By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Dec 23, 2008

Famed newsman Walter Lippmann once said hard times are “for great or evil, the great occasions in a nation’s history.”

As our city, our industry and the world at large grapple with unprecedented change, we find ourselves increasingly drawn to stories about resilience, optimism, determination and sheer grit.

Here are 12 people who exemplify those qualities, and then some. Casino Connection’s People to Watch for 2009 are men and women of diverse interests and disciplines: political leaders and casino kingpins, advocates for the arts and activists for the downtrodden. They are moneymakers and risk-takers, people from the neighborhood and people from the halls of power. They’re dynamic, inspirational, entertaining—and maybe even a bit provocative.

So read on. Let us know if you agree with our choices. And here’s to a vigorous and prosperous New Year.

Man of the People
BOB McDEVITT • President, UNITE HERE Local 54
It was 13 years ago that Bob McDevitt was elected president of a union in tatters. Local 54 of UNITE HERE International was still in federal receivership after previous union officials were ousted on corruption charges.

McDevitt worked with the feds to assure them of his integrity and that of other elected union chiefs. Slowly he restored Local 54’s reputation, guiding it through turbulent times and several cycles of contract negotiations. Today, the union is one of the most powerful in the state, with influence that extends far beyond Atlantic City.

McDevitt deflects credit for the turnaround.

“I’m lucky enough to have a great staff, which does the vast majority of the work,” he says. “They do their jobs so well, all I have to do is focus on mine.”

Running the local is just one of McDevitt’s jobs. A father who is active in his community and his church, McDevitt was recently elected to lead the Democratic Committee in Atlantic City, a seemingly thankless job that’s devoured many a well-meaning individual. He took the reins of that organization, McDevitt says, because the powerful group has made a series of “bad decisions” in recent years.

“I wanted to take leadership in a way that makes a difference,” he says. “We’re a very small town—we’re not New York or Las Vegas—and the decisions made by this group affect everyone. The mayoral position has been a disaster. This government has made the wrong decisions every time it had the chance to make the right one. The school district is a complete failure. So they spend $360 million to run the city and the schools and this is what you get. It’s a disgrace.”

An Atlantic City resident, McDevitt was compelled to get involved, but says he’s not motivated by politics or any consideration other than to make things better.

“I have a simple goal,” he says, “to restore functionality to the Democratic Committee. It’s not the fault of the people in place now. It’s a hangover from the Callaway period, when he was running roughshod over the Atlantic City organizations, abusing them to do whatever illegal things he did. We have to sort of unlearn that. And I’ve never done this before, so I’m learning myself.”

With a mayoral primary coming up in June, along with several seats on City Council, McDevitt wants to see a fair and open process in selecting the Democratic nominees. And he wants the process opened up to casino employees and executives.

“As a person who has fed his family since he was 19 from the casino industry, it’s insulting when someone from North Jersey tells me that, as a waiter or pit boss, somehow I’m corrupted by the casino industry and can’t make decisions that are important to my city, my neighborhood or my family,” he says. “We never got away from the notion that gaming is dirty somehow.

“We’re not just talking about Atlantic City,” McDevitt says. “We need to open it up to the state offices as well. Our legislators, from our senator to our assemblymen, need to ‘man up’ and make this thing right. Maybe over time, people will stop thinking we’re dirty.”

McDevitt was a loud voice in trying to get City Council to reverse the total smoking ban. While he understands the health concerns of dealers and others, he says it just wasn’t the right time.

“First we had the increased competition from New York and Pennsylvania,” he says. “Then the economy went south. It just didn’t make sense to risk my members’ jobs by doing this at this time.”

Another issue that’s pitted McDevitt against council: a decision to allow Revel Entertainment to use the city’s credit rating to finance improved access to the future resort. While the city isn’t on the hook for any payment while Revel is a functioning entity, McDevitt says he has received no assurance that the city would not be liable for the entire $56 million bond should Revel go bankrupt. Local 54 collected enough signatures to send the measure to a referendum, but a judge later said the decision was not reviewable by a vote.

McDevitt has filed suit, alleging council exceeded its authority by making the agreement, and charging some members with ethics violations for meeting with Revel officials privately before voting.

Some have questioned whether McDevitt is really wearing his union hat—Revel has yet to reach an agreement about its hospitality workers who will be represented by Local 54—but he denies it.

“There are too many questions that haven’t been answered in this deal to allow it to go through,” he says. McDevitt promises to be a gadfly who will force council to consult voters on every controversial issue. He’s particularly concerned about attempts to auction off Bader Field. He believes there are more pressing issues to consider before selling the city’s most valuable piece of land during an economic downturn.

“Pacific Avenue is a disgrace,” he says. “And there are still large tracts of land along the Boardwalk that need to be rehabbed or redeveloped before we even consider other projects.”

Wearing two hats is tough for McDevitt, but if he does the right thing, he says, he represents both of his constituencies.

“I don’t have two heads, and sometimes the goals of each group diverge,” he says. “I try to be honest about what I’m doing. If I make a decision that works for one side but doesn’t for another, it’s OK if it’s for the right reason.” —Roger Gros

Center Stage
STEPHANIE CLINEMAN • Director of Operations, Dante Hall
Just what does a director of operations in the non-profit sector do each day?

“I get the mail, pull the trash cans in, answer the phones, clean the bathrooms, put out the playbills and press releases,” she says. “When there’s a job to be done, you basically look in the mirror and go, ‘Are you going to do it?’”

But Stephanie Clineman could not be more delighted to be at historic Dante Hall, working in support of the lively arts. 

The Egg Harbor City native has spent much of her life in regional theater. She’s acted in independent films, and for a time was the only distaff member of an all-male improv comedy group. She was living in Las Vegas when she learned that Atlantic City was turning an old Ducktown parochial school into a performing arts center. 

“I said, ‘If I ever come back to New Jersey, I want to be part of that,’” Clineman says.
That’s just what happened. She came east and signed on at Dante Hall as a volunteer. When the first director of operations relocated, she was offered the job. “I was at the right place at the right time,” she says. “It was like I willed this to happen.”

Despite the struggles that come with a life in the arts, Clineman’s inspiration doesn’t flag, says Kim Butler, general manager of AC Outlets and a member of Dante Hall’s board of directors.

“Stephanie approaches every challenge with a positive zest,” Butler says. “She’s able to overcome the day-to-day hurdles because she sees the big picture.”

That big picture includes providing a showcase for up-and-coming talent, offering a full slate of comedy, kids’ programming and entertainment from jazz to opera, and creating a nucleus for other artistic enterprise in the area.

“I’d love to see galleries spring up in this area, and First Fridays where everybody is celebrating some form of the arts,” Clineman says. “I’d love people to think of our theater as an extension of what they do normally, a place to take classes in music, acting, art, dance. We want the doors to always be open, so people can feel this is their home.”

To do that, she must tap the financial resources that make it all possible.

“My husband jokes, ‘How hard can it be to work in a non-profit? You don’t have to make any money,’” Clineman says. “We have to convince people that, even though there’s so much else to do in the city, here’s a little gem they can take advantage of.”

As Ducktown evolves, Clineman’s hopes are sky-high. “We’re in a great location, and the redevelopment here is fabulous. We want to cultivate the idea of an evening out, with dinner, shopping and a show. We want to offer the kind of entertainment people go to Philadelphia or New York to see.”

Most importantly: “We want to have this building full seven days a week.” —Marjorie Preston

Fields of Dreams
RICHARD FIELDS • Chairman, Coastal Development
Even in the best of times, buying a casino in Atlantic City is a complicated maneuver.   

Lining up credit, gaining regulatory approvals, dealing with existing union contracts and considering renovation and re-theming are just a few of the issues that must be addressed. But when the economy is lagging and the credit markets are crashing, the job becomes even more complex.

So while many applauded the announcement that Richard Fields of Coastal Development was going to buy Trump Marina and transform it into Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, the progress toward that goal has been painfully slow. When an October deadline came and went, Trump Entertainment announced it had reduced the price of the property from $316 million to $270 million. As a show of good faith, Fields upped his advance payment from $15 million to $17 million, and the $15 million is already in Trump coffers. Fields now faces a May 28 deadline, at which time Trump can reject the offer and keep the down payment.

During the current credit crunch, it’s difficult for even the largest gaming companies to get financing, so it’s not surprising that Fields can’t confirm that the funds have been lined up for this purchase. At one point, Fields said he had arranged to get the money, but when the price reduction was announced, a spokesman said that Fields “believes it will be there when needed.”

Making the deal even more complicated is the tie-in to a lawsuit settlement between Donald Trump and Fields. Trump had accused Fields of misleading him in the development of casinos for the Seminole tribe in Florida. While Fields was eventually involved in the transaction (Cordish Company worked with the tribe to build two Hard Rock casinos in Hollywood and Tampa), Trump contended that Fields cheated him out of the deal. Fields claimed he had ceased working for Trump before he approached Cordish. A four-year legal battle ensued—a battle that ended with the Trump Marina purchase.

Another issue is the relationship between Buffett and Harrah’s in Biloxi, where Harrah’s is also building a Margaritaville. A slowdown in construction on the Gulf Coast was attributed to the slumping economy, but sources say it also may have something to do with an agreement between Buffett and Harrah’s to brand another casino with his signature logo.

Finally, Fields must navigate the regulatory approval process in New Jersey. He has disclosed a bankruptcy suffered over a New York City comedy club, and the Division of Gaming Enforcement is continuing an investigation into his background.

Fields hopes to renew a property that has been treated like an ugly stepsister over the past few years. He believes that a new theme and new leadership will help the property to re-emerge as a “must-see” attraction. His aim is to reinvigorate the staff and regain lost market share.

And Fields will fit into Atlantic City very well. His philanthropic efforts are well known in New York, where he gives his time and money very generously. The Fields Family Foundation supports the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Good Shepherd Services, the New York City Police Foundation, Farm Aid, the American Quarter Horse Foundation, the University of Rochester Medical Center and other worthy causes.

He is also the largest shareholder in Suffolk Downs, a racetrack in Massachusetts, now being considered as a casino site should the state legalize gaming.

If he can surmount the hurdles in his path for purchasing Trump Marina, there probably is nothing Richard Fields can’t do. —Patrick Roberts

The New Original
JOHN PASQUALONI • Chief Operating Officer, Resorts Atlantic City
When John Pasqualoni returned to Atlantic City last summer to take the top job at Resorts Atlantic City, he knew he was walking into a challenge. Resorts has struggled through the economic downturn as much as any other casino in town, and things are bound to get worse before they get better.

Pasqualoni, though, brings a résumé to Resorts that makes him better suited than most to steer the casino through the hard times. After working for the Trump organization in Atlantic City during the 1990s, he ran the gigantic and very profitable slot floor at Foxwoods in Connecticut, then was president of Seneca Gaming Corporation in Niagara Falls, New York.

At Seneca, Pasqualoni learned a thing or two about building a loyal customer base while keeping costs down. “Our competition was across the river in Canada,” he recalls, “but it’s difficult getting across the border, especially with cash in your pocket. So, we concentrated on the local market—the Buffalo market and points about 150 miles south. We concentrated on the bottom line, we watched our margins, watched what we were spending on programming, and brought in great entertainment.”

This experience is now being applied at Resorts Atlantic City. Just look at Boogie Nights, the ’70s-themed dance club that’s packed with people on any given weekend—a great idea applied with minimal cost to create something customers just love. “If I could Boogie Night the whole casino and have that same kind of fun and action, it would be a major home run,” Pasqualoni says.

Going forward, Pasqualoni says he’s confident that Resorts’ constantly refreshed slot floor, the remodeled property itself (including the four-year-old Rendezvous Tower), and above all, a constant focus on customer service will keep players of all ages coming back to Atlantic City’s original casino.

“Customer service is as important as anything we do,” Pasqualoni says. “I like to think of us as Cheers, where everybody knows your name, as the song goes. Personally, I’d rather go to Cheers than to an establishment where no one knows or cares who I am.”

Pasqualoni is betting there are a lot of other people who want to go to Cheers, particularly in these tough times. —Frank Legato

Giving Back
KAY SEELIG • Owner and President, Globe Vending Co.
Kay Seelig admits to a bit of trepidation over the state of the economy. After all, her 35-year-old business, Globe Vending Company, depends on the casino industry—if you’ve seen a soda machine in a hotel in Atlantic City, chances are Globe supplied it—and grows as the industry grows.

Contracts to supply new hotels like Pinnacle and the MGM Grand are on hold right along with the projects themselves, and Seelig says she’s “as worried as the next person” about the state of the economy.

But that worry is overwhelmed by Seelig’s overall optimism about Atlantic City. “It’s going to take a lot of us putting our shoulders together to move forward,” she says, “but Atlantic City will bounce back. We’re headed for some tough times, but I also think we have some pretty great people in the industry. It’s not going to be today or tomorrow, but the recovery is coming.”

Globe has had to cut costs like any business, but there’s one area in which neither Seelig nor her husband and business partner, AC Coin & Slot founder and CEO Mac Seelig, never skimp: both are local legends for giving back to the community.

The list of foundations and charitable organizations to which Seelig and her husband have donated over the years is as long as your arm, but perhaps none has been more appreciated by more people than Just 4 Kids, which just wrapped one of its most successful annual toy drives. Every year, toys pour into Globe’s Atlantic City headquarters from across the region. This year, even Wachovia Bank helped collect the toys, placing donation boxes in all its branches.

Seelig works with Sister Grace Nolan of Catholic Social Services to identify needy families. “I get first names, age, and whether it’s a boy or girl, and the children get five toys each,” she says.

These are brand-new toys, still in their factory wrappings, and the high-ticket items are included. “A woman I know in a toy store in Strasburg, Pennsylvania, sent me down five complete Thomas the Train sets,” she says of this year’s bounty. “The plastic’s still on them—they cost $94.99 apiece. That means my poor kids are going to have the same toys that my grandchildren have. That’s very exciting to me.”

