"Sometimes you're the bug and sometimes you're the windshield," Tony Rodio, Tropicana's new chief executive officer, told the Atlantic City Press.

Rodio was referring to the recent house loss of $5.3 million to an unidentified player, the second major loss for the casino since April.

Just two month ago, Don Johnson, chief executive officer of Heritage Development LLC, a Wyoming-based company that uses computer-assisted wagering programs for horseracing, took Tropicana at the blackjack table for $5.8 million. Johnson was on a streak, having won since December more than $4 million from Caesars and $5 million from Borgata.

Johnson’s take ended a Tropicana winning streak—the casino had posted higher table games revenue in six of seven months while the rest of the Atlantic City gaming market declined. Carl Icahn, Tropicana’s owner, had initiated a marketing strategy that focused on high-end table games. The strategy seemed to be working, until the recent losses.

“Mr. Icahn and his company understand that with this strategy, there is a little bit of volatility," Rodio, who recently took over the top spot from ousted president Mark Giannantonio, told the Press.

The odds of another player raking in over $5 million were with the house, but in gambling, anything can happen. The new player won most of the money over a six-hour hot streak at the craps table, though he also got lucky playing blackjack and mini-baccarat. In a gracious gesture to employees, the unidentified winner left a $150,000-plus tip, which was divided among the Tropicana table games dealers.

The Tropicana says it does not have any intention of abandoning the table games strategy. Icahn has personally invited both Johnson and the new winner back to gamble at the casino, perhaps in hopes of getting some of his money back.

By Casino Connection Staff