By Felicia Lowenstein  

From the air, Atlantic City International Airport resembles a perfect miniature—a child's toy complete with a gleaming white terminal, rich blacktop and the precise geometrics that automatically signal "aeronautics." From the ground, the single terminal is so manageable that it seems more like a large corporate campus than an airport. In fact, onlookers might dismiss this smaller, cozier venue as less serious than its "super size" competitors. Don't make that mistake. Atlantic City International Airport has come of age, offering a more peaceful, efficient—and often cheaper—alternative to Philadelphia and Newark. Last year, a million passengers flew out of Atlantic City, according to the South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA). That number has grown considerably from the 281,000 total passengers the airport serviced in 1985. SJTA Chairman of the Board Frank Spencer is noticeably proud of the airport's growth. "Notwithstanding the price war going on in Philadelphia, we're up almost 11 percent for the year," he says. "And that's competing with Southwest and Frontier, coming in as low-cost carriers to Philadelphia." The airport has come a long way since the early days at its former location of Bader Field. "There was clearly regular service back in the 1930s and 1940s," says Spencer. "What ‘regular' meant for that time, I can't say." Service continued over the years at Bader, mostly with charter flights. The numbers and sizes of those charter flights increased dramatically with the influx of Atlantic City casinos. "Deregulation in the airline industry came about the same time as casino gaming," Spencer notes. "Before the casinos developed the local market, they used to fly people in. It got to the point where it wasn't unusual to see several casino charters lined up on the runway, waiting their turn to let passengers off." Meanwhile, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was testing planes and systems at another airport just a few miles away in Egg Harbor Township. A small civilian terminal was kept there by the city of Atlantic City but the property was mostly known to military and government pilots. But because of its potential for growth and development, this was the airport that would ultimately replace Bader Field. The turning point would be the creation of a regional transportation authority. Legislators lobbied heavily for the SJTA, which was finally established in 1991. The SJTA oversees Atlantic City International Airport, as well as the Atlantic City Expressway, over which it also has jurisdiction. It was set up under control of New Jersey's governor, who appoints the board of directors in non-paid positions like Spencer's. The board provides guidance to SJTA Executive Director James A. Crawford. The Commissioner of Transportation sits on the board to apprise the governor of actions, which are also sent for review after each meeting. In fact, the governor holds veto power over any decision. "That means if he says, ‘nope,' I don't want you to build that,' then we don't get to build it," acknowledges Spencer. Once the SJTA was established, it took control of the small civilian airport at the FAA site. The SJTA expanded the civil terminal by adding a second level and reopened the airport in 1996 to handle commercial traffic. At the time, the commercial carrier on board was Spirit Airlines. Spirit had been a scheduled airline in Atlantic City since 1990. At the beginning, they offered four flights daily on DC-9 aircraft—traveling twice to Detroit and once each to Providence and Boston, according to Lynne Koreman, senior director, marketing and communications. Today, Spirit offers 10 to 11 flights daily on larger aircraft—MD-80s which carry 150 passengers. Spirit offers service not only to several destinations in Florida, but to Cancun, Detroit, Las Vegas, San Juan, and will be flying to Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, starting November 18. Soon they'll also be introducing their new Airbus A321 that carries 198 passengers. "We plan to double our size in the next five years," says Koreman. "As Spirit adds new destinations to our route map, Atlantic City service will grow accordingly with both non-stop and connecting service. Spirit has a long history of serving Atlantic City International Airport and we look forward to a bright future." The other commercial carrier in Atlantic City is Delta. Delta flies passengers to its second-largest hub in Cincinnati, and then on to 134 cities including Rome, Amsterdam and Paris. Delta started service at Atlantic City International in October 2002. "Atlantic City is a market we are extremely pleased to serve," says Katie Moser, spokeswoman for Delta Connection Comair, "and overall the service has been positive for our customers and the airline." Moser notes that Atlantic City is a "fantastic leisure destination" so Delta not only connects Atlantic City with the rest of the world but connects Delta passengers with Atlantic City. "Comair and Delta already have a commitment to this community," says Moser. "We view Delta Connection service in Atlantic City as being a gateway to the world." "We never stop going after new carriers," adds Spencer, "but we're also doing everything we can to make it attractive for existing carriers to expand service. We're hoping, for example, as Spirit adds more aircraft capable of long distances, that we'll see even more service. We'd love to have direct West Coast service by the end of next year." Spencer acknowledges that there is a need to continue to grow the market. "Obviously we are a natural originating airport for people who live in Cape May and Atlantic Counties," he says. "They pretty much have to go right by us in order to get to another airport. But if we had to rely solely on Cape May and Atlantic County, as important as those people are to us, we wouldn't have any air service." "We need a broader, and larger, population base to support air service," he acknowledges. "Luckily we're convenient to residents in southern Ocean County, and parts of Burlington, Gloucester, Camden and Cumberland Counties. People from those counties use the airport on a regular basis." The combination of competitive fares and the ease of using Atlantic City are compelling for many travelers. Atlantic City International Airport's smaller size means just a short walk from the parking lot to the terminal. There are no airport buses and longterm parking lots with which to contend. It's faster to the counter and faster to the gate. However, while smaller in size, Atlantic City International continues to "pack a punch." For example, it not only caters to commercial carriers, but it is also home to the FAA Technical Center, the Coast Guard Air Station and the New Jersey Air National Guard 177th Fighter Wing. In fact, Atlantic City International also holds two special distinctions, unrelated to commercial flight, says Spencer. "One is that the airport is a designated reliever—or alternate landing site—for the space shuttle. Secondly, the 177th Fight Wing is on ‘ready alert' here to launch intercept flights in the event of another terrorist attack. It's a great group of guys and they have a well-trained team out there." Passengers may care more, however, about simply flying in and out on time and Atlantic City has a good record. Plus, future work will further improve the efficiency of the airport. "We're working right now on a series of phased improvements that will lead us eventually to substantial expansion of the terminal," says Crawford. "We're planning to move ‘bag screening' behind the ticket counters and away from ‘the front of the house' to improve the flow." "Eventually, we'll relocate the ticket counters to new areas to free up more space. We're also going to be moving the screening area to the second level, but that is a little way off. Ultimately, we'd like to add as many as six or seven more gates which can include both new carriers and expansions for Spirit and Delta." "We're actively pursuing what it takes to make this airport the best it can be," concludes Spencer. Now that's "taking off" in the right direction.