Kay and Mac Seelig were giving back to the community long before Just 4 Kids was started 15 years ago (it was an outgrowth of another charity event Kay Seelig ran for a decade, Atlantic City Beachfest). Even in 1973, when the couple started Globe Vending with seven machines for pre-casino hotels, the Seeligs were involved in charity. “We did a lot more hands-on things back then,” she recalls, “because we didn’t have the money to be able to afford do give financially. But we still volunteered.”

Nowadays, with AC Coin one of the most successful vendors in the casino business and Globe Vending serving a mature industry, the Seeligs have the resources to do things that have broad-reaching results.

Seelig acknowledges that the giving may be tough this year. But it will occur. “With Just 4 Kids, I always know things are going to work out,” she says.

And so it does—not only for Globe’s employees, who help the mission every year—but for all the kids who depend on Kay.

Atlantic City will come back. But Kay Seelig has never left. —Frank Legato

The Connoisseur
ANJOLEENA GRIFFIN HOLST • Sommelier, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa and the Water Club
Anjoleena Griffin Holst was on the fast track to a medical career when she pulled a quick about-face. The year was 2000, and it happened over dinner.

“I was studying chemistry and biology,” she says. “I thought I was going to be a physician.” Then one night, a wine connoisseur placed a glass before her and asked what she smelled.

“I went off on a weird tirade about my great-grandfather’s ranch in Mendocino, and the hay, and the bull outside kicking up dirt,” says Griffin Holst. “He looked at me and said, ‘You’re a freak.’”

It was a compliment. Her assessment of the wine’s characteristics was uncannily correct. The connoisseur urged her to explore her talent in earnest, and she soon abandoned her medical studies for a career in wine.

Today, Griffin Holst plies her trade as sommelier at Borgata and the Water Club, overseeing 43,000 bottles and countless varieties and vintages. This year, she hopes to earn the title Master Sommelier; she will be one of only 17 women in the world to achieve the distinction.

But more important than titles is the pleasure of sharing her enjoyment and understanding of fine wine.

“What makes a good sommelier is taking care of people,” says Griffin Holst. “You are the translator who helps lift their experience. I especially love teaching a group of students, letting them explore… I’m lucky to be able to smell and describe and drink and enjoy what I do.”

Griffin Holst can scarcely speak of wine without sounding rapturous. Certain wines are “big and jammy and luscious.” Others are “crazy and powerful.” But she dispels the reputation for snootiness that sometimes goes with being a wine expert.

“You’re an expert if you know what you like,” she says. “My title and my experience mean nothing if I try to talk you out of something you love.”

Though there are no rules when it comes to wine, Griffin Holst is happy to offer guidelines. For example: “I find that a lot of people in the U.S. drink their Bordeaux very, very young. The wines are delightful, but with a little bit of age, they express much better.”

And if there’s any rule at all, says Griffin Holst, it’s to enjoy wine instead of being intimidated by it. “Play with it,” she says. “It’s fun.”

Eight years after veering off her former career path, Griffin Holst seems glad she went for the fun. “From the minute I had that glass of wine, I knew that’s what I wanted to do when I grew up,” she says. “I pinch myself every day.” —Marjorie Preston

Extraordinary Joe
JOE WEINBERG • President, Gaming & Resorts Division, Cordish Companies
Joe Weinberg had a busy 2008. He was involved in a racino in Indiana, a bid for a Kansas casino license and a proposal to buy the Tropicana in Atlantic City.

The Kansas deal fell through, but the Tropicana bid is speeding toward completion. Since Cordish is the only bidder, the company should become the owner of one of Atlantic City’s largest casino resorts.

Weinberg’s 20 years with the Cordish Companies have been rewarding. He’s involved with all its notable developments, including the Inner Harbor and the Power Plant in Baltimore; the Walk outlet shops in Atlantic City; Woodbine Live in Toronto; and many others, including the Seminole Hard Rock Casino Hotels in Hollywood and Tampa, Florida.

In 2009, Cordish is poised to become one of the most important new companies in the gaming industry. In addition to a permanent casino at Indiana Live and the possible Tropicana buy, the company is eyeing a plan in Baltimore to build a recently authorized slot parlor on city-owned land between Cordish’s Inner Harbor and two city sports stadiums.

“We’re closely examining this opportunity,” says Weinberg. “We’re concerned about the high tax rate and a few other issues, but we’d like to play a role in Baltimore.”

In addition, Weinberg says his company is in a good position to purchase any of the casinos that larger casino companies in financial difficulties may want to divest.

“Our company is more liquid than most,” he says. “We’ll take a look at any possible deal, and if it works for us, we’ll go forward.”

Along with Cordish’s operations partner, former Tropicana president Dennis Gomes, Weinberg believes his company will be a major player in the casino industry. —Roger Gros

And The Winner Is…
JACQUI CAROLE • Director of Visitors Services Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority
Fortune magazine says thanking employees for a job well done is sometimes more important than paying them more—“and a pat on the back is free.”

No one knows the value of a hearty “thank you” better than Jacqui Carole, who founded one of Atlantic City’s most popular traditions: the annual Host Awards.

The awards were created in the mid-’90s to honor the best and brightest in the hospitality professions. Now in its 13th year, the gala has grown to include 24 categories, from food servers and front desk staff to bartenders and room attendants—everyone whose performance, courtesy and high
Carole says she can’t take all the credit for this very bright idea: “I stole it from the Academy Awards. And it could not happen at all without the support of the Host Awards Advisory and Selection Committee, the ACCVA and its foundation, and the hospitality industry, which welcomed it with open arms.”

Acknowledging wait staff, bell people and other rank-and-file workers is vital, says Carole, “because these front-line people are a very big part of why we have repeat business.”

She, too, is also a part of that success. Carole’s résumé reads like a catalogue of community service: past president of the Mainland Rotary; past chairwoman of the March of Dimes; acting chairwoman of the City Planning Board; a former member of the teams that presented Harborfest, the Seafood Festival, and the wildly popular St. Patrick’s Day Parade; past legislative aide... and the list goes on.

She’s also in charge of the friendly staffs of the city’s two information centers and the concierge post at the Convention Center—people who meet and assist more than 200,000 visitors a year.

Of her day-to-day job, the effervescent Carole says, “It’s not an ‘it’s-time-to-make-the-donuts’ kind of thing. As our tag line says, we’re ‘Always Turned On.’ You have to be upbeat and have a positive attitude; a good sense of humor doesn’t hurt.” Also essential: good organizational skills, and of course, appreciation for the hard work of others.

“What do I enjoy most about my job? My staff. They have outrageous personalities. But as far as work, I love the Host Awards,” scheduled this year for May 13 at Boardwalk Hall.

Carole is already planning the big night, when the workers she calls “beacons of hospitality” get to really shine. —Marjorie Preston

On the Waterfront
JACK KEITH • Executive Director, Historic Gardner’s Basin
Jack Keith looks back with satisfaction at the changes wrought at Historic Gardner’s Basin—and in Atlantic City at large.

In the 1970s, Keith says, visitors here “were confronted with nothing but urban blight.” But today, especially at Gardner’s Basin, where Keith is executive director, there is “a gem of a completely rebuilt neighborhood and community. There have been some challenges, but we’ve come a long way.”

As a marine scientist and unofficial local historian, Keith is uniquely suited to his role overseeing the Basin, home of the Atlantic City Aquarium and Crafter’s Village.

“When Gardner’s Basin started, it was a couple of historic buildings, a restaurant and some minor exhibits,” Keith says. “Fast-forward 30 years and there are two marinas, two restaurants (with a third coming in the spring), a number of shops, and the aquarium, where our attendance goes up 10 percent to 15 percent every year.

“People don’t expect to find this quaint, quiet little place at the end of the island.” Their typical response, he says, is simple: “Wow.”

The city did not always treasure its waterfront, and much of it was dilapidated by the time the city’s Historic Waterfront Foundation was incorporated in 1976.

“Find me a resort where the beach block remains vacant,” says Keith. “This group saw the value in the waterfront. They understood it and they took steps to save it. They deserve great credit.”

So does Keith, who has been instrumental in the development of Gardner’s Basin as a center for fun, entertainment and education. The aquarium’s Ocean In Motion, a traveling marine show complete with touch tank, has taken its collection of small sharks and stingrays to school districts across the state. Its website offers instruction materials that meet core curriculum standards. But there’s nothing like an in-person visit to see the exhibits of moray eels and iguanas, jellyfish and anemones.

Gardner’s Basin is “getting stronger and stronger year-round,” says Keith. But he tempers his hopes for a growth with respect for the neighborhoods that have come back to life in the Inlet. 

“There continues to be talk of a pedestrian thoroughfare to connect the Boardwalk to the Basin,” he says. “But we have to be careful to have a balance of attractions and community. There is a very strong, viable community in the Inlet. We don’t want to step in with a lot of commercialism.”

Spoken like a true preservationist. —Marjorie Preston

Renaissance Man
KARLOS R. LASANE II • Regional Vice President of Government Affairs, Harrah's Entertainment
Karlos LaSane knows Atlantic City. He also knows Las Vegas, entertainment, gaming, the arts, sports, politics and business. As regional vice president of government affairs for Harrah’s Entertainment, he’s made powerful friends all over the country, and has years of experience bringing important issues to public officials in many gaming jurisdictions.  LaSane brings together people of all political persuasions to further sound public policy.

Having grown up in Atlantic City, LaSane now lives in Las Vegas, and works in Harrah’s corporate offices.

While he has not indicated a desire to pursue political office, LaSane repeatedly appears on the short list of potential candidates for a number of offices. His name has consistently been brought up as a prospective candidate for the unenviable position of mayor of Atlantic City. 

As a Harrah’s executive, LaSane monitors the politics of both Nevada and Washington, D.C.  His insights into the community and relationships are invaluable to his Harrah’s superiors.

LaSane is involved with many charitable organizations, such as the Atlantic City Boys & Girls Clubs, 100 Black Men of America, Dante Hall Theater of the Arts, Atlantic City Art Center and ONE Nevada.

He was also a founding board member and entertainment director of the Kentucky Avenue Renaissance Festival, a citywide event that brought jazz and R&B back to the street that transformed Atlantic City into an East Coast entertainment mecca.

Previously LaSane served as a member of the New Jersey Development Authority for small businesses and the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority. In 2006 he served on Nevada Governor’s Business Transition Team. Recently, LaSane was appointed to the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada Advisory Committee.

In addition to supporting the bill that permits casino employees to run for office, LaSane wants to encourage all casino workers who have the desire to get involved in the process.

“We can make a difference,” he says. “Everyone should play a role in how our local governments are run.”

As for casino executives, LaSane says, “We need to be visible and diligent in our communities. Our industry has the ability to make our communities vibrant places to live and work. More of us need to take active roles in our communities to ensure continued success.” —Patrick Roberts

The Crusader
CHRIS CHRISTIE • Former U.S. Attorney, State of New Jersey
The scorecard is impressive: 132 wins, 0 losses. That’s the number of flawless cases that U.S. Attorney Chris Christie brought against criminals during his almost seven years in office. He stepped down December 1, and instantly became a presumptive candidate for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 2010.

New Jersey is known as the capital of political corruption in the United States (with possible contenders Louisiana and Illinois). Christie took his shot to help eliminate the pervasive “pay to play” rules that were in effect when he became U.S. attorney.

While Christie is playing his cards close to the vest as it pertains to any political aspirations, his record in bringing down crooked politicians includes Senate President John Lynch, Newark Mayor Sharpe James, Hudson County Executive Robert Janiszewski, state Senator Wayne Bryant and others.

Ironically, Christie had no courtroom experience when nominated by President George Bush in 2001. His candidacy was openly opposed by members of the state Bar Association. But his results are indisputable. Christie paid close attention to Atlantic City, one of the most corrupt cities in the most corrupt state. His involvement in bringing down the Callaway organization cannot be overstated. He directed and approved all the activities that brought down the former city council president, two councilman and several of their cohorts.

Christie will not say if he’ll run for governor. When asked his intentions, he says, “Only the people of New Jersey, not Chris Christie, can save their government.”

Yet if he chooses to run, Christie is likely to emerge as the leading candidate, even in a state where Democrats far outnumber Republicans. —Roger Gros

http://www.christiefornj.com/

Breadwinner
FRANK D. FORMICA • Baker, builder, community activist
In 1902, 20-year-old Francesco Formica traveled from Italy to America in search of his American dream. He settled in Atlantic City’s Ducktown section, opened a grocery store, and within a few years launched Formica Bros. Bakery. Almost 90 years later, the Arctic Avenue store has become a local landmark.

The immigrant drive that propelled Francesco lives on in his son and namesake. Frank D. Formica is the catalyst behind several initiatives to invigorate the city’s downtown, and if anyone can spearhead the movement, it’s Formica, a tireless proponent of all things Atlantic City.

A Vietnam War veteran and former casino administrator, Formica came home to Ducktown in 1990, when his father told him the family business would close if he did not take over.

“In a brief moment of insanity, I left the casino business and went back in the bread business,” Formica says. “Then I saw it was time to do something about the neighborhood.”

The place had changed a lot since he was a kid. Back then, “Ducktown had four Italian bakeries, six grocery stores, three or four tailor shops, at least two fish markets and about eight restaurants,” he says. As the city declined, the number of businesses dwindled to less than a dozen. But the ones that endured were dogged in their commitment to the region. 

“You’ve got to give credit where it’s due,” he says. “White House Subs is an icon. Angelo’s Fairmount Tavern is an icon. Angeloni’s is more iconic in a metropolitan sense. Dock’s has been here for 104 years, Rando’s going on 95.”

When the city built a connector through the neighborhood to link Brigantine and Atlantic City, “Some people thought it would be a detriment,” Formica says. “Well, it put us on Broadway.” In fact, Atlantic City Outlets stands where Formica once proposed an “Italian Village” shopping district.

