April 24--The globetrotting executive who was brought in two years ago to revitalize Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino -- but instead saw the property sink to dead last in the Atlantic City market -- has left to take another job in the gambling industry.

The departure of Eddie Llambias as Trump Plaza's general manager comes at the same time the struggling casino is up for sale. There was no word from parent company Trump Entertainment Resorts Inc. on his replacement.

Llambias has been named the new vice president and general manager of the Bally's Casino in Tunica, Miss., the casino's operator, Foundation Gaming Group, announced Tuesday.

Neither Llambias nor Trump Entertainment immediately returned messages seeking comment.

The London-born Llambias has crisscrossed the United States and spent time in Europe and the Bahamas during a nearly 30-year casino career that began as a croupier in England but evolved into senior-level executive positions.

Bob Griffin, chief executive officer of Trump Entertainment, brought in Llambias in February 2011 to run Trump Plaza. The two had worked together at Isle of Capri Casinos Inc.

Llambias was supposed to re-energize the aging Trump Plaza for the corporate bondholders who had purchased the Trump casinos out of bankruptcy in 2010 for $225 million.

However, Trump Plaza finished last in gambling revenue in 2012 among Atlantic City's dozen casinos, grossing just $102.5 million. Its gambling revenue plunged 25 percent overall for the year, including a 46 percent decline at the table games, compared to 2011.

Trump Entertainment has proposed selling Trump Plaza to the California-based Meruelo Group for $20 million, but the deal is being blocked by billionaire investor Carl Icahn, who believes the price is too low. As Trump's senior lender, Icahn must approve the deal. Icahn holds the mortgage for both Trump Plaza and Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort.

Contact Donald Wittkowski:

609-272-7258

[email protected]

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