By Dave Bontempo  

Inspiration comes from many sources but most often comes from people or places you see every day. Casino employees are some of the most creative people in the hospitality industry, using that creativity most often to please and delight customers, co-workers and supervisors. But in this case, casino workers have channeled that imagination into new games that would appeal to the players – the people they interact with every day. In this article, you'll read about three examples of this inspiration. While these games are no doubt fascinating and fun to play, this article will also demonstrate the painstaking steps that need to be taken to make the game a success. None of the games featured here has made the great leap into instant success, but should they achieve that notoriety, the rewards are many. So while it's hard work to develop a game that becomes a success, the challenge can be a reward in and of itself. Best Of Both Worlds Table-Slots combines the two player favorites in a win-win for operators Unlike many game inventors, Joe Trucksess reached the self-actualization stage. His brainchild, Table-Slots, completed the longshot ascent up the dream ladder—from idea to prototype to Casino Control Commission approval and finally onto the floor where he worked at the Tropicana. Trucksess' idea worked well both here and at the Grand Casino in Biloxi two summers ago before being taken from the floor in favor of slightly more profitable games. Ultimately selling the game to entities with supposedly more powerful marketing abilities, Trucksess enjoyed the experience. He saw people playing a game that was born in his head. "This venture taught me just how much I was capable of accomplishing," says Trucksess, a day-one veteran of Atlantic City via Resorts, Playboy and the Tropicana, where he remains a pit boss. "I believed then and I believe now that Table-Slots had the potential to be a long-term winner. I still think someone will come up with an idea similar to this and be very successful. I just didn't have any more time to put into it. You need a network of contacts and a powerful company behind you which already has an existing relationship with many properties. This was too much for one person to do with limited capital but I'm glad I pursued it." Table-Slots merges the strategy of table games with the simplicity of slots. The game is played on a table with card values denoted by fruit symbols seen in slot machines. Similarities existed between the games. A series of triple bars, for example, produced a $50,000 bonus. Players would bet on simultaneous three, four and five card hands. They combined their own hands with community cards to form the best combinations. "At the beginning of Atlantic City gaming, table games were king," Trucksess says. "They represented about 75 percent of the casino's profit. When the slots turned that percentage around, I thought it would be natural to come up with a game to bring the table players back. Table-Slots was a hybrid game. It let players physically touch the cards, which was important. There were three games going at once, so one set of cards would not dictate the entire hand, but the jackpot is the big attraction for slot players." Trucksess lured table-game players back via the slots and nurtured the vision of a financial grand slam. Proprietary games like Let It Ride and Caribbean Stud testified to the popularity of cards. Slot mania indicated fruit symbols would work on those cards. While he got close enough to at least imagine untold riches the greater payoff came in the form of personal enrichment and growth. "My game has a good hold, approximately 20 percent," Trucksess says. "But it was 20 percent of, say, $3,000 while blackjack had approximately a 14 percent hold of $5,000. Over the long run, blackjack could not be displaced. But I saw people play it and you realize that if you have an idea, you own it and it catches fire, the profits are extraordinary." Trucksess says he would do this again on different terms. The marketing, patent-seeking process, video production and necessity of investors lead him to believe this works with the right muscle behind it. For individuals, success is a longshot. Yet Trucksess progressed further than most. Fantasy Becomes Reality Former football coach and casino exec has million-dollar plan Lou Paludi blends a pigskin passion, extensive human-resource career and a marketing hunch into a unique invention. The West Atlantic City native has patented Fantasy Football Slots, the first sports-themed slot machine now working its way through the prototype and approval process. The game operates like video poker with a twist provided by non-identical sequential images, another patented element of the innovation. Lucrative benefits await anyone capable of cornering a sporting machine in the Atlantic City market. It appears fitting for Paludi, a local coaching legend, to develop this game. Paludi guided Holy Spirit High School to a whopping five state championships. One of his quarterbacks, Terry Bradway, became the general manager of the New York Jets. Paludi also served as an offensive coordinator for Temple University and is a member of the National Collegiate Hall of Fame. To authenticate the game, he incorporates real-life probability into the machine. Less than one punt return in 10, for example, results in a touchdown. Only about one kickoff return produces a score. In the modern pass-happy game, passing TDs often double the number of running scores. These probabilities, coupled with the payout structure for a machine, form the key components within the prototype. In this novel game, patrons have two cracks at a payout-producing score. A sequence of events "leads" to a moneymaking result. A passing score, for instance, features, from left-to-right, a quarterback poised, a receiver making a catch, then running and finally a referee signaling touchdown. After one spin, the player can hold the images he wants, and then select another turn to look for the score. Running sequences also lead to touchdowns. Extra points, two-point conversions, safeties and field goals are among the score-producing payouts. "There's nothing like it in the sports market now and I think this is a terrific game with a lot of fun," says Paludi, who has spent two years developing the project. "People are very passionate about football. Can you imagine around the Super Bowl going to the casino and playing football tournaments? Or how about the idea of selecting your colors, creating your own team and playing? This is a fast-moving game." Various research groups revealed football's icon status in America. Paludi's assessment reveals a hidden market within that distinction. "Women love football and they know a lot more about it than people think," Paludi says. "Women are slot players and big football fans. This is a natural slot game for them." Paludi was a chairman in the business division of Atlantic Cape Community College when it launched the Casino Career Institute. He served for five years before spending 10 more as vice-president of human resources for Showboat. Paludi also participates in the motivational speaking tour. Though the inventor's road from creation to implementation is always long, Paludi says an executive has promised to showcase the game once it's approved. The patent could logically extend to games involving fishing, cowboys and other ideas. Street Smarts Bling Bling has urban inspiration Jeff McGill hopes inspiration plus perspiration equals innovation. The former Bally's slot technician developed Bling Bling, a unique dice game, right from the street. He attached appropriate bells and whistles, drew the game on a napkin and took the idea to retired New York entrepreneur Joe Cassarino, whom he met through a mutual friend. The result? Cassarino added finance to the fantasy, investing more than $150,000 according to his own figures. Cassarino subsequently became a frontline spokesman and the day-to-day head of Gameologist Group, LLC, which he shares with McGill's family. Cassarino says distribution allegiances with D.P. Stud Inc. are not far off major plans for cell-phones. Games and lottery cards also are in serious discussion. Bling Bling may only be months away from debuting in Atlantic City. Regardless of Bling Bling's future, consider McGill's accomplishment of devising a concept idea worthy of six-figure capital support. Finding a backer with time and passion for the product was a significant bonus. "Jeff had a wonderful idea he took from an old urban game called C-Lo," Cassarino says. "That's pretty much what craps was before the casinos came in. Jeff took a game, put this great idea behind it and now he has something that would work splendidly in the casino or elsewhere. Jeff was in touch with a game that was hot in the 18-35-year age group and the term Bling Bling identifies with a new, young, affluent urban market. Bling Bling usually refers to jewelry. If you have something fancy, it's a Bling Bling. People are coming to see that young people love cool games." The Bling Bling name implies flash, cash and pizazz, all of which apply to this fast-moving game. McGill's brainchild combines elements of the big wheel, craps, parcheesi and backgammon. Three dice are used. The game begins with the dealer establishing a "point" based on a big wheel spin. Let's say that number was three. The dice roller continues throwing until obtaining doubles on the dice. If the doublets are higher than three, the shooter wins. Less than three results in a loss. Three would be a push and prolong the dice roll. Numerous side bets keep the game in constant motion. Prop-bet fantasies abound with any triple. An A-A-A or 6-6-6 pay a whopping 180-1, roughly six times the casino payout for high-lows, with of course, a much greater degree of difficulty. Cassarino says noted industry mathematician Stanley Ko tested the probabilities of Bling Bling and reported a house edge of nearly 3 percent, slightly above present-day craps, one of the player-friendly games. That could help bring the game inside casino parlors. Further information on Bling Bling is available at www.gameologistgroup.com.

By Frank Legato  

The Sands Casino-Hotel has always faced inherent challenges, ever since it opened in 1980 as the Brighton. It sits a block off the Boardwalk on Brighton Park. It is the city's smallest casino, situated next to a quadruple-casino mega-complex operated by rival Caesars Entertainment. But the Sands has survived. Through years of financial turmoil, numerous changes in top management, and chronic delays in needed renovations and refurbishment, the Sands has maintained its niche in the Atlantic City market, and its employees never lost the hope of a turnaround. Susan Schneider, who joined the Sands this year as senior vice president of marketing, sees that hope and dedication in the Sands' employees every day. "For the employees to go through everything they've gone through—leadership changes, changes in marketing direction—I look at the dedication these employees have to their job, and it is so refreshing to me," Schneider says. Moreover, the Sands' long-awaited turnaround may finally be here, because its owner, billionaire Carl Icahn, has brought together the right leadership team at the right time. Longtime Sands executive George Toth had been serving as interim president since the last leadership change. This spring, Icahn made Toth president for good. Almost immediately, Toth brought in Schneider, the veteran Atlantic City marketing executive whose years at Harrah's brought some of the most innovative—and copied—marketing campaigns the town has ever seen. Together, Toth and Schneider have overseen this year's complete repositioning of the Sands as the "Players Place," advertising the highest table limits and best odds in town, and emphasizing the Sands' hip tradition, tying in not only the history of the actual property, where Sinatra played his last Atlantic City gig, but the history of the property's name and the image of the Rat Pack days of the Las Vegas Sands conjured up by the property's logo. Rat Pack photos, memorabilia and nostalgic revue shows appeared all around the property. Changes to the physical plant coincided with the marketing changes. An area in the center of the main casino that had performed poorly as a slot area was transformed into Swingers Lounge, rapidly becoming one of the most popular nightspots in the city. Next came an expansion of the Sands' poker operation, including last year's high-profile, nationally televised "Showdown at the Sands" tournament, followed by an expansion of the table game operation back to the levels which existed before former property management's ill-fated replacement of most of the casino's tables with slot machines. Finally, Toth began a long-needed hotel refurbishment, starting with transformation of the 15th floor into a collection of gorgeous mid-level suites. Almost simultaneously, the casino re-emphasized its commitment to the table game market by opening up a high-end pit on the main floor (live dogs played blackjack as a banner touted "Where The Big Dogs Play"). The program is already succeeding, bringing back customers absent since the property's heyday and drawing new customers like a magnet to a property reaching back to its roots in the classic casino experience. The Sands was one of only two casinos in Atlantic City to log an increase in total casino win for the first six months of 2004. Schneider credits Toth's leadership for the Sands' rebirth. "I've worked for a lot of GMs, and this is a man who will succeed," she says. "George Toth is a winner, and the Sands will succeed." As head of marketing, Schneider will have a big part in that success. She says her first task is to launch a campaign to establish the Sands as a solid brand in the industry. "The property is in need of branding—a new branding campaign that will cut through the clutter of the billboards." She says that campaign will be an extension of the "Players Place" slogan, now a very strong tagline on the property's logo. "The campaign will involve very simple positioning for the customer: ‘Are you a player?'" Schneider says. "We want to emphasize high-end tables, while positioning our slots as a unique experience." Schneider says the Sands is creating a "Player Advisory Council," a rotating group of six players who meet with top management to provide feedback on what the casino is doing and what they would like to see done. "I have always been a firm believer that the casino in this town which truly steps up to service leadership could own the market," she says. For now, the Sands keeps rolling along with a new buzz amid the employees—and the customers. "It is the most loyal customer base I have seen in my life," Schneider says. "I hear the word family around here a lot, from both customers and employees. They say that's what it feels like around here.