Formica continues to do his bit to improve the city. He is co-founder and president of the Ducktown Revitalization Association, which has funneled nearly $2 million in grants to the neighborhood. He built the residential complex AC Estates, hoping to spark more local investment. He’s a member of the Greater Atlantic City Economic Development Commission, and on the board of Dante Hall. He foresees a future that is more like the past, “when blue-collar people from this neighborhood could put their kids through medical school on a waiter’s salary.”

Formica is not a shy man, nor is he unduly modest, given his accomplishments. But when asked about his designation as the unofficial “mayor of Ducktown,” he laughs and says simply, “That’s me. I’m the head duck.” —Marjorie Preston

By   Tue, Dec 23, 2008

In the land of opportunity that is America, every child who asks, “What do I want to be when I grow up?” has the ability, at least in theory, to see his vision become a reality.

Little kids probably still dream of being firefighters and athletes, and the most recent Gallup Youth Survey revealed that teenagers 13 to 17 rank teaching, law and medicine among the 10 best professions.

But as we mature, personal circumstances, education and geography play a role in our careers. Many in the Northeast who never imagined working in the gaming industry jumped on that bandwagon in 1978, with the opening of Atlantic City’s first casino. In the 30 years since, the industry has undergone changes that eliminated some jobs and created others, like server-based gaming, TITO technology and automated table games.

But last year, a seismic shift in the casino industry originated outside of it—in the national and global economies. With the deepening recession, some properties have begun layoffs, and cuts will almost certainly continue in 2009.

While there is no fail-safe protection against unemployment, continuing education will be critical as people consider their futures—whether they spend them in the casino industry, a related discipline, or a different field altogether. And the time to formulate a plan is now.

Nathan Levinson, associate dean for finance and administration at Rutgers University, lists some educational pursuits that could prove important to today’s nervous workforce.

“Business courses come to mind as the most applicable,” Levinson says. “Generally they include ‘soft’ skills such as writing, management and leadership, and ‘hard’ skills like accounting and finance. Courses and degrees in your specific industry also have value as they can help elevate your career path from entry-level and middle management to upper management.”

One field that’s growing despite the economic downturn, says Levinson: hospitality management. Coupled with training in quality management, ethics, organizational behavior and consumer behavior, these courses, which Rutgers offers at its Mays Landing campus, “provide for a well-rounded business management education that’s transferable to other industries.”

For dealers already on the casino floor—and for workers throughout the industry—it’s smart to diversify whenever possible, says Carol Drea, director of the Casino Career Institute in Atlantic City.

“Every employee is vulnerable in this economy, so we suggest that dealers come back and take additional training, and have four or five different games so their employers have the option to move them around the floor. A poker dealer, for example, can come back and take blackjack, roulette or carnival games, which are easy to pick up.”

Those just starting out as casino dealers should have a minimum of two primary games and a secondary game, Drea advises. And don’t balk at taking any job you can at first, just to get a toehold.

“You want to get your foot in the door, in whatever capacity,” she says. “Then as positions become available, you are already known by your employer and can move up.”

Mitchell Marks, author of Charging Back Up the Hill: Workforce Recovery after Mergers, Acquistions and Downsizings, says an economy in flux is the perfect time to plan for the next stage in your life and career. “Use your current position to prepare you for the next one,” he says. “Get new training. Seek out new responsibilities. Build your skills and credentials. This is a chance to rethink everything, and even use your employer to become more marketable.”

There is more to higher education than increasing job security, Levinson adds. “Continuing education—or continuous education— cannot be taken for granted, no matter what the economic or personal challenges may be. To grow through education is the best method we have to strive for the best in our personal lives, whether it means completing your undergraduate degree, enrolling in a certificate program to promote yourself or taking a course for a professional license.”

Your boss probably agrees. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employers are impressed by workers’ willingness to go for additional academic credentials, and view them as having assets—like organizational skills, aptitude and enthusiasm—that will also help in the workplace.

Staying on top of your game will serve you well during tough times, says employment counselor Sharon Jordan-Evans. She advises workers in every field to develop a “unique selling proposition,” or description of the value they add that not many others can.    

Though no one is indispensable, education, attitude and excellent daily performance will make it tougher for your company to do without you.

The Three Rs
Facing job uncertainty? Think Re-entry, Reinvention and Resources

The casino-hotel-restaurant industry, collectively the largest industry in South Jersey and the second largest in the state, has seen unprecedented declines in recent months, and a significant displacement of employees.

For those facing layoffs, it’s no comfort to know that people the world over are reeling from the same recession. Most people in the area have never experienced this level of anxiety; employment levels have always been high, and economic downturns short-lived.

But this one feels different. Wall Street and Main Street alike are struggling. Each day there’s more bad news: job losses, bankruptcies, triple-digit stock market declines.

It’s important to feel that you still have control over your own destiny. One way to increase your sense of security amid harsh realities is to take positive steps toward job stability, and if necessary, re-employment.

This month, Richard Stockton College, along with Atlantic Cape Community College and the Workforce Investment Board/One Stop Centers, is offering a conference to help displaced supervisors, managers and professional staff re-invent themselves for future meaningful employment. The conference is also designed for employed professionals who are concerned about their work status.

Here’s a preview of the “Three Rs” of ongoing employment security:

Re-entry into the Workforce

Starting a job search can be daunting, and one of the first steps—preparing a summary of your experience and skills—can be intimidating if you haven’t done it in a while. Think of it as a self-affirming exercise, and you’re more likely to realize you have the skills and personal qualities needed to find a new job.

You may see offers for résumé writing for a fee, but you don’t need to pay someone to help you. At Richard Stockton College’s Career Services Department and the Department of Labor’s One Stop Offices, professionals will guide you through this important first step free of charge.

You’ll also learn how to use technology to enhance your job search. It’s important to get acquainted with the many résumé posting sites that employers use to find qualified candidates. These sites let you look beyond your local area to find the right job match.

Reinvent Yourself

Workforce needs will change as a result of the recession; jobs that once were in demand may no longer fit into the new economy. Understanding what the future holds will allow you to get the education you need to step into these new roles.

Examples of up-and-coming professions: the health care industry, which is growing as the population ages, and the green energy movement. Employment and education counselors will be on hand at the conference to provide insight into these new career options. Stockton’s Continuing Studies programs, SIGMA and Health Sciences and Human Services, offer unique certificate programs to prepare students for this important next step in their careers.

Resources

Whether it’s the availability of funding for retraining or the location of Department of Labor offices, the conference will answer all your questions.

The Three R’s of Re-Employment Conference
Wednesday, January 14 
8:30 a.m.-noon
Richard Stockton College
$15 (Registration deadline is January 12)
For information, visit www.stockton.edu/hshs
or call 609-652-4227

By David Schwartz   Mon, Dec 29, 2008

Atlantic City has long been a center for entertainment, be it in the resort’s hotels, on its piers, or today, inside its casinos. But for much of the 20th century, most entertainment could be found in theaters located along the Boardwalk.

The first true theater in Atlantic City, the Academy of Music, opened in 1891. Salt water taffy king Joseph F. Fraelinger, with partners John L. Young and Stewart McShea, built the music hall, which hosted a range of acts, from an exposition of trained horses entitled “Bartholomew’s Equine Paradise” to singers and dancers. But like many early Atlantic City attractions, built before fire codes and modern emergency response, the theater was susceptible to flames; it burned to the ground no less than three times in 10 years.  

Each time, however, the Academy rose from the ashes. After the first blaze, it reopened in a scant four weeks. But after the third, the cataclysmic Boardwalk fire of April 1903, it took a full six years for the curtain to rise once more. By this time, the Academy of Music had been renamed the Apollo Theater.

Upon its reopening, the hall became a proving ground for prospective Broadway shows. This was consistent with the usual practice: more than 1,000 plays debuted in Atlantic City between 1900 and 1935. Those that prospered by the shore went on to enjoy runs in Gotham; those that didn’t quietly faded away.  

In its first year of business, the Apollo presented the Ziegfield revue The Follies of 1908, the Honeyboy minstrel show, and a series of plays. By the 1920s, the Apollo had been joined by the Woods and the Globe theaters. These three stages provided the most serious drama in the city, though there were scores of others.

Over the next decade, these theaters witnessed the glory years of legitimate drama and popular stagecraft in Atlantic City. Heel-kicking revues like the Ziegfeld Follies or George White’s Scandals alternated with series plays like Uncle Tom’s Cabin and Blossom Time. Business was so good that Atlantic City was christened a “Second Broadway,” and most of the popular stars of the period played in the resort.

But the golden age of Atlantic City theaters did not last forever. With live entertainment diminishing nationwide, many dramatic theaters did not survive the dislocations of World War II.

Luckily, there were already a string of motion picture theaters to carry on the tradition. The first movie house in the city dates from 1907, when Henry Savage opened the Royal at Missouri and Atlantic avenues. Before long, Boardwalk playhouses were supplementing their live bills with the new-fangled flicks, and eventually several movie-only theaters opened.

George Wielland opened a string of cinema houses in and around Atlantic City, starting with the Bijou in 1911. He added the Capitol in 1919, the Ventnor two years later, the Strand in 1925, and several others into the 1940s, including the old Apollo, which became a movie theater in 1934. The Ventnor was gutted by fire but rebuilt in 1936, and it still is standing, though movies haven’t been shown there for years.

The most outstanding Atlantic City movie house, the Warner Theater, opened in 1929. This movie palace cost Harry M. Warner, the president of Warner Brothers Pictures, a fortune to build at Arkansas Avenue and the Boardwalk. Though Warner originally leased the building, two years later his company bought it outright, along with the rest of the shops on the block. It was a jewel of a theater, with terrazzo floors and a ceiling painted blue to resemble the sky, and small lights glimmering like stars.

But even motion pictures could not save Atlantic City theaters. The Warner became the Boardwalk Bowl, a bowling alley, before closing for good. Caesars acquired the property when it bought Howard Johnson’s Boardwalk Regency in 1977 and eventually tore down the auditorium, which became a parking lot, though it preserved the façade.

Today, the Warner façade almost blends in with the Wild Wild West, which was built to incorporate the preserved frontage. For those who know to look for it, the face of the old Warner Theater is a fitting reminder of the glory days of Atlantic City theaters.

By   Mon, Dec 29, 2008

Donna Linblad never planned a career in the casino industry—far from it. The Linwood native holds a degree in social work and psychology. But in 1981, after she graduated from college in Virginia, she took her brother’s advice and got a summer job at Caesars.

She was hired as a food server at the Boardwalk Café. The money was good, and the work suited her. With the exception of a few years off to raise her family, Linblad has been at the property ever since. And she loves it.

“Without sounding corny, I found my work to be a passion,” says the cheery mother of two. “It takes a certain type of person to work with the public, and honestly, I’m a people person. I just love being out there.”

Linblad tends to speak in superlatives. Her co-workers are “wonderful,” her employers “awesome,” the crew at Nero’s Steakhouse “fantastic.” Maitre d’ Betty McHugh is “perfect.” Caesars itself is “just the classiest place around.”

As for Chef Kevin Belcher’s menu at Nero’s, “I would say we have the best veal chop anywhere; it’s amazing,” she says. “Our foie gras is absolutely delicious, and we probably have the best crab cakes going. Even people from Maryland come up and say, ‘Donna, you’re right, these are sensational.’ In my opinion, Nero’s is the best steakhouse in Atlantic City.”

Linblad considers herself lucky to do something she enjoys, among colleagues and customers she genuinely likes. But the job has paid off in more ways than one.

“I got my kids through college, and I’ve made a great living,” she says. “This company genuinely cares about its employees. There are incentive programs and pep rallies; these are the things that give you a reason to do the job so much better.”

Though she never went into her chosen field of psychology, Linblad does ply that trade sometimes with customers who are out of sorts. She considers every encounter as an opportunity to brighten someone’s day.

“I look at it as a challenge,” she says. “If someone is grumpy or super-unhappy, I ask myself what can I do to turn their attitude around. Part of what I’m trying to accomplish is to make everyone who leaves our restaurant and our casino feel good, so they’ll return.”

And they do. Even in today’s tough economic climate, Linblad’s regulars have remained loyal.

“They come back year after year, and that will keep us going in these turbulent times. We’re still making a really good living.

“Honestly,” says Linblad, “it’s just great.”

By   Mon, Dec 29, 2008

"The first thing a woman needs to know about renovating a house is simple: do not, under any circumstances, sleep with your contractor.”     

But Henry Sullivan, narrator of this debut novel, doesn’t follow his own advice, and the result is a sexy romp through the bedrooms of two beautiful, wealthy women: Sally Stein, a successful purse designer, who may or may not be trying to involve him in a threesome, and Rebecca Paulson, Sally’s former best friend, who is miserably married to a two-faced real estate mogul.

As he becomes more intimately involved with both Sally and Rebecca, Henry starts to wonder about the demise of their friendship, and his curiosity takes him into new territory. Once he starts to care about the women, his lusty afternoons with them are no longer as carefree, and the consequences of his behavior start to matter.

To add to the excitement, Henry is also being stalked by a vengeful oncologist who thinks he slept with his wife. And the hunky contractor is so dogged by guilt over a past relationship, he seeks counseling with his former girlfriend—even though they have no intention of reuniting.

Henry Sullivan is the fictional alter ego of author Murphy, who made a living renovating Hollywood apartments before he became a screenwriter. Through this multi-dimensional main character—a sexual conquistador who cares for the women he beds, a wise guy who loves and protects his friends, a card-carrying cynic who mourns his father so deeply he cannot bring himself to sell the old man’s last load of wood—Murphy has created a solid foundation around which the rest of the cast members play out their little dramas.

Part male manifesto, part cautionary tale, part bittersweet romance, and thoroughly amusing all the way through, Confessions of A Contractor is that rare hybrid—a novel that will delight men and women alike.

By Joe Legato   Mon, Dec 29, 2008

I never thought I’d see the day when Batman would kill his opponent in a Mortal Kombat game.

Midway Games brings just that to Mortal Kombat fans with the much-anticipated Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe. The premise of the game can be inferred by the title: the Mortal Kombat and DC Universe worlds collide, and the fighting begins.

