Atlantic City Newsfeed

Assorted news items related to Atlantic City.

CASINOS
United States Poker Championship Returns to Television
The Spike Network will televise this year's United States Poker Championship, which began this past Monday at the Trump Taj Mahal.
Poker championship at Taj Mahal returns to TV

New Jersey Permitted to Join Sports Betting Lawsuit
In a move that could pave the way for New Jersey to join with other states to challenge a 1992 federal law prohibiting sports-betting in all but four states, a federal judge ruled that New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine will be permitted to file a formal complaint.  He will be required to do so before November 12, 2009.
Governor's Office can take part in sports betting lawsuit
N.J. CAN JOIN SPORTS BETTING LAWSUIT

Harrah's Fined $85,000 for Allowing Underage Gambling
Harrah's was fined for two separate underage gambling incidents.  The violations occurred in 2006 and 2008 at Bally's and Caesars.  Of note in the Press of Atlantic City and NBC 40 articles is that neither identifies the parent company, Harrah's Entertainment, Inc.
Two casinos fined $85,000 for underage gambling violations
2 A.C. CASINOS FINED FOR ALLOWING UNDERAGE GAMBLING


TRANSPORTATION
Atlantic City Has Cheapest Airfares
A recently released Bureau of Transportation statistics report recognized Atlantic City International Airport as having the cheapest average domestic fares in the nation.  The same report identified Las Vegas as having the fifth largest increase in average fares over the past 14 years, with a 65.3% increase in the cost of a ticket to that Nevada gambling destination (though, it should also be noted that the $233 average cost for a flight to Las Vegas is still below the national average of $301 per flight).

Read the full press release here:
2nd-Quarter 2009 Air Fare Data

Atlantic City Expressway Widening Begins

Last Friday, October 30 the South Jersey Transportation Authority broke ground to begin a $23.3 million construction project to add a third westbound lane from mile 7.8 (just past the Garden State Parkway exits while leaving town) to mile 17.4 (near the tolls).  The project is not scheduled to be completed until 2011.
South Jersey Transportation Authority Breaks Ground on Phase I of the Atlantic City Expressway Widening Project
SJTA BREAKS GROUND ON PHASE I OF EXPRESSWAY WIDENING PROJECT from NBC40.net


Other News
World War I Monument and Knife and Fork Not Moving
The Press of Atlantic City reports that the proposed moving of the venerable Knife and Fork restaurant and the World War I Monument have been canceled, as the AC Gateway casino project seems to be dead.
Atlantic City's Knife & Fork staying put
The AC Gateway Project : Wally Barr and Curtis Bashaws Plans For The Dunes, Sahara Atlantic City and Old Atlantic City High School (read this for background information on the AC Gateway project)

Another Request to Lower Sand Dunes
NBC 40 reported on a meeting between the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and business owners from Atlantic City to reduce the height of the sand dunes.  Members of the "Boardwalk Committee" would like visitors to be able to see the ocean more clearly from the Boardwalk, but the DEP is not in favor of these measure.  I find this request dubious, as it seems local businesses are forgetting the reality of life on a barrier island and just how important the dunes will be when the next big storm rolls in.

D.E.P. LISTENS TO DUNE LOWERING REQUEST IN A.C. (recent article)
Boardwalk Committee wants to shorten dunes blocking ocean (from Press of Atlantic City, 6/10/2009)

Dune Issue Still Alive (from Pinky's Corner in Atlantic City Weekly, 10/14/2009)


Gap Outlet Reopens
Outlet store to reopen in Atlantic City as Gap Generation

Atlantic City Newsfeed

Assorted news items related to Atlantic City.

The Walk Announces Expansion Plans
Developers talks about plans for the fourth phase on construction on The Walk, to include entertainment venues to go along with the existing shops and restaurants.  See these article from the Press of Atlantic City:
The Walk to expand: 'Atlantic City has reinvented itself a couple of times, and it’s going to do it again'
CRDA agrees to build bathrooms, allowing expansion of the Walk

A Year Later, Atlantic City Smoking Ban Revisited
A little over a year after the brief smoking ban in Atlantic City was enacted and immediately repealed there has been some talk of whether City Council will again consider completely banning smoking from casino floors.  This doesn't like likely to change, given casinos falling revenues and concerns over a further loss of business from smoking patrons.  A recent article in the Press of Atlantic City and editorial from the Newark Star-Ledger are examples of the recent coverage.
Atlantic City to debate casino smoking ban again
Pass the Atlantic City casino smoking ban

Head of Pinnacle Atlantic City Project Transferred
Kim Townsend, who was to head the Pinnacle Atlantic City casino, on the former Sands site, is headed to St. Louis to run the company's Lumiere Place casino and hotel.  This article from the Press of Atlantic City says she will still "oversee the Atlantic City project".  At this point, there's nothing to see, so I guess we'll just have to play somewhere else for a little longer.
Pinnacle's Atlantic City CEO transfers to St. Louis casino

Will Pinnacle Lot Be Used for Parking?
Here's the latest speculation about the Pinnacle site, as there is now speculation the vacant lot might become a temporary parking lot.  I find it odd, however, that the Harrah's representative talks about the need for more parking in town when that company has been closing the Temple Garage at Caesars on weekdays for months.  I haven't had trouble finding a parking space anywhere in town any time in years.
Some Atlantic City officials eye Pinnacle lot as potential parking site

AirTran Expands Schedule From Atlantic City to Orlando
Over the summer AirTran started service to and from Orlando, Florida with weekend flights.  They will now off daily flights between those cities.
AirTran announces daily flights from Atlantic City to Florida


In other airport news, Pinky's column in this week's Atlantic City Weekly mentions an actual international flight from Atlantic City International Airport.  WestJet will begin service to and from Toronto
Planes, Trains and Floods

Resorts' Coin Droppers Likely Gone for Good
Resorts attempt to bring back coin-dropping slot machines was short lived, apparently because Resorts couldn't put together enough cash to fill the machines.  Specifically, they Eisenhower silver dollars that they used to fill the machines were in short supply and a lot of players kept their dollars rather than cashing them in at the casino.  Why Resorts didn't use dollar tokens instead is beyond me.
Coin-operated slot machines vanish again in Atlantic City

Resorts Takeover Delayed
Speaking of Resorts, the Casino Control Commission has delayed a vote to approve the takeover of that casino by creditors.
Vote delayed on Resorts' takeover by lenders