By David Schwartz  

Most Atlantic City residents and visitors know that Boardwalk Hall, located next to Trump Plaza on the Boardwalk, is a historic structure, but few appreciate just how storied the building is. From its inception, it served many functions, and at least twice hosted events of deep historical importance In the early 1920s, Atlantic City's reputation as a convention grew rapidly. National groups like the National Electric Light Association, National Railroad Car Builders, and National Dairy Association held regular meetings there, usually on Million Dollar Pier. As the gatherings got larger, they outgrew the pier. In order to prevent other cities from swiping this lucrative business, Mayor Edward Bader proposed building a large convention hall. Bader purchased land on the Boardwalk between Mississippi and Florida avenues that had been the site of Rendezvous Park. This amusement park featured carnival games, a dance hall, a bathhouse, a restaurant, and a "scenic railway." The park opened in May 1921, but lasted only one summer; it was razed by a fire in September of that year. After Bader's death, his successor, Anthony M. Ruffu, saw that the building was completed as planned. Construction began in late 1924 and cost nearly $13.5 million. The building itself was an architectural marvel. The main hall, 488 feet long and 288 feet wide, was large enough to hold a regulation football field. The curved roof peaked at 137 feet. Built with no supporting pillars, for years it was the largest unobstructed room in the world. The building opened as Convention Hall on May 31, 1929, which was the same year as the Atlantic City Diamond Jubilee and the Golden Jubilee of Light, the national celebration of the 50th birthday of Thomas Edison's incandescent light bulb. As the National Electric Light Association was one of the city's major convention groups, they made the most out of this coincidence. On the night of its dedication, Convention Hall and the entire Boardwalk were bathed in gold lighting, and the battleship Wyoming trained its lights on the hall from offshore. Convention Hall had, for decades, the world's largest pipe organ, which had over 32,000 pipes. During the 1930s, the Atlantic City Seagulls, a semipro hockey team, made their home in the hall. Beginning in 1941, the Ice Capades visited every summer, and the Miss America pageant became an annual rite of September. Thousands of conventions, exhibitions, and shows made use of the Hall from its beginning. In 1935, Convention Hall was the scene for an epic moment in labor union history: the creation of the CIO (Congress of Industrial Organizations). The American Federation of Labor, the country's dominant union organization, placed an emphasis on craft-based unions and disdained mass organizing along industrial lines. John L. Lewis, leader of the United Mine Workers, disagreed. Tensions between AFL leaders and upstart industrial unionists came to a head during the AFL's 1935 convention. Lewis, angered at comments by carpenters' union president William Hutcheson, knocked the craft unionist to the ground with a single punch. Following his Convention Hall fisticuffs, Lewis and other industrial unionists organized the CIO, which became a rival to the AFL before the two groups merged in 1955. Convention Hall stepped again onto the national stage from August 24 to 27, 1964, as the host of the Democratic National Convention. That year, Democrats mourned the loss of John F. Kennedy and nominated Lyndon Johnson for re-election as President. Johnson announced his running mate, Hubert H. Humphrey, at the convention. But the 1964 convention is most significant for a watershed moment in civil rights. The Mississippi Democratic Party, still committed to segregation, refused to back Lyndon Johnson, who had signed epochal civil rights legislation into law. Civil rights organizers, angry over their lack of a voice in the state party, sent a rival group of delegates to the convention as the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party. The group took its case to the credentials committee, which did not seat them. National television news covered the MFDP's attempt to be seated, which focused attention on the issue of African-American voting rights in the South; the next year, President Johnson would sign important voting rights legislation. Convention Hall continued to adapt to the times; the East Hall added 200,000 feet of convention space in 1971, and the main hall hosted many world championship boxing matches, as well as two World Wrestling Federation "Wrestlemania" extravaganzas in the 1980s. With the opening of the new Atlantic City Convention Center in 1997, the boardwalk facility was closed for a $90 million renovation and, upon re-opening, renamed Boardwalk Hall. It currently hosts two minor-league teams, the hockey Boardwalk Bullies and the arena football Card Sharks. Calling itself "America's Seaside Entertainment Center" and still hosting Miss America each year, Boardwalk Hall continues to do its founders—the visionaries of the 1920s—proud.