The bad guy is Dark Khan, a combination of the main villain in each respective universe, but the characters of each world don’t know this and are blinded by dark rage. The Kombat characters band together and the heroes and villains of DC team up; the result is the ultimate battle.

Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe applies many of the features exclusive to the Mortal Kombat franchise to the DC Universe. Players will be excited to hear familiar phrases such as “Fight!” and “Finish him!” while playing with comic book faces like Lex Luthor and Catwoman. Even the “Test Your Might” mode returns as players are given the ability to crash each other’s characters through a series of walls.

The game also adds a few new attributes for a unique fighting game. During battle, for example, fighting doesn’t just come in the classic style players are used to. Players can now also battle close-up hand-to-hand, in mid-air freefall, or in a powered-up offensive rage mode.

The coolest part of Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe is the array of characters and environments. Where else could you have Raiden battle Superman in hell, or watch Sub-Zero duke it out with the Flash in a Metropolitan combat arena? Setting up these dream matches is just some of the fun you can have. You don’t even have to pick battles between characters from different worlds.

And you may want to take advantage of the fact that you can finally make Batman finish off that pesky Joker.

By   Mon, Dec 29, 2008

With the release of his latest CD, Soul, gifted singer-songwriter Seal (also known as Mr. Heidi Klum) seems to be in fall-back-and-punt mode.

It’s a familiar ploy among artists who hit career droughts: crank out a dozen or so covers of old-school hits and hope for some airplay. Rod Stewart did it with his Great American Songbook—and he’s been cruising on it for the past five years.

One expects better of Seal, who has never been less than passionate about his music. And he might have succeeded with this collection if the tunes had not been so assiduously covered elsewhere.     

Who needs to hear yet another rendition of Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come,” James Brown’s “It’s A Man’s World” or Al Green’s “Here I Am?” At this stage, even great takes on these old classics seem a little pointless.

Seal’s second mistake is his decision to wrap these gritty tunes in strings and synth, making big production numbers out of what should have been pared-down soul-pop numbers.

The one thrill on Soul is the singer’s version of Deneice Williams’ oft-forgotten anthem to personal liberty, “Free,” recorded way back in 1976 (OMG, the Bicentennial year! Is anybody reading this who was alive then?). Seal’s version, like Neicy’s, is gorgeous, great and yummy.   

If Seal had packed this CD with other deserving but obscure songs like “Free,” and left off the plush overproduction, the collection would have been a real winner. He’s a hell of a performer, but Seal may not win many hearts with Soul.

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Dec 29, 2008

Here comes the blasphemy! The Dark Knight, the latest in the new Batman series starring Christian Bale as the Caped Crusader, is simply not dark enough. Cinematically, the film’s darkest scenes are its strength. Dramatically, its darkest character—the Joker—is one of the best screen villains of all time. Structurally, the plot may not be better than that of its predecessor, Batman Begins, but it’s far more sinister. But what was convincingly dark and foreboding in the movie theater is only dim on the small screen.

Still, the night belongs to Heath Ledger, who is, paradoxically, both villain and hero in this movie. While his characterization of the Joker rings more true to the comic book creation, Ledger isn’t much of a “joker” at all. He’s downright serious and wicked in a way that seems noble. Anarchy is his aim, and Ledger plunges us deep into the Joker’s twisted psyche, reducing Batman to a hunted vigilante in the process. Couple this with the actor’s untimely passing shortly after filming wrapped, and he emerges as the real hero.

Unfortunatly, Ledger is completely forgotten in the DVD’s bonus material (the two-disc set has over 90 minutes while the Blu-Ray format logs in at a whopping three hours). Ledger was notorious for totally engrossing himself in the life of his characters.

Considering the darkness of his personal life and the manner in which he died, he should have been remembered by the producers, filmmakers, cast, his family, etc.

Did the spirit of the Joker truly, as rumored, assist Ledger to his grave? Don’t expect an answer from the DVD. In the end, the producers may have decided there needed to be some light at the end of the tunnel. Or else they became afraid of the dark.

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Dec 29, 2008

January 4-8
Tony Pace “Up on the Roof,” Hilton

January 6 - February 18
“Spirit of the Dance,” Tropicana

January 10
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s “How Big Can You Get: 100 Years of Cab Calloway,” Trump Plaza

January 16-17
Jim Norton, Borgata

January 17
Labelle, Taj Mahal
Jerry Stiller, Hilton

January 18
Gallagher, Harrah’s

January 18-22
“A Really Big Shew,” Hilton

January 23
“War at the Shore” MMA Extreme Challenge, Tropicana
Psychic Marilyn Sukonick-Zeff, Tropicana
Musiq Soulchild, House of Blues

January 25
Bay Atlantic Symphony: Phantoms and Fire, Stockton Performing Arts Center

January 31
Artie Lang, Borgata
The Pretenders, Borgata
Zolotoi Gramofon, Taj Mahal

February 5-8
“Long Live the Beatles” with the Mahoney Brothers, Trump Marina

February 7
John Legend, Borgata
Jewel, Borgata
Greg Behrendt, Trump Plaza

February 9
Guitar Blues with Jorma Kaukonen, Robben Ford and Ruthie Foster, Stockton Performing
Arts Center

February 13
The Best Damn Comedy Show Period, House of Blues
Kid Rock, Borgata

February 13-14
Aaron Lewis, Borgata
Engelbert Humperdinck, Trump Plaza

February 14
Howie Mandel, Resorts

February 14-15
Gipsy Kings, Caesars

February 15
Lisa Lampanelli, Borgata

February 20
LL Cool J, House of Blues

February 21
The Neville Brothers/Dr. John, House of Blues

February 22
Disturbed and Sevendust, House of Blues

February 28
Joy Behar, Harrah’s
Frank Caliendo, Borgata
3 Doors Down, House of Blues

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Dec 29, 2008

The Temptations have been crowd-pleasers for more than 40 years, and they’re still going strong. See them at Resorts Superstar Theater, Saturday and Sunday, January 17 and 18.  

Original member Otis Williams joins Ron Tyson, Terry Weeks, Joe Herndon and Bruce Williamson to present some of the sweetest sounds in the R&B and classic soul pantheon. Though the cast of characters has changed with the years (there are actually almost two dozen present and former Temps!), the legendary harmonies and silken style are still there, along with a songbook like no other: “The Way You Do The Things You Do,” “Get Ready,” “Since I Lost My Baby,” “My Girl,” “Papa Was A Rolling Stone,” “Cloud Nine” and many more.

Today’s Temptations, led by Williams, have stayed true to the group’s musical tradition and respectful of its past. Recent member Bruce Williamson says, “Our challenge is to live in the present while respecting the past. Our past is filled with riches only a fool would discard, but reinvention is the name of the game.”  

After 40 remarkable years, the Temptations continue to produce award-winning hits and sold-out performances. Here’s your chance to see them live.

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Dec 29, 2008

With her seventh album, Perfectly Clear, acclaimed singer-songwriter Jewel has jumped on the country bandwagon. She’ll bring her new sound to Borgata’s Music Box Theatre this month.

From the remote ranch of her Alaskan youth to the rocket ride of international stardom, this three-time Grammy nominee (hailed by the New York Times as a “songwriter bursting with talents”) has enjoyed career longevity that’s rare among her generation of artists.

Whether alone with her guitar or fronting a big band, Jewel has always been a charismatic live performer. Starting out, she earned the respect of troubadours like Merle Haggard, Bob Dylan and Neil Young, three men who not only invited Jewel to open their shows, but also mentored her in the early phases of her career.

She has other attributes, too. Stuff magazine listed Jewel among its “102 Sexiest Women in the World” while Blender mag went further, crowning her “rock’s sexiest poet.” She is at her best behind a guitar, singing in that lilting, jewel-like voice.

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Dec 29, 2008

Ever wonder where Ben Stiller got his comic instincts? They came straight from his DNA, courtesy of his parents, the legendary Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara.

In the ’60s and ’70s, the comic team of Stiller and Meara appeared 36 times on TV’s Ed Sullivan Show as the long and short of a mismatched married couple—she the tall, daffy Irish redhead, he the small, disgruntled Jew. Their humor entertained generations of comedy fans, and spawned a dynasty in kids Ben and Amy, who are both performers.

Now the guy best known to younger TV viewers as George Costanza’s dad on Seinfeld brings his one-man comedy show to the Hilton.

It all began for Stiller in the 1950s, when he joined Chicago’s Compass Players (later the famous Second City troupe). The Brooklyn native starred on Broadway in Hurlyburly, The Ritz and Guys and Dolls, and also appeared in Joe Papp’s New York Shakespeare Festival production of Much Ado About Nothing, as well as a musical version of Two Gentlemen of Verona.

But it was as one-half of Stiller and Meara that he made his mark, becoming one of the most recognizable faces, voices and characters in entertainment. The duo was awarded a joint star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame in 2007.

On the big screen, Stiller has the unique distinction of having starred in both screen versions (1988 and 2007) of John Waters’ Hairspray. But the famed comedian is probably best known as a pair of TV dads—Seinfeld’s irascible Frank Costanza and King of Queens’ Arthur—and of course, as Ben Stiller’s real-life old man.

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Dec 29, 2008

Artie Lange swears like a longshoreman (he once was one), jokes about being an addict (his conspicuous drug consumption is well-known) and usually makes himself the butt of the joke (especially in his memoir, Too Fat to Fish). How can such a mess of a guy—rotund, disheveled, troubled and profane—be so adorable?

Yet Lange is. Best known for his role on Howard Stern’s radio show and as a MADtv cast member, the Union, New Jersey, native brings his no-holds-barred standup act to Borgata, January 31.

Lange is as well known for his antics offstage as his comic persona onstage. Stern has said Lange lives in a sort of perpetual adolescence, living on beer and pizza while his mom cleans his apartment. His run-ins with the law include an alleged arrest for attempted bank robbery (Lange claims it was a joke) and a police chase after well-meaning friends tried to stage an intervention.

In 2001, Lange joined Stern as a regular; his unpredictable personality and uncensored look at life made the King of All Media look like a schoolteacher. Their combustible relationship ended in an on-air smackdown last April, but the two soon mended fences.

Lange has poked fun at his dismal film career, from the lackluster Dirty Work with Norm MacDonald to Beer League, a comedy that, while not well known, received a “thumbs up” from Richard Roeper of Ebert & Roeper at the Movies, and four of five stars from the New York Times.

For raw comedy with a touch of pathos, Artie Lange—the natural successor to John Belushi—is your guy.

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Dec 29, 2008

The Pretenders’ pared-down instrumentation and jangly guitars have always taken a back seat to Chrissie Hynde’s throaty growl and tough-girl persona. The band and its formidable front woman—the prototype for every rock chick to follow—come to Borgata this month in support of their new album, Break Up The Concrete.

The CD’s 11 songs were recorded in 12 days, for a sound that’s both gritty and immediate.

Though Hynde is a capable balladeer (witness her tender vocals on the 1994 hit “I’ll Stand By You”), she is first and foremost a rocker. As Neil Young has said, “She’s got it in her heart. She’s gonna be rocking till she drops.”

Over the years Hynde has steered the band through several lineup changes while continuing to build an impressive body of work. She’ll be joined by longtime drummer Martin Chambers, guitarist James Walbourne and bassist Nick Wilkinson. The Pretenders are a welcome addition to the midwinter entertainment lineup.

By   Mon, Dec 29, 2008

Their sound comes straight from the gin joints of Chicago, the side streets of New Orleans, and the dance halls of St. Louis.

To a man, the members of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy hail from Southern California. But their fluency with jazz, swing and the blues makes them inspired interpreters of those ballsy idioms; the kick-ass ensemble is known for high-octane, good time, dance-worthy tunes delivered with plenty of brass and percolating percussion.

As leaders of the West Coast neo-swing revival of the 1990s, the band went from small clubs in Santa Barbara to the Super Bowl halftime show in 1999; tunes like “Go Daddy-O” and “King of Swing” sound as great today as they did 10 years ago (and a half-century before that).

Casino Connection Managing Editor Marjorie Preston recently spoke with trumpeter Glen “The Kid” Marhevka, with the band since 1995.

How did a bunch of young California boys learn to swing with such authority?

We all grew up listening to jazz, swing and big bands; our parents had a big influence in that respect. I’m a huge fan of Miles Davis and Louis Armstrong, but our band is influenced just as much by the Beatles, James Brown and Tom Waits.

You've just recorded a tribute to Cab Calloway. Some people don't remember him at all, or remember him only from the Blues Brothers movie. Why did you want to salute him?

The band’s always loved Cab Calloway. We’ve done (Calloway’s signature song) “Minnie the Moocher” almost every night for 15 years. Cab was just a larger-than-life character and the consummate showman; I got to see him when I was 11, when my parents took me, and I’ve been a big fan ever since. This band is his sort of vibe, and last year would have been his 100th birthday, so we decided to do a tribute. The album should be out in April.

Do you wear white suits onstage, like Cab Calloway?

We wear classic suits from the 1940s, double-breasted suits and two-toned shoes; some of the guys wear vintage fedoras. No zoot suits, though, like Cab wore.

In the early days, people danced at your performances, but you were in small clubs back then. How does it work in a large hall?

People still dance in the aisles sometimes. The band is just so high-energy and musically great, it gives people a lot of reasons to dance. It’s an uplifting show, fun and entertaining.

How does it feel to be up there playing such hard-charging music? Does it ever get to be routine?

Oh, it’s really fun to play. We’re all good friends and we have a lot of fun together, goofing around up there. I think the audience feels that, gets it and gets into it, too. It’s always a party.

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy comes to Trump Plaza Saturday, January 10. Tickets are $19 and $28.

By Dave Bontempo   Mon, Dec 29, 2008

Brian Hansberry has experienced several gaming “firsts.” He started his career at Resorts, Atlantic City’s initial gaming extravaganza, opened Seneca Gaming’s flagship property in Salamanca, New York, five years ago, and now faces a daunting “first”—cutbacks in the casino industry.

