivers keep their own fares is "an incentive to rush," Vesper said. "It turns into a rodeo to see who's going to get the passengers."

Vesper said he has seen cases where the jitney sped off before a passenger had a chance to sit down, or drop a passenger off and leave the stop before the person was out the door.

About two years ago, a jitney driver was talking on a cell phone and ran a red light, hitting a pedestrian, Vesper said. The woman rolled 85 feet down the street before the jitney stopped.

A sign inside jitneys telling riders to remain seated and that the Jitney Association will not be responsible for injuries to passengers who stand while the bus is in motion is "just warning people to do the right thing," Vesper said. It has no legal significance unless the passenger does something foolish.

On the other hand, Vesper said he has seen his share of people try to fake injuries on jitneys in order to receive a settlement. Once his firm checks out the story, they decline those cases.

But over the years, Vesper said the number and severity of the accidents he sees is getting worse. Perhaps it's due to increased traffic flow in Atlantic City.

But that only calls for more caution.

"I think the jitney drivers have to do more to enforce their own rules," Vesper said.

NEW FIGURES ON GAMING IN AMERICA

NEW FIGURES ON GAMING IN AMERICA


Key findings in Casino City's North American Gaming Almanac:

* U.S. gaming revenue grew 7% in 2004 to reach an all-time high of 77.6 billion dollars, or 0.716% of total U.S. GDP.

* Casino and card room gaming accounted for 39% of total gaming revenue, lotteries for 28%, and tribal gaming, 25%.

* The largest growth, an increase of nearly 12%, was seen in tribal gaming.

* Revenue from lotteries and casino gaming also grew by more than 6%.

* Charitable gaming declined by nearly 6%, and race and sports wagering remained steady after a small decline in 2003.

* Of the 49 U.S. states (including the District of Columbia) with some form of legalized gaming, the state of Wyoming, while being the lowest
ranked in terms of gaming revenue in 2004, experienced the highest growth with a 66% increase in 2004 revenues over 2003.

ATLANTIC CITY Culture and History

ATLANTIC CITY
Culture and History
Founded in 1793, the site of Atlantic City was the first town settled on Absecon Island. Fifty years later, Dr Jonathan Pitney led a group of businessmen in a venture to develop a bathing village and health resort on the island. The deal was sealed with a charter to operate a railroad from the boomtown of Camden, and by 1854 engineer Richard Osborne had designed and named Atlantic City.

Thousands of city dwellers from surrounding states took advantage of the inexpensive rail transport and flocked to the new town. City dwellers came to escape the summer heat and enjoy the seaside. With this influx of tourists, the city changed by developing amusement areas to maintain the interest of passing visitors. The world's first boardwalk was built in Atlantic City, and before too long amusement parks and nightclubs grew up along the stretches of wooden planks.

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In the 1920s the resorts were the playground of the rich and famous; it became a pre-Broadway stop on the theatre route.

The city's popularity was confirmed by the first Miss America Pageant, staged here in 1921 and cunningly held in September to extend the tourist season beyond the Labor Day weekend. By the 1930s, the population totalled 66,000, and local nightclubs attracted the nation's top talents - Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman to name a few - to the Steel Pier, which was dubbed 'the showplace of a nation'.

The rise of jet travel to vacation spots in Florida, the Caribbean and Europe led to the city's decline after WWII. Until the 1970s the city faced severe economic hardship, with a drop in tourism translating into rampant unemployment, drug abuse and crime. The 1964 Democratic Convention highlighted the city's woes; there was such a shortage of support services for delegates that it was clear the city could no longer accommodate an event of this magnitude.

In a hard-fought campaign, state voters were convinced that by allowing casino gambling the city could be revitalised. In 1978 the Resorts International casino opened its doors, attracting long lines at its blackjack tables and slot machines. By the 1980s, gambling was an around-the-clock business and the rail line with Philadelphia was resumed.

Today the city still has social problems and even more difficulty marketing itself as a family destination. While the casino industry has created 45,000 jobs and experienced record profits, little of this money has benefited the town, despite the many promises of prosperity made some 20 years ago. Local officials are lobbying for more attractions unrelated to gambling and the New Jersey legislature has redrafted casino law in order to force casinos to re-invest portions of their profits back into the city. Much like Las Vegas, Atlantic City is targeting a younger crowd with amusements, rides and outrageous architecture in its new developments.

CCC bans casino hosts on prostitution charges

CCC bans casino hosts on prostitution charges

ATLANTIC CITY-Three former casino hosts were blacklisted from the gaming industry on Wednesday for their roles in a prostitution ring that supplied young Asian women to high rollers.

The action by the state Casino Control Commission means that Kevin Chau, James Kim and Xue Peipong are barred from stepping foot in any of Atlantic City's 12 casinos.

Chau, Kim and Peipong all pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court last year to federal charges and were sentenced to one or two years of probation and a $2,000 fine.

As casino hosts, they drummed up business for call girls who were recruited from Malaysia and other Far East nations to work in brothels on the East Coast. Prostitutes were bused to Atlantic City on weekends for sex with casino high rollers, who paid $200 or more for their services.

Chau worked as a host at Bally's, Kim was a marketing executive at Bally's and Peipong was a host at Resorts. Working with a Philadelphia brothel owner, the hosts arranged for sexual trysts, authorities said. The casinos themselves were not involved in the prostitution ring.

In other business at the Casino Control Commission meeting Wednesday, Bally's was fined $15,000 for allowing a self-excluded gambler in the property. The gambler, who was not publicly identified, lost more than $20,000 at the Bally's craps tables in a four-day betting binge last year.

Created in 2001, the state's self-exclusion program is designed to help compulsive gamblers avoid the pitfalls of betting. Once they voluntarily place themselves in the program, gamblers are banned from entering casinos and must forfeit their winnings if they bet illegally.

Casinos are required to have procedures to prevent self-excluded gamblers from placing bets, getting credit or receiving any promotional offers for gaming.