By Roger Gros  

It's one of the last vestiges of the suspicion and second-class citizen status that came along with a casino job 25 years ago. Some things have changed, but the most important restriction still exists today: casino employees and executives are prohibited from running for or taking part in Atlantic City or statewide politics. When the gaming industry was established in the mid-1970s, gaming was illegal everywhere outside of Las Vegas. New Jersey understandably had some concerns about the involvement of questionable people in the industry. A series of restrictions went along with a strict code of qualifications. In addition to the political ban, casino employees were not allowed to gamble anywhere in Atlantic City, and the license application was more like a book. But it was a new industry, with a checkered background, so these types of restrictions seemed reasonable, even necessary. Legal Language Tere are two references in New Jersey law that limit and restrict the participation of casino employees in politics. The Casino Control Commission has regulations that prohibit contributions to candidates by gaming companies and executives. An issue related to these restrictions was raised this year when casino companies funded an ad campaign criticizing the governor's attempts to raise casino taxes. Each casino received a letter from CCC Chairwoman Linda Kassekert warning them about contributing to political campaigns. Whether the ads can be considered a political campaign was never resolved, nonetheless, the commission demonstrated how seriously it takes these restrictions. The second limitation comes from the state ethics law, which, in addition to similar contribution restrictions, bars public officials from becoming officers, members or employees of casino companies. While the restriction was put in place to prevent public officials from working for casino companies, the inverse is correct as well: Casino employees (those with 2-1 gaming licenses and above) cannot become public officials in Atlantic City or in any state capacity. So why should these seemingly outdated restrictions remain in place? After all, even politicians recognize the value of the industry (if only for its tax benefits and job-creation). They also praise the industry for the integrity it has demonstrated over the years. Casino executives and employees are some of the most involved and committed individuals when it comes to charities and community activities. In Atlantic City, the ban has had a serious impact. With approximately 20,000 voting-age adults and a casino employee population exceeding 5,000, the available pool of qualified candidates and campaign workers has shrunk dramatically. Atlantic City Mayor Lorenzo Langford was forced to resign as a shift manager at Trump Taj Mahal when he was first elected to city council in an effort to serve his community. How many other qualified candidates are prevented from even considering public office because they are prohibited from holding a job in the casino industry and at the same time serving as an elected official in Atlantic City? State Senator William Gormley, who represents Atlantic City in the legislature, doesn't see the restrictions changing anytime soon. "The atmosphere in Trenton is actually moving toward more restrictions in the political process as a result of the ‘pay-to-play' problems we've been witnessing with this administration," he says. While Gormley admits the restrictions are outdated and outmoded, he doesn't think the time is right to challenge them. "We've got an incoming acting governor, Richard Codey, who knows Atlantic City and the gaming industry very well," Gormley explains. "As Senate president and governor, he's going to be in charge for the next 16 months. He'll be very supportive of all the initiatives that we're going to make to create a new Atlantic City, with non-gaming amenities and the quality-of-life issues that are so important to casino employees." Gormley wouldn't expect Codey to be willing to consider revising the political prohibitions. "Since he wrote the original legislation in the Casino Control Act that created those restrictions, it is unlikely that he'd support removing them," Gormley reports. "So do we fight him on this one issue, while he's supportive of 99 percent of what we want to accomplish? I think the answer is clear." But times have changed. Today, gaming is one of the most highly regulated industries in the world. Since 1978, when gaming came to New Jersey, casinos are now active in almost 30 states across the U.S. The vast majority of casinos are owned and operated by public companies. Even Indian gaming is highly controlled and monitored. Case History In the 1980s, Gloria Soto, who was at the time a legal counsel for the Claridge, went to state court to claim that her First Amendment rights were violated by the restriction. Soto lost and appealed unsuccessfully all the way to the Supreme Court. The ruling stated that the regulations were understandable and should remain in place. A second case involved Virginia McDowell, a former vice president at the Tropicana. McDowell wanted to work on the campaign of Atlantic City Mayor James Whelan and was seemingly prohibited by the statute. John Donnelly, a partner with Levine, Staller, Sklar, Chan, Brodsky & Donnelly in Atlantic City, represented both Soto and McDowell at different times. The McDowell ruling opened the door slightly, he says. "We were able to get the court to rule that she was permitted to work on Whelan's campaign as long as she didn't contribute anything ‘of value,' which meant that she couldn't serve in her professional capacity, which was marketing, for the campaign," Donnelly explains. "She could lick stamps, knock on doors or drive people to the polls, but not use her professional services." Although nothing prevents a casino employee from running for an office, that employee would be required to resign his casino job in order to serve. It's unclear, says Donnelly, if that employee would be able to contribute his own money to his own campaign, however. "This has never occurred so it has never been challenged," he says. "What is clear is that once a person is elected to an Atlantic City or statewide office, he or she would be required to resign their casino job." That's exactly what happened to Langford, who had a long and distinguished career in the gaming industry prior to his election to city council. "He had no choice," says Donnelly. "The law and regulations are clear: No casino employee or executive can serve as a public official in Atlantic City or with the state of New Jersey." At the time, Langford clearly would have preferred to continue to work in the industry. He was forced to find other employment to supplement his small salary as a city councilman, and was separated from an industry where he had achieved much success. Follow the Money Casino companies and executives (but not employees) are also prohibited from contributing to state political campaigns or candidates. (Casino companies, executives and employees are permitted to contribute to and participate in campaigns for federal officials.) This restriction is codified in Title 52 of the state ethics law, as well as in regulations of the Casino Control Commission. Oddly enough, gaming suppliers, such as slot machine manufacturers, are not under the same restrictions. But some casino executives don't mind this prohibition. "We're immune to elected officials who want us to contribute to their campaigns," said one casino executive who did not want to be identified. "This saves me and my company a lot of money." Although several other industries, such as the banking and insurance businesses, also have some restrictions on political contributions, the gaming industry is the only business where its employees and executives are prohibited from actually holding political office. Soto's political involvement was cut short by her casino career. "I had been involved in the Democratic party for most of my life," she says. "I wanted to get involved in some committees so I petitioned the Casino Control Commission. I could not get a direct answer from the CCC or the DGE so we decided to go to court." Times have definitely changed, says Soto, who now works for the government of Puerto Rico in Newark. "It's time to revisit this issue," she says. "The integrity of the industry is unquestioned and it has contributed to the disenfranchisement of voters in the casinos." McDowell agrees with Soto. "When we are prohibited from having a place at the table, it marginalizes our contributions to our communities," she says. "And in municipalities and host communities, where we provide the lion's share of the tax revenue, such as Atlantic City, it only makes sense that we should be involved." Is this sense of disengagement suppressing a normal, functioning political environment in the gaming industry? While casino executives and employees, even without making campaign contributions, can make their views known to elected officials, the option of running for office or even contributing "something of value" to a campaign is absent. Therefore, those groups and individuals that have that option are more likely to be heard. Gormley disagrees that the restrictions deaden the political acumen of casino employees. "When we were battling the tax proposals from the McGreevey administration," he says, "it was clear that casino employees were paying attention and understood the issues. "Local 54 was tremendously helpful. (President) Bob McDevitt was a great spokesman for the industry and brought dozens of his members to Trenton to testify against these measures at a time when other unions would not help." McDowell, who is now vice president of administration for Argosy Gaming, is based in St. Louis and is very active in the political process in Missouri. "I'm actually registered as a lobbyist," she says, "something that would not have been possible in New Jersey." Argosy operates in several Midwestern and Southern jurisdictions, where political regulations range from a felony charge in Indiana for contributing to campaigns to no restrictions at all in Illinois. "In some states, employees and executives are not permitted to make political contributions but I'm not aware of any restrictions on employees running for public office in any state," she says. While Gormley says the time isn't right for pushing for a change concerning the political restrictions, he says he goes the extra mile to represent casino employees. "It's my job to be the surrogate for the industry, and I'm not just giving lip service to that job," he says. "We're focused on the problems of people on the ground. We want to make Atlantic City and Atlantic County places where people want to live; places where you want to invite friends and relatives to come visit."

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   Tue, Mar 11, 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 Casino Connection Staff  

Sands Casino Hotel Indiana Ave. & Brighton Park Opening Date: August 13, 1980 Owner: Atlantic Coast Entertainment Holdings, Inc. Chairman of the Board: Carl Icahn CEO: Richard P. Brown Number of Employees: 1,977 Number of Rooms : 621 guest rooms, including 75 suites Restaurants: Brighton Steak House, Medici's, Rossi's, The Corner, Boardwalk Buffett. Casino: 77,951 square feet Slot Machines: 2,192 Table Games: 61 Entertainment Venues: The Copa Room, Swingers Meeting Space: 14,340 square feet, 3 meeting rooms, including a 3,000 square foot ballroom Parking: 1,750 spaces

By Roger Gros  

In Whale Hunt in the Desert—The Secret Las Vegas of Superhost Steve Cyr, author Deke Castleman writes: "The casino host caters to his players. He eats with them, drinks with them, parties with them, takes trips with them, and hangs with them in the casino—all the while repeating to himself, ‘Lose baby lose baby lose baby lose.' His raises in salary, his performance bonuses, his perks, his juice—everything emanates from the losses of his players. This sometimes puts him in awkward, seemingly contradictory, positions." If you've ever wanted to know how casino hosts do their jobs, you can't miss Whale Hunt. The main character, Steve Cyr is perhaps the most controversial casino marketing executive since Charlie Myerson. Myerson, a superhost at the Golden Nugget Atlantic City and the Mirage, was notorious because of his alleged connections to shady casino customers. Cyr is notorious because of his willingness to expose the long-held and deep, dark secrets of the business of the hosting of high rollers in Las Vegas. The crux of the book is the mysteries that are unmasked (partially through Cyr's experience) regarding the "greatest money-oriented culture known to man." Several chapters are devoted to the training of hosts: how they're taught to size up, hook, and bleed big players. In this vein, the chapter on telemarketing is particularly revealing. There's detailed discussion about the "harpoons" in the casino's whale hunt arsenal: palatial accommodations, world-class chefs, even strippers and hookers. The coverage of the "economies of whale"—airfare reimbursement, rebates on losses, show-up money, gifts and shopping sprees—is comprehensive. Also covered at length are the complexities of compulsive gambling at the highest betting levels, stories that the casinos won't relish seeing in print. This is the kind of morality drama that will make casino executives cringe. Still, Whale Hunt is a must-read for those same executives, because it cuts to the heart and soul of their big-player business. In fact, anyone who runs a casino in any capacity almost has to read it, given that casino customers—especially high rollers—certainly will.

By Joe Legato  

There is only one game that lets you command the world's deadliest international task force with as much control as the President himself. Team Rainbow returns in Ubisoft's newest edition to the Rainbow Six franchise, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3: Black Arrow. In this game, you are responsible for stopping a group of ex-military terrorists who want to start a war in the oil-filled regions around the Black Sea. Black Arrow brings players deep into Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean, where they must organize Team Rainbow and follow through with personally developed strategies to accomplish each mission. Keeping the element of stealth in mind, the player chooses the routes that different members of his team will take, and then gives specific instructions to each person. All team members must do their part to reach the goal; if one person fails, then the whole mission may be a bust. The various modes in this game are tons of fun, but the multiplayer mode especially stands out. Black Arrow utilizes Xbox Live 3.0 features, so players can now set up tournaments and IM each other using MSN Messager. Another new feature of Black Arrow is smarter artificial intelligence for bad guys. Terrorists can call for backup when they are in trouble, and they can also grab innocent hostages as human shields. As one may expect, this game is intense throughout every single moment. But if you feel up to the challenge and want to lead a task force in stopping a war, Black Arrow is definitely your game.