Last month, Hansberry’s upstate New York company laid off more than 200 employees. As president and CEO of Seneca Gaming, the Margate native must be part leader and part cheerleader to maintain company morale.

“In the next year, we’ll continue to improve the efficiency of the operations at all our properties and strategically position ourselves for opportunities when the economy permits,” he says. “I’m confident that at some point it will.”

Hansberry’s storybook journey began at Atlantic City High School and Rutgers University. Then the lightning pace of gaming hardened him. Hansberry, who spent nearly 20 years here, entered the business as a dealer and left as an assistant casino manager. What he learned was priceless.

“It’s interesting to see how many top executives have come out of Atlantic City,” he says. “They’re scattered around the country. I think it’s because we were taught well. We were shown things by a lot of old timers. It was rigid. It was disciplined, and you learned so much. One teacher said we could see more in six months than a lot of craps dealers could in five years.”

Some of it seems hard to believe, even now. Hansberry recalls patrons entering the property with gigantic bags of money. Chips were an afterthought.

“Boy, I dealt some huge games,” he says, laughing. “Some guys literally handed us grocery bags filled with cash. Or gym bags filled with cash. A few players actually threw $100,000 cash onto the table. It was amazing, what energy the place had.

“In the early days, when we were open from 10 am. until 4 a.m., people lined up outside the door. It was a long line too, and we always had a band or a group in the Rendezvous Lounge. When 10 a.m. came they would play the ‘Charge’ song. Then the doors opened and the people came rushing in to play. Some guys jumped the rails.”

Hansberry moved with the flow. He secured several different jobs, most notably as a casino administrator, then stepped easily into the role of manager.

“The administrator job put me in a position where everything about day-to-day operations came across my desk,” he says. “You learn about the auditing side of the business, so much about regulatory compliance. You get to see the whole process.”

Hansberry learned that winning is only the tail end of the process.

“You find out about the expense that comes in winning all that money,” he says. “You have to be careful. You need to control expenses, be on top of the staffing and be up to speed about the comps you give players. A lot of different junkets seemed to be profitable on the surface, but once you dive down, you learn that some are not.

“We used to have a Frank Sinatra or a Dean Martin every week. Always a headliner. Then we said, ‘Wait a minute, it’s summertime, people are already here. Do we need this once a week? Can we do this once a quarter?’ And that’s what we eventually did.”

Hansberry stayed here until 1995, and then went to the Isle of Capri in Louisiana as director of casino operations. He later became VP of casino operations for Players Island, returned here briefly, and then went to Seneca Gaming as an executive.

“I built one (Seneca) casino out of what had been a cow pasture,” he says of the Salamanca casino, which opened 20 miles from Niagara Falls in 2004. “We started with a dirt field, created a temporary facility, and then a permanent one right next to that. It was great to have an opportunity to assemble a great team and watch something come together.”

Seneca Gaming has three properties in upstate New York. Salamanca offers outdoor activities in the foothills of the Alleghany Mountains. Buffalo Creek has a younger crowd in the city’s inner harbor. The Niagara Falls plays upon its natural advantages, the Falls.

When the markets turn, Hansberry can enjoy another first—a comeback.

By   Mon, Dec 29, 2008

What do hedgehogs, prairie dogs, badgers and bats have in common? Along with other mammals including nighthawks, chipmunks and lemurs, they’re hibernators—animals who survive the cold weather and sparse food supplies of winter by entering a deep, deep sleep.

During hibernation, which can last up to six months, the animal’s blood pressure, breathing, heartbeat and metabolism slow down, and its body temperature decreases to match the temperature outdoors.

If human beings hibernated, it’s been estimated that our body temperatures would drop from 98.6 degrees to 30-40 degrees! Though we do not hibernate in the strictest sense, perhaps our tendency to gain weight, feel sluggish and become more listless during the winter months could be a biological remnant of hibernation.

A study of the French in the decades after the Revolution showed that they practiced a form of self-imposed lassitude, doing nothing at all for months during the cold weather. And in parts of Russia during the early 1900s, after the harvest the peasant populace actually hunkered down with their livestock for months of almost constant sleep. They rose just once a day to eat a piece of bread. Research suggests their metabolism slowed, just like hibernating animals.

A new survey conducted by the Better Sleep Council (BSC) confirms that most people sleep more during the winter.

“It’s human nature to want to sleep in when it’s cold outside,” says BSC Director Andrea Herman. “Bears hibernate, and people want to indulge in sleep, too. Often, our sleep habits change in cold weather periods as well.”

According to a nationwide survey of 1,000 adults, more than five times as many adults spend more time in bed during the winter than in the summer.

“The findings confirm what we’ve suspected all along,” says Herman. “After all, who hasn’t snuggled further underneath the covers for a little extra sleep on a cold morning?”

In general, people prefer to lounge in bed rather than venture forth in wintry climates. More than half of adults read more, and almost two-thirds spend more time watching TV. Only one brave soul in 10 pursues outdoor activities more in the winter than the summer.

Certainly we crave more comfort foods in the winter too. Though we shouldn’t feel guilty for eating and sleeping more this time of year-after all, it’s our nature!—we should not use the seasons as an excuse to pig out and pork up.   
    Here are some suggestions for dealing with the human hibernation response:

• Need more sleep? Get it! Give in to nature’s call and indulge in a few extra hours of sleep each night. Studies suggest that eight hours is insufficient for many of us, no matter what time of year. Nine to 10 hours of restful sleep could help you get up and at ’em in the cold months.

• Crave more carbs? Again, indulge yourself—within reason. Enjoy moderate portions of your favorites alongside healthy soups and salads. Be sure to moderate the fat content of things like mac and cheese or casseroles.

• Fight the winter blues by spending about 20 minutes a day outside, and keep interiors flooded with light even if it is artificial. Daylight fluorescent bulbs are supposed to give the equivalent of natural daylight.

True hibernating mammals cannot be awakened during the extended slumber known as hibernation—not by loud noises, not even by being touched or moved around. It’s good to remember that bears, though they enter a state of torpor during the winter, do not really hibernate. So don’t try to move them around!

By Dave Bontempo   Mon, Dec 29, 2008

The rocky relationship between New Jersey horse racing and the casino industry will remain intact because of a November compromise. The state’s Racing Commission, as predicted here two months ago, allowed Atlantic City Race Course to run a six-day meet next year, rather than the 20 dates originally mandated.

In return, ACRC won’t receive part of the $90 million purse supplement casinos pay to keep slots out of New Jersey tracks (it sought $2.5 million annually from the supplement). The commission wanted ACRC to upgrade without the stipend, but settled for this wait-and-see reprieve, with one more year of ACRC simulcasting races and running a limited live meet.

Deep issues remain, and conflict will likely return when the supplement agreement expires in 2010. Until then, casinos and splintered factions of the racing industry will endure a marriage of convenience.

Can the participants forge a meaningful partnership? Here’s how they may position themselves over the next two years.

Casinos

For them, the purse supplement agreement is at best an irritant. Some consider it thinly disguised blackmail to keep tracks out of the slots business. Others think it’s an inexpensive strategic blockade of future competition.

The entire three-year payout costs less than 1 percent of casino gross win figures, but a much larger percentage of net revenue. Though it drains roughly $3 million per year per property—an annoying fee in prosperous times—it now costs gaming jobs.

Some favor ending this agreement next year and fighting horse racing’s presumed attempt to obtain slots. Casinos often pay nearly half a billion dollars in state taxes and wield legislative clout.

On the flip side, slots at the Meadowlands loom as a matchstick to Atlantic City. Yes, Harrah’s operates a Chester, Pennsylvania, property 75 miles away that shows little undue effects in Atlantic City. But the New York market? Officials cringe. From this perspective, $90 million looks like a reasonable, even cheap, way to let sleeping dogs lie.

Monmouth, Meadowlands

They may have welcomed a shutdown of Atlantic City Race Course. Monmouth would not share the purse supplement money and wanted ACRC to get help from affluent Philadelphia Park, which owns it. Monmouth executives bemoaned the small fields and reduced handle that afflicted its live meet, even with the purse supplement.

Officials see how slots have revitalized Delaware Park and Philadelphia Park, once among racing’s laughingstocks. Those tracks have become premiere players, attracting large fields and paying handsome purse money to their horsemen. They can also outbid Monmouth and the Meadowlands for top horses.

Monmouth and the Meadowlands would love a piece of the racino model and may feel $90 million is not enough. Crying poor has become an Olympic sport for executives. They will probably seek an inflated figure, perhaps even an outrageous one by casino standards. Officials may even spend the next two years trying to obtain slots and bypassing a purse supplement deal.

Like all tracks, Monmouth and the Meadowlands should also refine their business model. Tracks take anywhere from 25 percent to 30 percent off the top for exactas and trifectas. Racing prospered when that number was 15 percent. An “exotic” bet at the track is as bad as the big six wheel.

Maybe, just maybe, these two tracks will cut Atlantic City casinos into the slot profit picture. It would provide a partnership and bolster Meadowlands thoroughbred racing once Aqueduct in New York gets slots.

New Jersey Racing Commission

The group awarding dates wasn’t happy with ACRC’s reduced meet request, but it gets revenue from the track and has a vested interest in complying. In more sound economic times, a different track could pick up the slack left if one company went out of business. But in this environment, every dollar counts. The commission punted this time, and may do so next year, but the clock ticks for Atlantic City Race Course on this type of schedule.

Atlantic City Race Course

It’s a reprieve, but for how long? Purse supplement money won’t materialize. The track said it needed the money to renovate and run a long live meet, and it got a pass.

But did the track expend substantial political capital? Would this be the time for Philadelphia Park to step up and subsidize the meet? Probably. Philly Park uses Atlantic City both for simulcast revenue and a live-meet racing write-off.

And what’s to stop Atlantic City, armed with Philly Park’s financing, from trying to get slots 15 miles from the casinos?  Stay tuned. This period of “peace” will pass quickly.

By Michael Bruckler   Tue, Dec 23, 2008

Think things slow down in Atlantic City this time of year? Not a chance. When Old Man Winter rolls in, the Atlantic City Convention Center is hotter than ever.

The Motorsports 2009 Race Car and Trade Show returns Friday and Saturday, January 16 and 17. The midwinter event coincides with the 7th Annual Gamblers Classic, an indoor auto race featuring three divisions of live racing action at Boardwalk Hall.

Motorsports offers a popular mix for race fans, including NASCAR drivers, with Sprint Cup Series rookie contender Joey Logano and many local and regional drivers signing autographs. Numerous manufacturers will be on hand along with representatives from the speedways. The public can view collectibles, see 250 racecars and interactive displays, and attend free seminars about the racing industry.

Show hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday. Admission is $15 for adults at the door, $5 for children 6-12. Free for kids 5 and under. Tickets are available at the Boardwalk Hall box office, at all Ticketmaster locations and at ticketmaster.com.   

The Gamblers Classic is presented by Len Sammons Motorsports Productions. Tickets range from $10 to $30. For more information on Motorsports at the Atlantic City Convention Center and the Gamblers Classic at Boardwalk Hall, visit www.aarn.com or call 609-888-3618.

The 29th Annual Atlantic City International Powerboat Show will cruise into the Convention Center Wednesday through Sunday, February 4-8.

Presented by the National Marine Manufacturers Association, the show will feature more than 700 boats by leading manufacturers and dealers and showcase all-new motor and sailing yachts, sport fishers, performance boats and personal watercraft. A Marine Marketplace will feature accessories, information and marine-related services with the latest in navigational devices, engines, financial/insurance services, nautical gifts and apparel.

Special activities and features include Kids Cove, with paddle boats and model boat building, and the Sand Bar lounge featuring music and refreshments.

Show hours are Wednesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Admission is $15 for ages 16 and older, $8 for children 13-15, and free for kids under 12 with an adult. A two-day ticket is $25. For more information, call 212-984-7000 or visit www.atlanticcityboatshow.com.

Cheer for the Spirit Unlimited Cheerleading Competition at the Convention Center, Saturday, February 14. It’s Spirit Unlimited’s national convention, which attracts teams from Connecticut to Florida.

The all-star division is made up of competitive teams formed in the cheer, gymnastics and dance arenas. The competition is also open to high school and recreational teams. Awards will be given to top winners in each division. Competition begins at 8 a.m. A spectator pass is $20 for ages 9 through adult. Admission for children 6-8 is $10. Admission is free for kids 5 and under. For more information, call 1-888-737-2221 or visit www.spir-itunlimited.com.

From the latest remodeling project to designer makeovers, there will be plenty of ideas for would-be home improvement artists at the 9th Annual New Jersey Home & Garden Show, Friday through Sunday, February 20-22.

The show will feature landscape displays, garden exhibits, pools, doors, windows, home improvement projects, décor, demonstrations and giveaways. Roger Cook, landscaper for PBSs This Old House, and interior designer Chase Dakota, host of HGTV’s Get It Together, will meet and greet fans and share expert advice. There will also be plenty of exhibits and opportunities to purchase home and garden supplies.

Hours are Friday 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.  For more information, call 210-408-0998 or visit www.showtechnology.com.

One of most popular Convention Center shows is the annual Atlantic City Classic Car Show, now in its 36th year. America’s largest indoor collectible car event takes place Thursday through Sunday, February 26 to March 1. It’s presented by G. Potter King, Inc.

The show will showcase more than 1,000 classic, custom and collectible cars plus an automotive marketplace with hard-to-find special car parts and more. There will also be an antiques display of jewelry, art, and furniture and collectibles.

Hours are Thursday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday and Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Admission is $20 for adults and $5 for children under age 12.

For more information, call 856-573-6969 or visit www.acclassiccars.com.

By   Tue, Dec 23, 2008

The Tuckahoe Inn has been a Cape May County fixture for almost half a century, and deservedly so.

