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Atlantic City On the Cusp of a Growth Wave;
Casinos' Take through November 2006 Up 3.7%
By Suzette Parmley, The Philadelphia InquirerMcClatchy-Tribune Business News

Dec. 12, 2006 - ATLANTIC CITY -- Even with the closure of the Sands Hotel Casino, Atlantic City's 11 casinos took in $406.1 million from gamblers last month, a 1.6 percent increase from a year ago.

That brings the casinos' take through November 2006 to $4.8 billion, a 3.7 percent gain that all but assures a full-year take in excess of last year's $5 billion. The casinos took in $386 million last December.

"If they keep up that pace, they will clearly end the year with record revenues," said Dan Heneghan, spokesman for the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, which released the figures yesterday. Slot machines accounted for 73 percent of the revenue.

"The Atlantic City market is very healthy right now, and the operators have been aggressively pumping up their nongaming products to differentiate themselves from the gaming, especially in Pennsylvania, Delaware and New York," said Joe Weinert, vice president of Spectrum Gaming Group L.L.C., a gambling consultant firm. "They recognize that slot-machine gambling is nothing special in this part of the country, so they are seeking to provide experiences that are special, like table games, nightclubs, unique and high-end shopping, signature restaurants, and entertainment."

With competition looming in neighboring states, such as Pennsylvania and New York, Atlantic City's casinos are striving to broaden their appeal with such attractions. Philadelphia Park debuts with slot machines next Tuesday, while Harrah's Chester Casino & Racetrack opens next month.

Another pending threat is a casino smoking ban before the Atlantic City Council. The council heard testimony from those in favor of it Nov. 29. A second hearing is scheduled for tomorrow, with a final vote on the issue planned for Dec. 29.

"Atlantic City recognizes that other markets will be more convenient, so therefore they are giving patrons a compelling reason to drive further, spend more and stay longer," Weinert said.

More internal competition is also on the way. Four new casinos are expected to enter the market by as early as 2010. Plans are in the pipeline by Pinnacle Entertainment Inc., of Las Vegas; Morgan Stanley, of New York; an investor group led by former Caesars Entertainment Inc. chief executive officer Wallace R. Barr; and MGM Mirage, of Las Vegas, which co-owns the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa with Boyd Gaming Corp.

The Borgata was the city's top-grossing casino at $57.5 million. Bally's came in second at $53.7 million, and Caesars was third at $47.4 million.

Donald Trump's three Atlantic City casinos are enjoying somewhat of a resurgence under chief executive James B. Perry, who was picked by Trump in the summer of 2005 to lead the newly restructured company.

Trump Marina reported a monthly revenue increase of 11.1 percent, and Trump Plaza one of 9.2 percent. Trump Taj Mahal was down 4.3 percent.

Trump confirmed that he was trying to work out a deal with fellow mogul Steve Wynn to partner on a project for Trump Plaza at the heart of the Boardwalk.

"Steve and I are talking about doing something, and we'll see what happens," Trump said recently. "It's too soon... but we're looking at doing something together. We do things very well together." Wynn was traveling in Asia and unavailable for comment, his spokeswoman said.

Harrah's Entertainment Inc., the world's largest gambling company and the largest operator in Atlantic City, with four casinos, received a $15.1 billion buyout offer from two private-equity firms Oct. 2. The offer came from Apollo Management L.P., of New York, and Texas Pacific Group, of Fort Worth. Harrah's board of directors has set up a special committee to review the offer.

Barbara J. Cappaert, a high-yield-bond analyst at KDP Investment Advisors Inc., a corporate bond research firm in Montpelier, Vt., said the market would be able to absorb the new casinos.

"There are a lot of people who see Atlantic City on the cusp of a growth wave that Las Vegas was in in the mid-1990s," she said. "These new companies coming in will not carve up the existing market, but grow it."

Contact staff writer Suzette Parmley at 215-854-2594 or [email protected].

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Philadelphia Inquirer

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