By Casino Connection Staff  

Although Maroon 5 has been around for a few years, the band is currently burning up the charts with songs from their latest release Songs About Jane. Starting out in the late 90s as Kara's Flowers, the band was formed by Los Angeles high school friends Adam Levine, Mickey Madden, Jesse Carmichael and Ryan Dusick. The foursome started out playing modern rock and released an album under the Reprise label titled The Fourth World, which was popular on the college scene but didn't grab much radio play. The record label dropped them after disappointing sales. With the addition of guitarist James Valentine came a transformation in their sound and a new name, Maroon 5. Mixing rock, R&B, gospel and a little funk, the band was quickly signed by independent label Octone Records, a partner of RCA Music. Songs About Jane was released in June of 2002, but it wasn't until the following year that the single "Harder to Breathe" gained popularity and rose to #4 on Billboard's top 40. It was the first of many hits from this certified Platinum debut CD. If you like pop rock then Songs About Jane is worth listening to. The single "This Love" hit #1 on the top 40, VH1, and MTV all at the same time. VH1's Weekly Video Countdown had the song at the top spot for many weeks, and now the latest single "She Will Be Loved," a classic rock ballad, is also creeping up the charts. Bass player Mickey Madden and drummer Ryan Dusick lay down a solid rhythm foundation. Blend in Jesse Carmichael's keyboards and the catchy rock/funk rhythm chords of Valentine and Levine and you can understand why Maroon 5 have so many hits. The lyrics are just as catchy, and in a short time you'll find yourself singing along. If you haven't heard of this band by now you can bet your kids have been listening to them for quite a while. Now that they've grabbed everyone's attention, there's no telling how far they will go. If they continue to pump out hits like they have on Songs About Jane, this band will never be marooned.

By Robert Rossiello  

This dish uses high-quality, raw Norwegian salmon and spigola (an Italian bass) for a delicious chilled appetizer. You can substitute fresh striped bass in place of spigola Ingredients: (Yields one serving) 4 ounces fresh Norwegian salmon filet 4 ounces fresh Italian spigola filet 2 ounces baby spinach leaves Roasted peppers marinated* (see recipe below) 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil Leaves of baby frisee or spring mix to garnish 1/2 lemon to garnish Salt, black pepper and parsley to taste Roasted peppers marinated: 1 yellow roasted pepper 1 red roasted pepper 3 basil leaves chopped 6 black Gaeta olives chopped 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil Salt and pepper to taste Prepare roasted peppers marinated by mixing all ingredients together and set aside. Pound the salmon into a 1/4 inch thick filet and lay the spinach on top. Lay the spigola and marinated roasted peppers on top of the spinach. Roll everything together to form a cylindrical shape. Using a razor-sharp knife, slice the salmon and spigola loin paper-thin and make pieces you can see through. Slice a total of 20 pieces, enough to place around the edge of a chilled, 12-inch serving plate. Sprinkle with baby frisee, parsley, salt and pepper. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil; add salt and pepper to taste.

By Robert Rossiello  

From the upper deck of the Back Bay Ale House you can see both the Atlantic City skyline and the Brigintine Bay, with boats bobbing in the harbor or inching across the sun-dappled water. The view is just one appealing aspect of this cozy eatery, tucked into Historic Gardner's Basin. Back Bay Ale House has a nautical decor that goes with its storied history. Moved from the inlet 30 years ago, the building is 130 years old and was once an antique shop as well as the ticket booth for the Schooner Young America, a double-masted tall ship used for scenic cruises. When the current owners, Kyle and Jane Williams, took over in 2003, they kept the charm and the ambiance of the place intact, as well as adding personal touches of their own. Good beer is the staple of every good ale house, and Back Bay always has five quality ales on tap to choose from. Popular favorites include the Black and Tan, a blend of Guinness and John Courage imported from England. They also feature Flying Fish, an ale that changes with the seasons (they are now serving Octoberfish). The bar can fit up to 65 people upstairs, with additional tables on the porch and in the courtyard. With a full menu that offers excellent seafood dishes to hand cut, USDA choice Iowa beef, the place has become a favorite spot for locals and visitors alike. Open year round from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Go to www.backbayalehouse.com for more information.

By Sharon Harris-Zlotnick  

In Italy, the sunflower, or "girasole," grows throughout the country. When Gino Iovino and his partners Rosalba and Giovanni Morici opened Girasole in Atlantic City, they wanted to bring in the shiny, colorful feel of the flower of their native land. Iovino arrived in the United States in 1972 from Italy, working in the ladies' fashion business in Pennsylvania. He moved to Atlantic City in 1981 and opened a second shop called Eleganza, now located on the Boardwalk at the Ocean Club condominiums. Iovino will relocate next July to the new shops at Caesars' Pier. When Iovino opened the first Girasole restaurant in Philadelphia in 1988, he used his fashion talents to create a gorgeous ambiance. When opening his second site in 1992, Iovino again produced a dining room of bright colors and textures for the Atlantic City Girasole. Girasole radiates the fabrics and colors of Milan. "Everything here is from Versace—the black and yellow fabric on the chairs for the 115 seats, the lighting and the picture frames," says Iovino. "The awnings on the outdoor café, which seats 40 from May to October, and the accent colors are all gold and royal blue from Versace. Everything was designed here, but all the parts are Italian. The tables are Italian marble." Giant urns fill the main dining section and a glass curio displays ancient artifacts. Iovino says the urns were brought from Italy after being found underground during an archaeological dig. They are from one family and date back to 400 B.C. The brick oven also replicates housing styles in the Puglia region of Italy. Artisans took similar stones and duplicated the look of the homes when creating the oven. Iovino boasts that just as the design is beautiful, so is the food. His cousin Rosalba Morici, a graduate of the Cordon Blu Culinary Academy in Italy, has created delectable dishes from the Mediterranean. Morici travels to Italy twice each year to refresh her knowledge of Italian cuisine. She is assisted by Michele Laurenza, a graduate of the Culinary School in Monte Casino, south of Rome. Their innovative menu features gourmet and casual foods cooked with an Italian flair. A variety of pizzas from the brick oven are priced from $11.50 to $14; appetizers and salad cost $9.50 to $15.50. The homemade pastas, risottos and carpaccios (thin slices of filet mignon) are priced at $13.50 to $16.50. Main meat or fish courses change daily, depending on availability, and are priced according to market prices. However, a daily number of chicken, veal and salmon entrees cost $17 to $28. Lunch is also served, and diners may either order from the main menu or sample the $19.50 fixed-price, multi-course menu. Girasole is open weekdays for lunch, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m, and for dinner daily beginning at 5:30 p.m. Reservations are suggested. Street parking or valet parking at the nearby Ocean Club is available. Smoking is only permitted in the bar dining room, and all credit cards are accepted.

By Dave Bontempo  

The encore phase of the Boardwalk Bullies begins next month. Atlantic City's ECHL team, which nearly left town last spring under the red-ink burden thwarting all local minor-league franchises, nonetheless returns for a fourth season October 29. A partial subsidy granted by the state no longer applies, leaving the Bullies a one-year reprieve to improve revenues. This season will likely determine the Double A team's permanent future here. General Manager Dan Belisle welcomes the challenge of packing fans into the state of-the-art Boardwalk Hall. "We know that this is excellent, affordable family entertainment," Belisle says. "We haven't raised our ticket prices in a couple of years. You still get four tickets for $44 and on Casino Night (Wednesdays) you can still get in for $6. Sundays are kids days. Buy an adult ticket and you get one for your kid for $1. On top of that, this is excellent hockey." That it is. The Bullies have been remarkably successful on the ice. Three straight playoff runs and a Kelly Cup championship two years ago indicate a top-notch organization. The product is infinitely sellable. Marketing remains the biggest hurdle. Belisle understands the dilemma of an area saddled with the Atlantic Ocean serving as its Eastern edge. Yet he believes Southern New Jersey can sustain a franchise. "There is enough of a population base here to do that," Belisle says. "The problem is that unlike other areas, you don't have one big concentration of people in a certain place followed by a drop-off once you get outside the city. Here there are numerous pockets of people, but it is hard to reach them all in a way that your advertising dollars match up with sales. "So we've asked our core of season ticket holders, about 1,500 of them, to help us out. If they refer someone to us and we are able to complete the sale, we give them a commission. Some of our ticket holders have already taken advantage of this program. We believe this can help build up the revenue. Our goal is to have 1,700 season ticket holders by opening night." Subtle league administrative changes afford the Bullies an additional financial fast break. The season opener sits a full three weeks behind that of the inaugural campaign, allowing fewer dates during the toughest fall drawing period. Another benefit surrounds the schedule, which changed a number of midweek games to the more profitable weekend slate. Though seven Wednesday tilts remain, the Bullies have loaded their Friday-through-Sunday plate. The league, apparently realizing the team's attendance increase during the winter months, enabled the Bullies to hold eight home games in February and March, compared with four in December and five in January. A third tailwind arrives if the NHL season is delayed or cancelled. "My personal feeling is that there might not be a season at all because the NHL has a system that is broken and needs to be fixed," Belisle says. "Even though I'm a fan and hate that idea for the sport, long term, the potential absence of the Flyers, Islanders and Rangers could help us reach out to their fans to see great hockey right here." Whenever the NHL resumes, the affiliation recently forged with the New York Islanders will help the Bullies protect players and showcase a few players trying to earn their way back to the big show. Otherwise, fans will see a different club than last year because the team's franchise uncertainty forced players and coaches to relocate. Mike Haviland, the terrific coach who brought the Bullies their championship, returned to the rival Trenton Titans, where he'd once been an assistant. Matt Thomas, Haviland's assistant, replaces him. "We wanted to retain Havvy," Belisle says. "But when the chance came for him to move on, we didn't want to ruin his best interests. We really didn't know if we would be back here. Now that Trenton rivalry is even better than before, when it was already great." The franchise mystery game claimed other stalwarts including goalie Scott Stirling, an anchor for the club. The retirement of speedster Stefan Rivard also creates a dent. Returnees Ian Walterson, Dave Reid and Scott Horvath, among others, however, form a nucleus that makes Thomas optimistic. "Speed kills, speed wins championships and that's what we had here and will continue to have," says Thomas, who enjoyed the championship year and observed the disappointment of the Bullies' failed bid to repeat. "I thought we may not have been quite gritty enough last year, so we will add that to our dimension of speed. It's not that hard to add to a good nucleus. I believe we have already done that." Belisle said the Bullies will market games with Trenton and Reading more seriously than others, launching a potential mini-market beyond this area. The Bullies will reach out to those teams, allowing their fans price breaks to travel down and witness the games. The contests also will be linked to five-game packages for Bullies ticket holders, creating a five-game plan for $50. Trenton and Reading open the Bullies' home season with back-to-back appearances October 29 and 30 at 7:05 p.m. Casino Connection will have several Bullies giveaways during the season. Don't miss your chance to see one of the most exciting sports products in Atlantic City!