Though it’s busiest in the summer, when up to 1,000 diners flock here each day, the rustic restaurant on the banks of the Great Egg Harbor Bay is certainly coziest in the winter. Now’s the time to sit at the dining room’s enormous wood-burning fireplace, relax to soft music, enjoy the striking waterfront view and savor Chef Tyson Merryman’s menu of comfort food favorites.

Among them: a very tasty chicken pot pie. Big chunks of white meat chicken and bountiful root vegetables are added to a creamy béschamel sauce spiced with nutmeg; the simmering stew, topped with a super-flaky piecrust, is baked and served in an individual stoneware crock. The competing textures—the oh-so-creamy insides, the almost-crunchy crust—add to the sensory pleasure of this dish, which really falls into the “like-Mom-used-to-make” category.

We also tried the Chicken Maryland, a more elegant choice with sautéed breast of chicken in a cream sauce infused with Madeira wine. It is topped with mushrooms and lump crabmeat, served with mashed potatoes and a fan of asparagus and sprinkled with parsley. The flavor of the wine and the perfect firmness of the mushrooms really “made” this dish.

During past visits, I have always gone for Merryman’s famous crab cakes, which are grilled Maryland-style and served with a side of lemon-jalapeño mayo. Having sampled two great new dishes, I will have to be more adventurous. Merryman himself, who trained on a New Orleans riverboat and has also worked at several Atlantic City casino restaurants, recommends an entrée inspired by the Big Easy: red snapper Pontchartrain, a lightly francaised filet topped with toasted almonds, crabmeat and lemon butter.

A few more to try: the eggplant stacker, deep-fried breaded eggplant layered with herb cream cheese, spinach and tomatoes and finished with a basil tomato sauce; and the Black and Blue prime rib, Cajun-blackened and served with bleu cheese and crabmeat.

Entrées on the regular menu range from about $19 up to $30. But to draw out winter cabin dwellers, Merryman has reintroduced his popular early bird specials, reasonably priced from $10 to $15 and served daily from noon to five. They include selections from the standard menu—pastas, seafood combos, crab cakes—and other comfort food classics like shepherd’s pie.

For dessert, there’s a lot to choose from: New Orleans bread pudding, stuffed with raisins and oozing with warm caramelized bourbon sauce; Jack Daniels pecan pie, made Southern style with a hint of molasses; apple Brown Betty (great with vanilla ice cream); and Dark Side of the Moon cake, a rich fudge cake soaked in coffee liqueur, filled with chocolate mousse and covered with pure dark chocolate ganache. Exquisite. And the coffee’s great here, which makes dessert even better.

Fortunately, the Beesley’s Point Bridge, which leads from Atlantic County to the Tuckahoe Inn and has been closed for several years, could reopen soon. Until then, go out of the way to discover (or rediscover) this lovely, comfortable, welcoming inn. It’s a classic.

Tuckahoe Inn
1 Harbor Road and Route 9, Beesley’s Point
609-390-3322 • www.TuckahoeInn.com
Open noon to 9 p.m. weekdays, noon to 10 p.m. weekends
• Wednesday is Tapas Night
• Thursday is Burger Night
• Parties up to 150 guests

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Dec 23, 2008

John Donnelly’s experience with the legal and regulatory process during the birth of Atlantic City casinos is crucial to his practice today. As an attorney for Resorts International in the early days of the industry, Donnelly worked with the people who wrote or changed the regulations.

Today, as a partner in a thriving law firm, Donnelly’s expertise extends beyond Atlantic City. He was the lead counsel to two winning license bids in Pennsylvania—Mount Airy Lodge in the Poconos and Philadelphia’s SugarHouse—which became three when Don Barden sold his majority interest in Pittsburgh to a group headed by SugarHouse principal Neil Bluhm.

And while he continues to represent many casino clients in Atlantic City, Donnelly is active in national and state issues as well, founding the Casino Law Section of the New Jersey Bar Association and serving as the casino representative on cash transaction compliance to the U.S. Treasury. He spoke with Casino Connection Editor Frank Legato in his Atlantic City offices.

Casino Connection: You’ve been a gaming attorney for well over 30 years. How were gaming attorneys viewed back in the early days? Was it looked down upon, or was it a sought-after position?

Donnelly: A little bit of both. At the time, I was working in Trenton, and one of my clients was the American Association of University Professors at Rutgers. Just as Resorts was opening, I was at a cocktail party chatting with some of the professors. One of the wives asked what I was doing, and when I said I was going in-house at Resorts, she said, “Isn’t that a bunch of mobsters?”

That was the attitude, and to some degree I don’t think it’s gone. As you drive north on the Parkway, every 50 miles you’re going to find less understanding or support for the casinos.

On the other hand, it was exciting. Who wouldn’t want to get into a brand-new industry with a bunch of young kids?
 
How crazy was it during the early years of Resorts? Were the regulators and attorneys just making it up as they went along?

Yes, completely! It was a whole lot of fun, because again, it attracted a lot of young, ambitious people who saw an opportunity to get into something new. I went to school in the Midwest, and they have this attitude that they put a college in the middle of a cornfield, put 30,000 kids there and say, “Go have fun together.” It was a bit like that.

At the time Joe Lordi was the commission chairman, and he brought a number of young lawyers who had worked with him in the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office. Joe Fusco was one; Ben Cohen was another. We would talk for hours. What the heck are we going to do? How do we resolve this problem? No one knew what they were doing. I certainly didn’t. There was a lot of good faith of the commission staff and the casino staff working together to make things happen.

One example of the early times: We were trying to expand Resorts’ gaming floor. I was directed by Jim Crosby, the creator of Resorts, to go get our expansion approved. Right before this we had been running 5-cent machines that were not calibrated correctly and paid out less than the required 83 percent. There was an ongoing dispute over what to do with that money; we wanted to have a big promotion, and say, “You can win back the money we took from you accidentally.” The chairman wanted that money to go to the Casino Revenue Fund for taxes.

So I went to see Chairman Lordi and said, “I’m here because Mr. Crosby would like to expand the casino.” The chairman said, “John, you’re right. I’m going to work on that very diligently. But I’m having a hard time focusing, because I’m so bound up in this 5-cent slot machine issue.” I went back to Crosby, who said, “Give him the 5 cents! Let’s get the expansion done!”

There were no hearings; it didn’t cost an arm and a leg and a bunch of lawyers. The chairman got what he thought was good for the public, and Crosby got what was good for his business.

You’ve been in Atlantic City during the entire gaming era. Do you believe gaming has fulfilled its promise?

Absolutely. What was pitched by the pro-gaming people was jobs, investment, and redevelopment of the city. And it has, beyond anyone’s wildest dreams, created jobs, investment and redevelopment of portions of Atlantic City.

New Jersey regulators were famously tough in the beginning, and operators feared them. What was the turning point, and do you feel “over-regulation” in the beginning was justified?

I don’t think over-regulation is ever justified. That said, no one knew what they were doing, and everybody was completely fearful of this new elephant being led into the room. The governor’s task force on casino gaming had said, essentially, “We’re letting casino gambling in. There are social ills associated with casino gambling. How are we going to control that? The only way initially is to regulate everything, until we at least get our arms around this animal and understand what has to be done.” I completely understand that.

I see really four time periods: Joe Lordi—as I said, terrific; without that personality, places wouldn’t have opened. Next, many of your readers may not remember a scandal called Abscam, in which the federal government arrested one of the Casino Control Commissioners. That led to the commission bringing in a two-fisted, crime-busting guy named Marty Danzinger who everyone was terrified of, but who ended up being one of the better chairmen ever. His attitude was, I’m absolutely drawing the line, any criminal activity is completely forbidden, and the sentence is death. Other than that, run your business, make money, and we’re not going to bother you.   

Then we had some dark days, but Pat Dodd coming in was a milestone. He was a commissioner who brought back a sense of understanding that casinos were not evil. Steve Perskie brought with him a sense of what really needed to be done. Then Brad Smith was important. I won’t comment on the current commissioners, because I don’t practice before them, but I think Linda Kassekert has continued the process of not having adverse relationships.

You were the attorney for three license recipients in Pennsylvania. Explain what happened with Don Barden in Pittsburgh.

Don Barden’s a good guy who got caught in the perfect storm that all the casinos are in. He was one of the early birds on the project when credit just shut down. Thankfully, there was a guy named Dan Keating who has built a lot of properties down here and was the construction manager there. Dan and the contractors hung in there, surprisingly, for quite a while we went back and forth with the Gaming Control Board and brought in new money from Neil Bluhm, an investor from Chicago, and more importantly from a private equity fund Neil was part of.

Everyone cobbled together a very interesting financing plan that included police and fire pension funds out of Detroit. All of that put together, in a very tough time, got the project financed. And literally two days after it was financed, they were throwing up steel again. I’ve never seen anything quite like it. The gaming board was perfect to work with. It all turned out very well—and by the way, I don’t think you could do that today. That happened six months ago.

What's the key to getting a license in a jurisdiction like Pennsylvania or Maryland? Deep pockets? Political connections? Media savvy?

It’s everything. When you’re in these beauty contests, everybody has political friends; everybody has media consultants; everyone has a great project.

It’s kind of like looking for a job. When you have 50 people with great resumes, how do you cull out that one person you want to hire? I think that has a lot to do with personalities, with presentations... When I’m doing it, I get to know the staff and the commissioners. The key—go back to the Joe Lordi days. When you’re in casino gambling and people are worried about something happening—something untoward or embarrassing, something that would hurt the industry—the key is a relationship with regulators who trust you and know that you and the entity you represent will never put them in a position that would hurt the industry or the regulators. That means if something goes wrong, you’ve got to come and tell them something went wrong and figure out how to deal with it. The trust factor is very big, and it’s hard to quantify.

In this difficult economic environment, several Atlantic City casinos are hovering near bankruptcy. Do you think all 11 casinos will survive this period?

No. I think there is going to be consolidation. I don’t think places will shutter their doors, but I do think there will be some Chapter 11s. People will operate under Chapter 11, and they will have to do what everyone else is doing in America—de-leverage. That’s going to be painful for everybody in Atlantic City, whether they work in the casino industry or not, because casinos pay 83 percent of the real property taxes here. And the value of those casinos is going down, just like the value of other things. So these are hard times. I think the older, smaller properties are going to have a hard time.

What is your long-term view on the health of the Atlantic City casino industry?

Long term, this place still has a lot going for it. Number one, the tax rate. Compare it with a jurisdiction like Pennsylvania—in Philadelphia, you’re getting into the 54 percent range, maybe higher—that’s probably the biggest advantage we have. If you want to build things and hire people, you can’t tax them like that.

Thank God we’ve got a lot of casino infrastructure too. What we need, and what we’ve needed from Day One, is more governmental infrastructure. If we’re really going to be big kids here, we’ve got to have a way to get from the airport to here without getting in a 1972 Monte Carlo and paying $30 to do it. That has to happen. What’s currently going on with the one-way streets is ridiculous. It’s been 100 years now; we’ve got to have a one-way street. If it doesn’t work, we can un-one-way it.

I’m optimistic. As I said, the tax rate’s good, the location’s great. Hopefully, as we’ve seen in Washington, this downturn will lead to better things.

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Dec 23, 2008

"If they get a go-ahead, we want to be prepared like the Boy Scouts."
—Suffolk County, New York, legislator Wayne Horsley , who is working to facilitate a Shinnecock Indian casino in his district

"When people go buy a house, they shop around. They don’t buy the first house they see."
—State Senate Majority Leader Alex Diaz de la Portilla , of Florida, who thinks the Seminole Indians should pay more than the agreed-upon $100 million a year for Vegas-style games

"In this economy, we need every arrow in our quiver."
— Ed Sutor , president and CEO of Delaware’s Dover Downs racino, on the expected approval of sports betting in the state by the new General Assembly next year

"We are a destination tourist attraction. We need economic recovery; we need jobs and there is where to get them. I think it’s a wake-up call around the state. Those who support expanded gambling can let their voice be heard just like the opponents had their voices heard over the last decade."
—New Hampshire state Senator Lou D’Allesandro on the upcoming debate in his state to legalize gaming

"We see a dramatic falloff in our gaming after last call."
—Foxwoods spokeswoman Lori Potter , on why the Connecticut casino is petitioning the state to extend alcohol service to 24 hours to better compete with Atlantic City

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Dec 23, 2008

Herbst Gaming said last month that it will look into a restructuring agreement with lenders after it failed to make a $5.1 million interest payment by last month’s deadline.

The company, which operates casinos in Las Vegas and Primm Nevada, as well as a slot route operation throughout the state, also announced that it will extend its forbearance and standstill agreement with banks until February 2 as it attempts to shift its $846.8 million in debt.

Herbst is privately owned by Ed, Tim and Troy Herbst, but it carries public debt. It lost $101.2 million through the first three quarters of 2008 compared to 2007.

The company has previously announced that it is facing bankruptcy if it does not restructure its debt.
Analysts expect the company to file for bankruptcy protection. At the very least, they expect to see some arrangement that has the Herbst family relinquishing control over some parts of the business.

The company grew well through 2007, but might have made a fatal mistake in acquiring the Primm casinos from MGM Mirage. The $394 million purchase did not include the golf course, which is likely the most valuable asset in the area. MGM Mirage retained ownership of the golf course.

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Dec 23, 2008

The Mirage unveiled a new volcano last month, a $25 million project to replace the nearly 20-year-old Strip icon.

The property has wanted to update the attraction for at least four years, and after several months of the volcano sitting lifeless, it was brought back to life in a storm of fire, water and smoke.

Mirage President Scott Sibella said he hopes the volcano will drive traffic to the casino floor.

“It creates a lot of demand to stay here to see the volcano,” he said. “It tells a story that if a casino is spending $25 million on this volcano, what have they done inside? We are doing this so we can stay competitive with all these new properties on the Strip.”

The decision did raise some eyebrows among corporate owner MGM Mirage, which announced it would scale back such projects in a cost-cutting effort in light of its 67 percent loss in the third quarter.

“I’m concerned now, but at the time we had already gone through this process for three or four years. But we got to the point where we had to continue it because we had so much time and money invested in it,” Sibella said.

