LEGHIGH VALLEY MORNING CALL: “That’s right, we’re getting the naked circus for Christmas,” Resorts casino owner and CEO Dennis Gomes said. “You won’t find that in Pennsylvania.”
What you will find in Pennsylvania is a lot of gamblers who used to play in New Jersey. While the state’s burgeoning casino industry continues to climb, New Jersey’s annual take has plummeted more than 30 percent. At the current pace, Pennsylvania revenues will overtake Atlantic City’s next year.
So, as Pennsylvania’s casinos suck billions of dollars in wagers out of Atlantic City each year, flailing shore casinos are fighting back with new ideas. Harrah’s will have table games around its pool by November, Tropicana has received approval to put slot machines in its shopping mall, Resorts Casino has booked Cirque Risque for the winter months, and Atlantic City has started to schedule tourist-drawing events such as last summer’s rodeo to help boost its struggling casino industry… (more)