By Frank Legato  

I had been waiting for this one to come out on DVD, and when it did a few months ago, I wasn't disappointed. Like all of the Coen Brothers' films, it is hilarious. Joel and Ethan Coen did almost as much comic justice to this 1955 British screenplay as they did to Homer's Odyssey in the film O Brother, Where Art Thou. The Ladykillers stars Tom Hanks as Professor G.H. Dorr, an eloquent Southern-gentleman con-man who talks his way into renting a room in the house of Marva Munson (Irma P. Hall), a church-going elderly African American widow whose life is centered around the nearby Baptist church in a tiny Southern town. (As they did with Brother, the Coens masterfully adapt a script written for London to the culture of the South.) Dorr's aim is to tunnel through Marva's basement wall into the underground vault of the neighboring riverboat casino. To carry out his caper, Dorr assembles a diverse group of losers including Gawain MacSam (Marlon Wayans), a street-tough hip-hopper who works as a janitor at the casino (the inside guy), "The General" (Tzi Ma), a quiet Asian marshal-arts expert who works in the neighborhood, explosive expert Garth Pancake (J.K. Simmons), who periodically interrupts the plan with his bouts of irritable bowel syndrome (that's a scream), and Lump Hudson (Ryan Hurst), a failed football player who serves as the gang's muscle-man. The gang poses as Dorr's bible-music group to gain the confidence of the suspicious Marva, who never really catches on to the plan, even though the gang is tunneling through her basement wall. Suffice it to say that a series of hilarious misadventures follow, in what becomes a dark comedy. Hanks, Hall and Wayans are all marvelous in their roles, losing themselves in their characters to produce hilarious results.

By Dave Bontempo  

Romesh Shah brought business savvy, common sense and family loyalty from western India to the United States seven years ago. Those attributes have blossomed. Several significant awards, the distinction of a "go-to" employee at the Sands and the role of high-level ambassador between the property and its players have marked Shah's run as a slot attendant. Shah has become a natural customer magnet. He kibitzes with patrons and provides numerous intangibles, which forge player loyalty. Shah's credentials formally resurfaced in June, when an anonymous outside service reported on employees. Posing as customers, they graded individuals in numerous departments ranging from room service to buffet. Two categories outlined the exercise. "There's a performance score and then something else that we call a WOW index," says Tim Yahn, the Sands' director of slot operations and Romesh's supervisor. "A WOW reflects something you did to just blow a customer away with great service. Romesh was one of the first employees in the company to not only score 100 for regular job performance, but to also get a 100 on the WOW index, which went from 0-100. That's a tremendous achievement." Shah crashed the casino scene as a unique commodity in 1997. He was 50 years old, a former pharmacy owner back in India and, unlike many employees here, was not looking to re-climb a corporate ladder. That made him an ally and confidante rather than a source of competition. Shah sought America because his parents had passed away and two family members had relocated here many years ago. He made the move and expected to continue pharmacy work. Surprise. "I was told I would have to go to school to learn something I had been practicing for 25 years," Shah says, chuckling. "I decided to go into something else. The Sands gave me a job." And he gave back. Yahn says Shah has received several letters from players saluting their friend on the floor. Shah's job approach reflects a personality extension. He enjoys everything from small talk to cultural dialogue with the customers. "We talk about everything from the weather to what's bothering them to what I remember about my country," Shah says. "Some people are fascinated with what goes on in other countries. I like to exchange ideas with them. I am a talker anyway. I like to try and figure people out. I can usually do that in about five minutes." Shah considers two events extremely emotional during his Sands experience. One was the granting of his U.S. citizenship. The second was the moment he received the Exemplary Motivational Employee Award for 2002. "Romesh has become the identity of the Sands to many people," Yahn says. "Customers often think they will go to a certain casino to see someone special. There are many people who come to the Sands to see their friend Romesh."

By Casino Connection Staff  

1. Tell us how you plan to recapture the past glory of the Sands. We constantly play to the heritage and the ambiance of that era. But we're moving forward at the same time, so the past translates to the present. Like it was in those days, we emphasize personal service, encourage our employees to interact with our customers. We try to take care of the customer and give them a great value here at the Sands. 2. How has your new marketing position as the "Players Place" been received by the customers? It's been received well. The players understand that our table-game position is extremely competitive, and they appreciate the edge that they can get here. With the slots, we're the only casino in Atlantic City with same-day cashback, which puts us in a very competitive position in this market. As for payback, our strategy is to be the best payouts at different levels. To say that we'll be the best payout across the board may not be accurate, but we'll certainly be there at the high end. We'll be competitive at both the high end of the slots and the tables because, quite frankly, we don't have that many rooms so we have to get the yield up for that segment. 3. The Swingers lounge has certainly been a hit. Are there any plans to extend the philosophy of Swingers to other outlets at the Sands? Swingers provides the energy on the floor and a venue to keep our guests entertained when they want to take a break and listen to some music. It gives us an ambiance that was missing and we're happy with the results. 4. Do employees from other properties come to Swingers after their shifts? We get a fair share of casino employees after their shifts, as well, so it's become somewhat of a meeting place for them. 5. Is there a place for a "locals" casino that would attract people from the surrounding areas? I think so. Our demographics show we get 25 percent of our business from Philadelphia, 25 percent from New York and whopping 40 percent from New Jersey. So our player base is probably more local than most, and we've done a good job at capturing part of that. They are very knowledgeable, they understand gaming and the edge we give them at the tables. They are a very good and profitable segment. 6. What type of expansion, in general, is in the pipeline? Will there be a new hotel tower? Right now, I'm putting together four different options, and I'll present those options to our board at the end of September. We'll decide which one best fits our timeline, our customer and where we can take this business. We're looking at towers, multiple towers, possibly new casino space. 7. All around town, we see non-gaming amenities being emphasized in expansion and improvement projects. What are the newest—and planned—non-gaming amenities you see appearing at the Sands? In those options we're considering, there are plenty of non-gaming opportunities that I'll propose. Retail, food and beverage, even condos are possible additions to our project. 8. How do you motivate your employees, and generate the type of loyalty to the Sands that we see? The employees are now seeing a lot of energy coming out of the executive offices. One of the advantages that I have is that I was here for all the turbulent times. They know me and they know I have a stake in this business. If you can get them to believe in that, believe in the dream, I think we've got them. They see us moving forward so they've become re-energized along with me. No matter what happens with the expansion, the employees and their trademark personal service are going to make the Sands what it will become. Without them, well, we're just not going to do it. 9. How has morale been since you took over? Morale has slowly come back. Everything is not a constant straight line. We've had our ups and downs and our employees are used to that. They now understand that everything we're trying to do is aimed at making this company profitable and to make them successful. And the way they contribute is to take care of our customers, first and foremost. We're trying to communicate that we're one big family. I spend a lot of time on the floor. I listen to and react to what they tell me. I need them. I need every one of our employees to do the best job that they can. 10. How much of an advantage is working with Carl Icahn, Rich Brown and the management team? It's a great help. To be involved in an organization headed up by Carl Icahn is incredible, especially at this stage of my career. It's a great organization. Rich is in and out of Atlantic City many times a year. He spends a great deal of time here. The leadership we get from both those individuals is a real plus.