Mirage used design firm WET—which created the original Mirage volcano in 1989 as well as the fountains at the Bellagio. Not surprisingly, the new volcano is best described as one part Bellagio fountain and one part faux volcano. There are cannons that fire water 120 feet into the air, as well as fire that shoots from the top of the volcano and the surrounding lagoon. Instead of the fake volcano sounds accompanying the display, Mirage hired former Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart to compose a drum score.

The show runs every hour from dusk to midnight.

By Casino Connection Staff  

The sale of Treasure Island Hotel Casino in Las Vegas might have been surprising, but it might be the first of many.

MGM Mirage, which is struggling to fund CityCenter and control debt, some of which comes due in 2010, sold the iconic property on the Las Vegas Strip for $775 million to Phil Ruffin, the former owner of the New Frontier. Ruffin is known for buying properties at bargain-basement prices—he purchased the New Frontier for $170 million and then sold it for $1.24 billion to the ELAD Group in 2007. While some would question whether Ruffin got a good deal for Treasure Island, he’s satisfied.

“I probably didn’t buy at the bottom of the market,” Ruffin told the Las Vegas Sun. “But I’m close.”

For MGM Mirage, the deal was made for several reasons. MGM Chairman and CEO Jim Murren says the sale will enable the company to reduce debt and fund CityCenter.

Ruffin will pay $500 million in cash and $275 million in a short-term note at 10 percent interest, with $100 million due 175 days from closing and $175 million due 24 months from closing. MGM Mirage will take back the note to avoid going into public financing. It is expected that Ruffin can easily repay the note through cash flow at the property, which should remain, in that case, debt-free.

Treasure Island was originally built by Steve Wynn and Mirage Resorts. It was his second casino on the Las Vegas Strip, opening in 1993. Originally containing a pirate theme, it was given a $100 million renovation, complete with a more hip, adult theme several years ago by MGM Mirage, which acquired the property when it bought Mirage Resorts in 2000. Now called “TI,” the vintage pirate ship battle was changed to the “Sirens of TI,” a sexy show on the pirate ships featuring scantily clad women.

The transaction is just the first of what could become a flood of sales of non-strategic assets owned by MGM Mirage and other large gaming companies currently under financial pressure, including Harrah’s Entertainment, Trump Entertainment and Station Casinos.

The problem for these selling companies is that there are few “Phil Ruffins” out there. Penn National Gaming is relatively debt-free and sitting on hundreds of millions of dollars. Former Horseshoe Gaming owner Jack Binion is reportedly interested in getting back into the casino game. The Cordish Company, which has a racino in Indiana and developed the Seminole Hard Rock resorts in Florida, is also a potential buyer. And there are several unidentified companies and individuals who see gaming as an opportunity, but may not be willing to undergo the regulatory scrutiny necessary to buy into the industry.

By Casino Connection Staff  

More than a year after it was first put on the market, Atlantic City’s Tropicana Casino and Resort is about to be sold at a bankruptcy court auction in Delaware.

Baltimore-based Cordish Company is expected to buy the casino and hotel for $700 million. No other bidders have been named.

In a report to the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, state-appointed trustee Gary S. Stein, who will oversee the transaction, said he and his firm have talked with interim management at the Tropicana about retaining employees and paying them after the bankruptcy filing.

In December 2007, state commissioners stripped former owner Tropicana Entertainment LLC of its casino license, citing massive layoffs and regulatory improprieties.

Tropicana Entertainment, a subsidiary of Kentucky-based Columbia Sussex Corp., spent much of the last year trying to regain control of the landmark property, installing a new CEO, Scott Butera, and removing company owner William Yung III from its board. That effort failed.

The casino has remained open under Stein’s supervision.

By Casino Connection Staff  

The South Jersey Transportation Authority broke ground last month on Interchange 17 of the Atlantic City Expressway, which should stimulate economic development in the region.

The $8.2 million project will provide a
full interchange by building eastbound and westbound entrance and exit ramps. SJTA will build retaining walls to minimize construction impacts on wetlands. Safety measures will include a new traffic signal system, roadway resurfacing, improved guide rails and lighting.

The 8.39-acre project, located entirely within the Pinelands National Reserve, will be monitored by the Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan, and SJTA will invest nearly $450,000 in reforestation.

During construction, Route 50 will remain open, and additional lanes will be added for traffic. The project is scheduled for completion in late spring 2010.

By Casino Connection Staff  

The Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority will host its second annual group wedding, vow renewal and civil union ceremony on Saturday, February 14—appropriately, Valentine’s Day—in Boardwalk Hall.

“Last year’s group ceremony was such a great success. We hope that more couples will make this an annual Atlantic City tradition,” says ACCVA President Jeff Vasser. “This celebration is among the most joyous events in a city that goes hand in hand with honeymoons.”

The ceremony is free for all couples and their guests and will be performed in the Adrian Phillips Ballroom at noon. Presiding over the non-denominational ceremony will be Jean Muchanic, executive director of the Absecon Lighthouse.

“I’m very excited to again celebrate love and commitment with all these happy couples,” says Muchanic.  “It’s sure to be a very memorable Valentine’s Day!”

To pre-register, visit the ACCVA website at www.atlanticcitynj.com by February 11. The website features event information and packages for couples and their guests throughout the city. All couples interested in getting married or united at the event must get their own marriage or civil union license. There is a mandatory 3-day waiting period in the state of New Jersey for a marriage license. For more details, e-mail ACWedding@accva.com or call 609-449-7126.

Also on Valentine’s Day, the Absecon Lighthouse will hold “An Evening of Romance and Renewal” for couples who want to renew the ties that bind.

From 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Valentine’s Day, couples both dating and married can canoodle in the lighthouse tower. Catered aphrodisiacs will be served on each level. Dancing and a commemorative 8x10 photo complete the sentimental journey. Tickets are $100 per couple and will benefit education programs at the Absecon Lighthouse.

For more information, call 609-449-1360 or visit www.abseconlighthouse.org.

By Casino Connection Staff  

The Greater Atlantic City Concierge Association has joined with the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority Foundation to create scholarships for education in the hospitality industry. The scholarships will initially be available to students from the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and Atlantic Cape Community College, with additional colleges to be added in the future.  

“Atlantic City provides a great visitor experience; however, the area’s growth over the next several years will require a larger and well-trained workforce,” says Doreen Prinzo, GACCA president. “This program will help eligible students gain the knowledge and skills they need to serve the industry with distinction.”

Pete Elco, director of the ACCVA Foundation, adds, “The mission of the GACCA dovetails with our mission of supporting the area’s hospitality industry and promoting tourism education. This is a great way to help create a prepared workforce.”

Additional scholarship information, eligibility requirements and application details are available at www.accvafoundation.org and www.acconcierges.com. Would-be benefactors can contact pelco@accva.comor dprinzo@accva.com.

By Casino Connection Staff  

“It’s not an enormous sum of money,” says Revel Entertainment CEO Kevin DeSanctis of the $6.5 million it could take to buy historic Garden Pier, near its casino development site on the Boardwalk.

Revel, one of the few companies going forward with construction despite the economic downturn, would demolish Garden Pier and redevelop it some time in the future. It could cost up to $30 million to tear the pier down and rebuild it, DeSanctis says. He has not specified what type of development the company intends for the site, but speculated that further costs could run about $150 million.

Revel’s $2 billion megaresort is due to open in 2010. The pier, whose grand ballroom was washed away in a 1944 hurricane, is now the site of the Atlantic City Art Center, which would have to relocate, possibly to the Ducktown area.

By Casino Connection Staff  

Thursday nights will heat up this winter as 16 aspiring chefs enter TV’s Hell’s Kitchen to face off with world-renowned chef Gordon Ramsay. The winner of the grueling reality show will earn a head chef’s post at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa.

Demanding absolute perfection, Ramsay will put the chefs through rigorous culinary challenges, testing to see who will boil under the intense pressure. Each week, he’ll send one chef home, and the rest are left to sauté their way toward the grand prize.

The contest gets under way Thursday, January 29 at 9 p.m. on Fox-TV.

By Casino Connection Staff  

A letter from the mom of a soldier wounded in Iraq prompted the Harrah’s organization to step in with more than the usual R&R.

The letter, which detailed the desire of the wounded to “get a break” from their hospital routine, came across the desk at Harrah’s Casino Hotel. Soon, VP of Community Affairs Alyce Parker was on the case, and the Wounded Warriors Project was established.

The servicemen, who were recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, were invited to visit Atlantic City last month. Twenty-five armed forces along with family and support staff were treated to lunch, entertainment and accommodations at Harrah’s, plus a trip to the Atlantic City Aquarium in Historic Gardner’s Basin.

By Casino Connection Staff  

Atlantic City Express Service, or ACES, will officially launch direct train service between Atlantic City and New York’s Penn Station on February 6. And Spirit Airlines will soon offer direct air service between Atlantic City and Boston.

ACES—a joint venture of Caesars, Harrah’s and Borgata—will provide a comfortable, convenient ride between here and New York with one stop in Newark. Eight multi-level cars will offer a private lounge. First-class seating and service is available on the upper deck. In Atlantic City, complimentary shuttle service will be provided to one of the joint venture partners.  

“We found that most riders prefer to relax on the train, so we provided an environment where travelers can feel comfortable doing just that,” says Dan Nita, senior VP and general manager of Caesars Atlantic City.

Through a management contract with ACES, New Jersey Transit will operate the trains and Amtrak will provide ticketing and reservations. ACES personnel will receive customer service training before service begins.

“New York has always been a leading market for Atlantic City and we see the launch of ACES as an opportunity to penetrate that market further,” says Nita. “Direct service will make it easier for our current customers to get to Atlantic City, and give new customers yet another reason to visit.”

Introductory ticket prices will start at $50 for one-way coach seating and $75 for one-way first class. Additional pricing and purchase information along with full schedules will be available at www.acestrain.com.

Starting May 1, travelers from Beantown can take advantage of Spirit Airlines’ ultra low-cost service between Boston and Atlantic City.  

“Thanks to Spirit Airlines, passengers who enjoy the ease and convenience of the Atlantic City International Airport will now have direct service to Boston and the New England region without the hassle of traveling through the surrounding metro airports,” says Bart R. Mueller, executive director of the South Jersey Transportation Authority.

To sweeten the deal, a group of Atlantic City casino hotels—including the Tropicana, Harrah’s, Caesars, Bally’s and Showboat—plus the city’s newest boutique hotel, the Chelsea, will offer exclusive rates for Spirit customers. For more information, visit www.SpiritVacations.com.

By Casino Connection Staff  

New Jersey Senate panel is urging Congress to lift the federal ban on sports betting in the state, a move that could compensate, at least in part, for current revenue losses.

Sports betting “is not a big money-maker, but it’s a huge marketing tool,” said Senator Jim Whelan at a congressional hearing. He cited Super Bowl Sunday as one of the slowest weekends for Atlantic City “because people don’t want to be somewhere they can’t bet.”

New Jersey Senator Ray Lesniak has called the ban “bad public policy” and possibly unconstitutional, and adds that opposition to expanded sports betting from pro sports organizations like Major League Baseball and the NFL is “hypocritical.”

In a 2008 letter to the National Conference of State Legislatures, he wrote that restricting sports betting to Nevada and three other states “has increased the possibility of fixing sporting events. It has also cost your states tens of millions of tax revenues now going into illegal hands … Your law enforcement dollars are also diverted from violent crimes, drug dealing and gang activity to illegal gambling.”

In Nevada last year, sports lovers legally bet more than $92 million on the Super Bowl (that's just 1 percent of gaming revenue in the Silver State). They spent an additional $116 million on other activities over Super Bowl weekend.

A sports wagering bill for New Jersey now heads for a full Senate vote, coinciding with a similar push by the Delaware General Assembly. With legislative approval, a Delaware sports lottery could be up and running by mid-2009. Only four states—Delaware, Nevada, Montana and Oregon—are exempt from a 1992 federal ban on sports betting, and only Nevada currently offers legal sports betting.

Congress will consider legalizing sports wagering in all states, Whelan noted.

By Casino Connection Staff  

"It’s going to be an adventure,” says casino executive Larry Mullin of his decision to leave the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa to oversee the Casinos Division of Tabcorp Holdings Ltd. Tabcorp, headquartered in Melbourne, is Australia’s leading gambling entertainment group, with $1 billion in annual cash flow, according to Mullin.

The 46-year-old Galloway resident will exit Borgata January 5 and start with Tabcorp in February, pending regulatory approvals. He’ll be replaced on an interim basis here by former Borgata CEO Bob Boughner, according to parent company Boyd Gaming. Boughner left Atlantic City in 2006 to oversee Boyd’s $4.8 billion Echelon casino and hotel development on the Las Vegas Strip; that project has stalled due to the sluggish economy.

According to Tabcorp CEO Elmer Funke Kupper, Mullin has “a real passion for entertainment and the delivery of great customer service, having created the leading casino in Atlantic City.”

Mullin started his 20-year casino career as an Atlantic City concierge making just $6 an hour. He rose through the ranks at Harrah’s, worked at various Trump resorts, rising to president of Trump Marina, and joined Borgata in 2002 as executive vice president of marketing. He was instrumental in turning the Borgata into a leading entertainment destination, and became president and COO in 2006.

At Borgata, Mullin was known by workers at every level for his approachability, which was reflected in his casual attire (neckties were the exception, not the rule). He dined often in the employee cafeteria, and also held “Lunches with Larry,” where rank-and-file casino workers got to sit down with the boss and talk about their jobs.

One of his final duties in the region was giving the commencement address at his alma mater, West Chester University in Pennsylvania. He told the graduates, “These are uncertain times. You must now go on and join the race… Live life, love it and ride it where it takes you.”

High on Mullin’s to-do list Down Under: the $475 million revamp of Star City’s casino and hotel. Tabcorp expects the overhaul to trigger a 21 percent increase in daily visitors when it is completed. Mullin will also be also in charge of Tabcorp’s three other casinos: Conrad Jupiters, Conrad Treasury and Jupiters Townsville.

