NJ Casino News: Weekly Roundup

Get the latest casino news and updates in New Jersey for this week (January 22, 2022 – January 28, 2022).

Atlantic City To Get New Minor League Basketball Team

The new Atlantic City Gambits of The Basketball League (TBL) are ready for the upcoming 2022 season. Co-owned by Robert Baldeo and area local DeShawn Ward, the team plans to play its home games at Atlantic City High School:

“Fans can expect to see high-level professional athletes,” said Gambits owner DeShawn Ward. “Former high major Division I athletes, the top Division I athletes just missing the right exposure to earn big money overseas. Guys fighting to get in the NBA’s G league.”

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Other leagues and teams have tried to make it work in the gambling resort, but Ward thinks the Gambits are different based on the level of play and competition that Atlantic City will get to see.

“I think the big difference between those leagues and TBL is this league has some real big-time exposure and potential to be the face of professional sports in Atlantic City,” Ward explained. “I believe my strong connection from the community and the relationships I’ve built outside of Atlantic City will help benefit the gambits as we are a homegrown organization.”

Non-Smoking Advocates Continue To Pressure Gov. Murphy

Workers at Atlantic City casinos are still asking state lawmakers to officially ban smoking on gaming floors. A bipartisan bill has been introduced that would get rid of the smoking ban exemption for casinos, which currently still have designated areas for smoking. State Senate Bill 264 has been referred to the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee for review: 

Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects (CEASE) cofounder Pete Naccarelli is a table game dealer at MGM Resorts’ Borgata. The Marina District casino is one of many that takes advantage of being permitted to designate up to 25 percent of its gaming space for smoking.

You wouldn’t understand the feeling you get when being on a game and someone walks up and you see them have a cigarette in their hand,” Naccarelli said in a recent CEASE statement. “You’re just begging, ‘Please don’t sit at my game.’”

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Hard Rock Atlantic City President Joe Lupo, who is also the president of the Casino Association of New Jersey, says casinos cater to smokers and nonsmokers. He points to the fact that indoor smoking is limited to the specific area of the casino floor, and that all other public spaces inside the resorts are fully smoke-free.

Banning smoking completely and permanently would have long-term financial implications for the industry and the region, placing Atlantic City casinos at a competitive disadvantage with Pennsylvania casinos,” Lupo opined.

Atlantic City Skate Zone Rescued From Shutdown

Atlantic City Skate Zone, which has long been a home for the youth hockey and figure skating communities, was in danger of being closed down in March if a new lease agreement couldn’t be reached. Thousands of petitioners showed their support for the rink, and the rink will now remain open for another year:

Mayor Small and Administration officials conducted a walkthrough of the Atlantic City Skate Zone facility this evening. After discussions with the CRDA and Comcast, the City of Atlantic City will continue to temporarily operate the facility as an ice skating rink through April 2023.

The building is in need of serious repairs and we look forward to ensuring those repairs are made. The City continues to work on identifying the best possible long-term use for this facility while also keeping the interest and needs of Atlantic City residents in mind.

New Mini Golf Course Set for Summer Opening

North Beach Mini Golf has broken ground on Euclid Avenue for a new, 18-hole miniature golf course. The course will connect to the Atlantic City Boardwalk via a pedestrian bridge, and it will contain historical decorations with references to the local area as obstacles throughout the course:

The buildout of the finer details of the course, which includes props, artwork, and much of the design, should happen during the spring. North Beach Mini Golf plans to offer seasonal bicycle rentals, anticipates being open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 10 p.m., and is tentatively slated to host a grand opening during mid-May.

The future mini golf course, somewhat removed from the casinos and surrounded by a more residential neighborhood, represents one of the first significant non-gambling activities to emerge along Atlantic City’s coastline. Another major family-focused development will arrive next year, as Tower Investments broke ground last week on a new $100 million indoor waterpark next to the Showboat.