By Dave Bontempo  

Jon Lucas sees parallels between his two major casino locations. The former Sands vice president of operations views similarities in his two major eras: an 11.5 year tenure in Atlantic City and a string of more than four years in Tunica, Mississippi, where he is president of the Tunica Gaming Group for Caesars Entertainment. Lucas is responsible for the Grand, Bally's and the Sheraton properties in a gaming metropolis enjoying its heyday. Tunica has risen from an obscure, poor area into the third-largest gaming market behind Atlantic City and Las Vegas. The city exceeds $1 billion annual revenue and boasts a honeymoon with residents and patrons reminiscent of early Atlantic City. "We have a regional market and a lot of day-trippers, just like Atlantic City does," Lucas says. "It's been great to watch this progress pretty much from the beginning. A lot of the building done by the Grand had been done when I got here, but the overall growth continues to be very strong. "My major task has been to keep consistency with the properties once we had three of them in the same market. Bally's continues to be a local-local market, something like Cheers. The Sheraton plays to the Loose Slots theme and the Grand remains upscale. It's been a nice challenge to consolidate, streamline and keep the properties competitive." Tunica's honeymoon incorporates numerous intangibles making this an unprecedented glory era. County government reinvested $36 million into schools, $50 million into a four-lane road-building project spanning 30 miles, $29 million for the Tunica Arena and Expo Center, $25 million for the new River Park, $12 million for a golf and tennis center. Amenities create a support system fueling the new millennium. For Lucas, the gaming career has been an enviable run. Sandwiched between the Atlantic City and Tunica tenures is a Las Vegas stint, thus enabling him to encompass gaming's three hottest locations. He never expected this longevity or diversity after an accidental entry to the business 21 years ago. The Philadelphia native had put himself through school, played baseball and majored in food and beverage at the University of Tennessee before launching a short minor-league career with the Chicago White Sox. One day he abruptly sounded the alarm clock for his adult life. "I just woke up and decided it was time to get on with my life," says Lucas, who had harbored dreams of playing professional baseball or coaching. "I ended up consulting with hotels, restaurants, resorts, and I got tired of all the traveling around. It took six and a half years. I more or less stumbled upon the casino business, met Garry Saunders (the Sands' director of administration) and he hired me." So began a life that would never be the same. The casino business, Lucas discovered, was unlike any other. "It was nonstop action, 24-7," Lucas says. "Every day was a new challenge. It was always new. There was no way that this could ever be a mundane job. Because of that, it was easy to stay. That was an exciting time in Atlantic City. The market was young, evolving and therefore it was constantly changing. You could try new things." And Lucas did, along with the hierarchy. The Brighton Steakhouse, Medici and Rossi's became exquisite restaurants. Rossi's offered tremendous delicacies, belying its label of an all-you-can eat buffet. "We knew that we had an inferior physical plant compared to other places, but we had ways to counteract that and some of that was reflected in the restaurants," Lucas says. "We had a fine staff there—Bill Weidner, Brad Stone and Rob Goldstein just to name a few. We loved figuring ways to try and outdo the competition. I like that especially with the sports background, the idea of trying to compete and win." Lucas enjoyed a long Atlantic City career, and then joined the legions of Boardwalk executives who prospered with the worldwide gaming explosion. An Atlantic City diploma is a valued commodity. "Because Atlantic City was highly regulated back then, it became an excellent training ground," Lucas says. "The Casino Control Commission, for example, had specific goals for minorities and women in the staffing process. That immediately enabled you to understand diversity, which is crucial because diversity is an important aspect of our business. "From an integrity standpoint, the training was also excellent. You focus on every detail to please the regulators and when you go somewhere else with more relaxed rules, you continued to do what you do here because it's wise. "I think the fact we had a lot of competition helped me over the long haul. My approach with employees is to go in every day and see how we are going to improve. Not just how we can keep up but what can we do today better than we did it yesterday? We needed that to survive in Atlantic City. Take that approach to another place and you will improve even more quickly." For Lucas, it is time to enjoy the salad days of an excellent career. Jon and his wife Barbara live outside of Memphis and have three children.

et's all take advantage of what the Garden State and Southern New Jersey have to offer this fall. Atlantic County has some of the most scenic and activity-laden parks for all of us to enjoy. They offer ample opportunities for outdoor recreation from biking and hiking to children's programs, crafts and large group events. And they are closer than you think. Just over three miles south of Mays Landing on Route 50 is Estell Manor Park. Once home to glassworks in the 1800s and a munitions plant during World War I, Estell Manor Park now offers approximately 1,700 acres of flora and fauna. At the center of it all is the Warren E. Fox Nature Center, featuring environmental education and recreation programs. Estell Manor Park is also a great place to exercise. There is a two-mile trail with exercise stations that is perfect for walking, jogging and biking. Or, step off the beaten path for 13 miles of hiking trails or mountain biking. Of course, there is also camping, boating, picnicking and fishing available. There are several programs offered at the park including an Owl Walk, Little Learners' Craft and Nature Classes and Friends of the Forest Nature Club. Close by in Mays Landing, Lake Lenape Park encompasses nearly 2,000 acres, with the Lake Lenape hiking and biking trail offering two miles of lakefront beauty and wildlife observation points. The lake is an excellent spot for bald eagle watching and boating is also allowed. Down the road on route 559, just north of Route 322, is the Atlantic County Park at Weymouth Furnace. Encompassing 11 acres, the park is the original site of an 1800s iron furnace and paper mill. It's a popular place for canoeing and kayaking on the Great Egg Harbor River, as well as the perfect place for a picnic. While the mills ceased production in 1897, the foundations of the site still remain with detailed information about the furnace and mill posted for all to relish some fine Southern New Jersey history. Birch Grove Park is located in Northfield and offers an exercise trail and five miles of hiking trails. Stop in the Children's Nature Center for maps of trails, activity information sheets and to see the mural painted by local 4th graders. For campers, the park offers over 50 heavily wooded campsites that are open through October, and anglers will enjoy the lakes full of a variety of fish. Of course, there is also a picnic area, which includes two bocci ball courts. Wharton State Forest, located in the heart of the New Jersey Pinelands, is a natural paradise of pine and oak woodlands interlaced with rivers, cedar swamps, bogs and some of New Jersey's most unusual and rare plant and animal species. In nearby Woodbine, Belleplain State Forest offers over 42 miles of flat hiking trails in addition to campgrounds, horseback riding, mountain bike trails and canoe rentals. This 16,300-acre park is known for having the greatest variety of habitats in New Jersey, including salt water marshes, white cedar and mixed hardwood swamp, and oak hickory forest. Well worth the trip, the Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor, a non-profit group dedicated to research, education and the protection of the coastal environment, is situated on 6,000 acres of coastal wetlands. The Institute features observation decks and towers, plus a salt marsh trail with interpretive signs and dioramas depicting life in a salt marsh. Across the bay from Atlantic City and Brigantine is the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge in Oceanville. The refuge offers 43,000-plus acres of coastal habitat actively protected and managed for migratory birds. Visitors can expect to sight blue-winged teal ducks, snow geese, Atlantic brant, diving ducks and perhaps a bald eagle, in addition to taking a leisurely eight-mile ride or walking the nature trails through wetlands and woodlands. October and November are spectacular months for seeing snow geese which offer an illusion freshly fallen snow. An always-turned-on Atlantic City doesn't just refer to gaming, entertainment, nightlife, dining and shopping. Whether it is swimming, boating, hiking, biking or just exploring the nature of Southern New Jersey in area parks or outside retreats, there are plenty of fun activities to turn on you and the whole family.

