NJ Casino News: Weekly Roundup

Get the latest casino news and updates in New Jersey for this week (September 4, 2021 – September 10, 2021).

Caesars Seems To Be Cutting All Ties With William Hill

As Caesars continues its new push into the sports betting market, the company is slowly letting go of various key franchise members of the European bookmaking company William Hill. Upon their acquisition of William Hill in April, they let go of CEO Joe Asher, and now the company’s former director of trading, Nick Bogdanovich, has been fired. Not everyone is thrilled at the news:

Bogdanovich’s ubiquitous media presence and his openness with professional sports bettors made him a beloved favorite of those two sectors. William Hill itself, meanwhile, became unpopular with many in the latter group because of accusations that it sharply limited the “sharps” in terms of how much they could wager at those casinos.

Therefore, Bogdanovich’s seemingly abrupt departure casts some doubt on Caesars’ direction at the same time the company is in the midst of a billion-dollar marketing campaign.

Industry Leaders To Be Featured at Women in Gaming Panel in October

The East Coast Gaming Congress & NextGen Gaming Forum will be held this year at Harrah’s Waterfront Conference Center on Oct. 26. There will be a special panel on Women in Gaming, including major players in the region’s gambling industry:

This special session will spotlight prominent women in different fields who will provide insights and advice about current challenges, work-life balance, and what the future holds for women’s advancement.

The panelists include:

Erin Chamberlin, Senior Vice President, Regional Operations, Penn National Gaming

Brooke Fiumara, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, OPTX

Terry Glebocki, Chief Executive Officer, Ocean Casino Resort

Karen Worman, Regional Vice President of Finance, AC Region, Caesars Entertainment

AC Area Redevelopment Plan May Also Include New Hotel

In addition to the proposed ShopRite grocery store, the Casino Reinvestment Developmental Authority has also seen a proposal for a new hotel in the same area. The hotel would feature 12 rooms, a bar and restaurant, and rooftop dining:

The new project, which could cost $5 million dollars and has been presented to the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, would be located at 151 New York Avenue in Atlantic City and would also include a new restaurant with a 300 seat capacity and rooftop dining.

The new hotel would replace the now-closed Hideaway Comedy Club, which first opened in August of 2015. Demolition on the existing building could happen at the end of this year, and new construction on The Cardinal Hotel and Restaurant could start in early 2022 if planning is approved.

Smokey Robinson Coming to Ocean Casino Resort

On Friday, Oct. 1, Motown legend Smokey Robinson will perform at Ovation Hall inside Ocean Casino Resort. Currently, tickets range in price from $49 to $89 each.

During the course of his 50-year career in music, Robinson has accumulated more than 4,000 songs to his credit and continues to thrill sold-out audiences around the world with his high tenor voice, impeccable timing, and profound sense of lyric. Never resting on his laurels, Smokey Robinson remains a beloved icon in our musical heritage.

Bally’s Is Approved for a Full Gaming License in NJ

The New Jersey Casino Control Commission unanimously approved Bally’s petition for a full gaming license. State regulators have insisted that at least $100 million be reinvested into the Boardwalk casino hotel over the next five years. Bally’s has plans to build out the Boardwalk space, but they also want to enter the lucrative NJ online gambling market:

The long-term goal is to become a leading omnichannel casino operator, according to Phil Juliano, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Bally’s Corporate.

In other words, the company wants to offer customers both a land-based and online casino experience.

New Jersey and Atlantic City are critical components to both.

Bally’s Corp. is nearing completion of a $3.4 billion acquisition of Gamesys, a London-based online software development and gaming company.