While in Atlantic City, Boughner will remain in charge of the Echelon project in Las Vegas.

For the nation, 2008 was one of the most challenging years in memory, and Atlantic City was not immune to the ups and downs. As some dwell on the negatives, let’s remember that true character is displayed in the face of adversity.

Despite the challenges, there are many reasons for optimism. The 2008 Visitor Profile Study showed that the city’s non-gaming aspects are integral to our future success. While most visitors still come to gamble, the study showed that Atlantic City remains attractive in the face of other gambling destinations because of “more things to do” and “new/better attractions” including shopping, gaming and dining opportunities.

Even as gaming revenue declined, visitors increased during the summer of 2008 at the Absecon Lighthouse, the Atlantic City Aquarium and Lucy the Elephant. Booking numbers reported by Greater Atlantic City Golf Vacations also rose, with a 21.5 percent increase in June, a 2.45 percent increase in July, and a 28.7 percent increase in August.

Signature events like the Atlantic 10 Men’s Basketball Championship once again attracted large crowds, and the Atlantic City Airshow “Thunder over the Boardwalk” brought an estimated 700,000 people to the city.  

Visitors should also be glad to see the latest additions to Atlantic City Outlets, The Walk; new restaurants including Izakaya, McCormick & Schmick’s, Patsy’s and Il Mulino; non-gaming hotels such as the Courtyard by Marriott, the Water Club and the Chelsea; and gaming property expansions at Harrah’s Resort and Trump Taj Mahal.

Of course, one of the largest non-gaming draws is the Atlantic City Convention Center. In 2008, Miss America Way was renamed Convention Boulevard, which helped to define Atlantic City’s thriving convention business. But while conventions are at the heart of a well-rounded destination, the convention center’s green initiatives took center stage in 2008.

In June, preparation for the largest single roof-mounted solar array in the United States began at the Convention Center. Completed last month, the 2.36-megawatt solar array power system covers two-thirds of the center’s main roof and provides approximately 26 percent of the center’s electrical usage. More green projects are planned for the future, including the possibility of a wind turbine.  

What happens under that roof this year is even more exciting. Our Convention Development department will strive to confirm 150 bookings at the convention center, which would generate 105,000 room nights for the city, attract 400,000 attendees and produce $200 million in delegate spending.  

The Convention Development team will work to counteract the economy by joining committees and boards of key industry organizations to heighten Atlantic City’s exposure to clients, building relationships that will develop into business partnerships.

Building partnerships is a major thread in 2009 in marketing. The Tourism department will support and participate with the New Jersey Office of Travel & Tourism, the Greater New Jersey Motorcoach Association and the South Jersey Transportation Authority to enhance Atlantic City’s image within the motorcoach industry.

The authority will continue to serve as the marketing arm for Greater Atlantic City Golf Vacations (formerly known as the Greater Atlantic City Golf Association). The Media Relations department will continue to work with public relations professionals throughout the city, and forge a new alliance with the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau to attract international visitors.

Perhaps relationship building is shown best with the initiation of the first Atlantic City Restaurant Week, March 1-7. The event, supported by each department within the authority, will not only attract visitors interested in exploring the emerging culinary side of the city, but also unite the business community in city-wide promotional efforts. To date there are 67 restaurants participating in Restaurant Week.

Perhaps the biggest support the authority received in 2008 was from Senator James Whelan, who pursued legislation to separate the ACCVA from the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority. Assemblyman John Burzichelli sponsored the bill, and Governor Jon S. Corzine signed it into law.

According to Senator Whelan, “The Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority has done a terrific job in marketing our region and no longer needs the help of a sister agency in its day-to-day operations. This autonomy will allow more of the revenues generated through our local economy to be reinvested in the marketing and advertising of the greater Atlantic City region.”

With a multi-pronged approach, a firm commitment and constant innovation, Atlantic City will continue to grow, no matter the economic forecast.

A very challenging year for our industry has come to a close. While 2008 will be remembered for the continued competition from emerging jurisdictions as well as the recession, some promising developments occurred, notably four new hotels. These exciting developments furthered Atlantic City’s evolution into a destination resort, as will the Revel project that continued to progress in 2008. 

Last year marked the 30th anniversary of casinos in Atlantic City. In those three decades, the industry transformed once-depressed Atlantic City into a regional tourist destination and economic engine for the entire state. Our casinos are one of the largest industries in New Jersey, employing  40,000 people and generating $1 billion annually in taxes and fees, as well as $2 billion spent purchasing goods and services from businesses all across New Jersey.

These businesses in turn generate another 20,000 jobs across the state. Once the economy improves, these benefits will increase as billions in capital investment and new casino developments emerge. 

On the legislative front, Governor Jon Corzine and the legislature made good on their commitment to keep casinos open should a state shutdown occur; legislation has been proposed to let casino employees and their family members hold public office in Atlantic City; and another piece of legislation urges Congress to lift the 1992 ban on sports wagering in New Jersey, which would be a boost to Atlantic City.

On the local front, the smoking ban debate continued. A complete ban became effective October 15 and lasted for about a month. Then City Council suspended it for a year to enable our casinos to compete against casinos in Pennsylvania and Connecticut that permit smoking. The decision saved jobs that might have been lost during these unsteady economic times.

In July, Atlantic City’s casinos agreed to give $90 million over three years to sustain New Jersey’s horse racing industry via purse supplements. In exchange, there is a moratorium on slot machines and other casino style gaming activity outside of Atlantic City through 2011. 

While the industry believes the subsidy is unfair, it was a better alternative to slot machines at racetracks, which we believe is misguided public policy.

While gaming revenues were down in 2008, non-gaming revenue opportunities continued to grow. Competition has prompted New Jersey casino operators to look at their operations to improve products and services. This will ultimately lead to a stronger and more vibrant industry. 

Just this past year, Harrah’s opened its 1,000-room Waterfront Tower, Trump Taj Mahal opened the 800-room Chairman’s Tower, and Borgata opened the 800-room Water Club. These offerings were joined by Atlantic City’s first non-casino hotel in years, the hip Chelsea boutique hotel. 

In 2008, Revel construction continued, with the steel structure heading skyward toward an opening date in 2010. Once complete, it will entice customers from the entire Eastern seaboard and sustain Atlantic City’s continuing transition.

Looking forward, we can’t know how continuing economic woes will affect our businesses. The recession will undoubtedly extend into 2009; our customers will undoubtedly continue to spend less. The scarcity of capital will affect the viability of new projects in the near term.

However, these factors are a worldwide phenomenon beyond our collective control. We must focus on areas that have served our industry well during past challenges: innovation, creativity and good, old-fashioned customer service. This way, we will be well-positioned when circumstances change and opportunities for growth present themselves.

May the New Year find you and your family in good health and good fortune.

A bill passed in the New Jersey Senate last month changes the prohibition against casino employees running for public office in Atlantic City. This ancient ban has directly resulted in the sad state of affairs in which Atlantic City has found itself over the past 10 years. Many of the truly talented people who live here are casino employees, and they have been discriminated against for more than 30 years. By not allowing them to participate in politics, one-third of the members of City Council have been jailed for bribery. Five of the last six mayors have been indicted for one issue or another. The city has endured lawsuits from every former city employee because they had nowhere else to go and no other viable occupation.

So that’s why I was so hopeful that some sense had finally come to state legislators, who have never favored Atlantic City or the casino industry in the past. Finally casino employees would get the respect they deserved, and the city (and state) would be able to tap a much deeper pool of talent to run its government.

That was until I read the bill. This measure is a travesty and continues to disrespect the fine people who run the casinos in Atlantic City. Lawmakers are still telling us we’re not good enough. By continuing to prohibit casino employees and executives from running for the office of mayor (limiting their service to City Council positions), the bill is yet another slap in the face to people who get the most stringent oversight by the state government when they are granted casino licenses. To prevent them from running for mayor (or governor or state legislator, for that matter), the state is telling them that they are not trustworthy enough to fill those positions! Does the state prohibit New Brunswick executives with drug companies located there from running for governor? Are tourism employees prevented from holding the mayor’s office in Cape May? NO! There is no difference between Atlantic City and those two examples.

The lies told about the casino industry and Atlantic City infuriate me. Yes, Atlantic City has had its problems. But no more so than Newark, Camden or Trenton! To insinuate that Atlantic City residents (including casino employees) are incapable of running our own affairs is insulting.

Once again, the state legislature doesn’t do the entire job. For that reason alone, I will not support this bill. I have already contacted my representatives to tell them that they should oppose this measure until it removes ALL political restrictions on casino employees. There is no other group of people in the state that operates under these restrictions and because of the continued inference that casino employees are more susceptible to corruption than any other employees, I stand opposed.

The truly telling fact is that our own representatives, Senator James Whelan and Assemblymen John Amodeo and Vince Polistina, had nothing to do with the introduction of this bill. It took a Cumberland County legislator, Assemblyman John J. Burzichelli, to make this happen. If Whelan, Amodeo and Polistina had any respect for casino employees, they would not have agreed to such a watered-down bill. Maybe they are protecting their own jobs because they KNOW casino employees are honest, able and capable of holding any office in the state of New Jersey. For them to lay down for this bill is an insult to everyone who has ever worked in a casino hotel.

Some people tell me it’s one small step—that we’ll take the bigger steps once we “prove” ourselves trustworthy. Well, I don’t think we have to prove ourselves. And if casino employees aren’t trustworthy after being vetted by the state, what makes them think a few years as council members will change anything?

No, it was a good effort, but falls way too short. For that reason, the bill should be rejected and casino employees should flood our politicians with calls, letters and emails telling them to get it right or step down.

By   Fri, Sep 19, 2008

By Frank Legato   Thu, Jun 19, 2008

By Roger Gros   Mon, May 19, 2008

By Roger Gros   Mon, May 12, 2008

By Roger Gros   Mon, Mar 10, 2008

By Roger Gros   Wed, May 23, 2007

By Roger Gros   Wed, May 23, 2007

By Frank Legato   Tue, May 22, 2007

By Roger Gros   Tue, May 22, 2007

By Frank Legato   Thu, Mar 01, 2007

By NBC 40 WMGM   Tue, Feb 02, 2010

Convention Center:  Feb 3-7 is the International Power Boat Show. Feb. 20 Spirit Unlimited Cheerleading Competition. February 26th to 28th is the Atlantic City Classic Car Show & Auction.

Boardwalk Hall: February 27 Show of Shows, featuring the Philadelphia Mummers String Band Association, 12:00 noon and 5:00 p.m. in Boardwalk Halls arena. 

February 25 9th Annual Men R Cookin at Atlantic City Boys & Girls Club to benefit Boys & Girls Club

It's the Second Annual Atlantic City Restaurant Week from February 28th to March 6th.  70 restaurants with prefix menu's at prefix prices... mark your calendar NOW!

For more information go to http://www.acrestaurantweek.com/

January 30 2010 Casino Connection Magazine update with Lisa Johnson on NBC 40

By NBC 40 WMGM   Fri, Jan 29, 2010

By NBC 40 WMGM   Fri, Jan 22, 2010

By NBC 40 WMGM   Thu, Jan 21, 2010

Late last month the founder  of Beal Bank, who is also known as a high-stakes poker player, made a surprise move by joining billionaire Carl Icahn in a new bid for Trump Entertainment. Beal hopes to convert his multimillion-dollar loan into equity in the company.

“Trump jumped ship at the last minute,” Icahn attorney Edward Weisfelner said in court, “and left Mr. Beal standing at the altar.”

see entire article here:  http://casinoconnectionac.com/issue/january-2010/article/games-the-same-but-players-have-changed

By NBC 40 WMGM   Wed, Dec 02, 2009

http://casinoconnectionac.com/issue/november-2009/article/ac-outlets-the-walk-your-holiday-headquarters

 

By NBC 40 WMGM   Wed, Sep 30, 2009

By NBC 40 WMGM   Tue, Sep 22, 2009

FAREWELL TO A LEGEND

Atlantic City bids goodbye to a favorite adopted son, the late Arturo Gatti, September 19 at Bally’s. A professional card has been established, with fights being sandwiched around highlight presentations, speeches and tributes to the most prolific fighter in Atlantic City history.

Gatti, based first in Montreal and then in Jersey City, became the only sure thing in a town known for gambling. Twice a year, he’d fill up Boardwalk Hall against any opponent, and his loyal fan base substantially spiked the drop in nearby casinos. Gatti was responsible for nine consecutive sellouts here, including the second and third bout of his famed trilogy against Micky Ward, and a matchup with Floyd Mayweather that established a non-heavyweight record for gross sales receipts in Atlantic City.

Gatti’s appearance was the brainchild of Bally’s then-President Ken Condon.

“We should have a special day for Arturo,” Condon said while Gatti was still alive. “I’d be the first to put that together.”

The tribute is appropriate. While earning about $20 million for himself, Gatti performed some other memorable deeds. He stayed with one promoter, Main Events, for his entire 16-year career. That’s now unheard of. He waged several Fights of the Year in boxing and created high paydays for Ward, Ivan Robinson, Mayweather, the gaming industry and HBO.

Gatti died under mysterious circumstances July 11 in Brazil (authorities first believed he was murdered by his wife, then changed the determination to suicide, which the boxing community does not believe).

He is sorely missed, not only for the exciting boxing, but for his effervescent, approachable personality. Gatti could laugh at himself, display respect for his opponent and make good copy for the media. He reminded those around him why they loved boxing.

Casino Connection salutes the athlete who symbolized the boxing-gaming marriage and carried a presence we may never see again.

By NBC 40 WMGM   Tue, Sep 22, 2009

By NBC 40 WMGM   Mon, Sep 21, 2009

Here is a link to the written article "Colony's Atlantic City Headache" on casinoconnectionac.com.

 

By NBC 40 WMGM   Fri, Sep 11, 2009

Don Marrandino named president of Harrah's Eastern Division Tides Story