The title of the Early Out column this month is a tongue-in-cheek remark made with reference to elections in one of America's major cities in the early part of the 20th century. It's been often attributed to Chicago, but it could easily have been New York, Boston or even Atlantic City. You see, getting the vote out was an art, and possibly a felony as well, in those days. It remains so to this day, especially in Atlantic City. We could go on about that for many words, but that's not what this message is all about. The subject is voting and why you should—or should not—make an effort to get to the polls on November 2. Critics of the U.S. voting system point to the low voter turnout that characterizes a typical election. During presidential years, the turnout rises, but not substantially. Turnouts for local and statewide elections are typically even lower, although it might be argued that your vote counts for more since so few votes are actually cast. The critics point to Third World countries, where, starved for democracy, virtually very eligible person waits for hours in line to vote. Why doesn't that happen in this country, they ask, where freedom depends upon people voting? Let's make it easier to vote, they say. Let's allow people to mail in ballots, vote by the Internet, or send someone to the polls who is empowered to vote for them. That's a great argument and makes a lot of sense. But then there is the other side. They say we're better off not encouraging people who really don't want to take the time or effort to vote. After all, they say, if these people can't take the time to vote, they probably have not taken the time to educate themselves on the issues and most likely will cast a ballot based on looks, rumors or, even worse, blind political affiliation. We'd like to encourage a middle road. Make that effort to educate yourself on the issues and the candidates. Since this is a presidential year, your vote counts more than you might think. Just read the column by Dennis Gomes on page 6 to understand how important your one vote can be. Since this is Casino Connection's first election day, we would like to outline our policy on this issue. Our concern with Casino Connection is the Atlantic City gaming industry and what is good for it. And what is good for the Atlantic City casinos is generally good for your jobs and your future. That is the sole criterion we will use to evaluate candidates. And we will make endorsements each and every election day, when our criterion comes into play. Since this is a presidential year, you might wonder how we can use that criterion to evaluate the candidates. And you're right, we can't. So we won't be so presumptuous to endorse a presidential candidate based on our one criterion. Again, we go back to the plea to learn about the issues and the candidates. Read many sources, not just the mainstream media. Talk to people you respect about their reasons for voting for one candidate or the other. Above all, have a conviction when you vote. Locally, there are few decisions to make this year with regard to gaming. New Jersey legislative and gubernatorial elections will be held one year from now, in 2005, along with a very important election for mayor and city council in Atlantic City. The one candidate we can endorse wholeheartedly is Frank LoBiondo, the congressman for Atlantic City's district. LoBiondo is one of gaming's true champions in Congress. He understands the industry as few do at the federal level, even some of the Nevada congressmen and women. He will fight tooth-and-nail for us in the gaming industry, so please, if you are voting, make sure LoBiondo is your choice. And one more endorsement, although it is purely an emotional one. Joe Kelly, an employee at the Tropicana, is running for an at-large seat on the Atlantic County Freeholder Board. I've had the opportunity to interview Kelly (see story on page 34), and he is a genuinely good guy. He may have none of the political savvy or pretensions you see in so many elected officials, but I believe that is a good thing. That may change if he is elected, but I know he would be good for the county. And it certainly would be good for the gaming industry and those of us who work in and around it. So get out and vote on November 2—at least once!

In less than a month, voters will cast their ballots for President, members of the United States Congress, and scores of county and municipal officials. Unfortunately, if history is a reliable indicator, little more than half of the eligible voters in New Jersey will actually go to the polls and exercise their right to vote on November 2. Despite continuing efforts by government, civic organizations, the private business sector and the political parties themselves to impress upon people the importance of participating in the process, voter turnout remains relatively low. Government has over the years made it more convenient for individuals to register to vote and has conducted periodic registration drives to reach more people. Additionally, both major political parties spend a good deal of time and money on so-called "get out the vote" programs, oftimes even providing transportation to the polls on election day. The right to vote, of course, is one of the most basic, fundamental rights of American citizens to participate directly in government, to raise their voice, individually or collectively, to select their leaders at all levels of government and to influence the policies and actions of those leaders. The issues this year are particularly crucial. We are a nation engaged in a war on international terrorism; we are a nation whose economic recovery and strength remain paramount, and we are a nation concerned with providing access to quality health care for its citizens. There are, certainly, many other issues which must be dealt with, but fighting terrorism, increasing the vitality of our economy, and providing health care are three of the major ones. Obviously, local issues vary greatly from county to county and community to community, although taxes seem to always head the list of local issues. Exercising the right to vote is the most direct and effective way for citizens and taxpayers to influence the decision-makers as they confront all these issues. The most common reason given for failing to vote usually involves statements like "one vote doesn't make a difference" or "it really doesn't matter who's elected." A study of recent New Jersey history, though, suggests very strongly that one vote DOES matter and that leadership changes can be made. For instance, since 1970, there have been six governors of New Jersey,666 three Republicans and three Democrats. The last time the same political party controlled the governor's office for successive eight-year terms was the period between 1953 and 1969. Quite obviously, it really does matter who's elected. As for individual votes making a difference, consider: In 1981, 1993, and 1997, the winning candidate in the gubernatorial election achieved victory by less than one percent of the total vote. In 1981, the winning margin was 1,697 votes out of more than two million cast, the closest election in the state's history and one which led to the first gubernatorial recount. In 1993 and again in 1997, the winning margin was approximately 27,000 votes, the second and third closest elections in the state's history, out of more than two million cast each time. If, in 1981, some 850 votes had switched or fewer than 1,700 more people had voted, the outcome would have been different. So much for the argument that "one vote doesn't make a difference." There have been a number of theories offered to explain the lack of voter participation, but none seems to have been sufficiently powerful to actually increase turnout. Why, for instance, do young people, those between the ages of 18 and 25, consistently have the lowest average voter participation of any age group? One explanation is that young people have become disillusioned with politics and do not wish to become associated with either of the major political parties. The way to overcome disillusionment, though, is by becoming more involved in the process, rather than turning away from it. Additionally, New Jersey has long been a state in which the so-called independent voters—those who do not wish to be identified with either major party—have outnumbered the party-affiliated voters. In fact, the number of independents exceeds the combined total of the party-identified voters. Clearly, it is not necessary to join a political party to exert influence on the outcome of elections. In fact, that is precisely the path chosen by the majority of New Jerseyans. November 2 is but a few weeks away, sufficient time to familiarize oneself with the candidates and learn more about their views. Most major newspapers print voter's guides as election day approaches, giving the candidates' experience, biographies, and brief statements on major issues. Use these resources and make your voice heard.

Education advocates point to a long list of the benefits of education. They say you will develop skills and confidence that will help you embrace change and seize new opportunities. If you engage in lifelong learning, you will quickly become more confident, innovative and enterprising. They say if you continue to expand your education, you will be better able to cope with all aspects of life and stay motivated when life becomes a bit overwhelming. Regardless of whether you become any of these things, one thing is absolutely certain—the higher education level a person attains, the larger their weekly paycheck. That's true whether you're young or old, male or female, or for any ethnic or racial category. The 2000 census data for New Jersey workers 21 to 64 years old who worked full time showed that the more education, the higher the salary. Education Level Median Annual Earnings Not a high school graduate $24,329 High school graduate $32,389 Some college $38,429 Bachelor degree $51,657 Advanced degree $69,597 If you break the numbers out for gender and ethnicity, there are earning differences between men and women and among ethnic backgrounds. But, within those groupings, the education factor is consistent… the more education, the more cash in your pocket! So, it makes economic sense to make room in your life for a bit more schooling. Okay, you might be thinking right now, "I'm too busy with work and family commitments to go back to school." But, can you afford not to continue your education? How much potential earnings are you missing out on? Do the math. The wonderful thing about working in Atlantic City is that there are so many ways to continue your learning career. Classes are offered by several colleges and universities in convenient places and at opportune times. Not only do you have your own community college, Atlantic Cape, right here in Atlantic City with a full spectrum of class and skill offerings at convenient times to meet your schedule; ACCC has partnered with several four-year colleges to offer undergraduate and advanced degree programs in the city. And, of course, there is the online option. The number and type of online classes has boomed in the past decade. You can attain a degree or learn something new sitting at your home computer or at a computer in the public library or in the ACCC learning center or, if you work for Caesars Entertainment, in the Technology Center (another ACCC classroom). Not all education is math and science. In the gaming and hospitality industry, learning high-demand skills will also translate into more earnings. For example, learning how to deal cards, maintain and repair slot machines, and attaining any cooking skill will translate into a better-paying job for many. ACCC provides that non-credit training at the Casino Career Institute and the Academy of Culinary Arts (ACA). Often, employers will underwrite these and other courses through tuition reimbursement. Check with your HR office. Education is valued as a way to enhance the skills of the labor pool, so the United States and New Jersey Departments of Labor (DOL) often help pay for training. For example, this fall 45 workers from nearly every casino are enrolled in six free credit culinary courses at ACA. Thanks to advocacy from HERE Local 54, the US DOL has completely underwritten tuition, fees, books and supplies. Workers will be trained for positions of cook and will be well-situated upon completion for a hefty future pay raise. The lesson is clear. If you want to earn more money, it's time to go back to school!

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   Sat, Jan 23, 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   Sat, Sep 12, 2009

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