NJ Casino News: Weekly Roundup

Get the latest casino news and updates in New Jersey for this week (September 25, 2021 – October 1, 2021).

Gov. Murphy and AC Casino Operators Disagree on Smoking Ban

Gov. Phil Murphy has expressed his support for a smoking ban in Atlantic City casinos, which had a trial run from July 2020 to July 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions. Of course, before the governor could sign any such initiative, it would need to pass the Assembly first. While anti-smoking advocates support such a ban and six state officials have co-sponsored state legislation to close the casino loophole, the Casino Association of New Jersey says they fear such a ban would negatively impact casino venues:

“Going completely nonsmoking would place Atlantic City casinos at a competitive disadvantage with other nearby casinos that allow smoking,” said officials with the Casino Association of New Jersey earlier this year. “A smoking ban would have a significant adverse effect on Atlantic City, resulting in a decline in customers which would cause job loss, and ultimately a decline in tax revenue.”

During the pandemic, Pennsylvania and Michigan also issued temporary bans at gambling destinations to help cut transmission of the virus as venues reopened. But as all three states have lifted the temporary prohibition, New Jersey casinos believe a permanent ban in the state would send guests to Pennsylvania.

Atlantic City Restaurant Week Returns

To be held Oct. 3-8, Atlantic City Restaurant Week is finally here. The event had to be postponed from this March due to the continued COVID-19 restrictions. Nearly 60 venues around Atlantic City will participate, offering three-course meals for lunch and dinner at thrillingly affordable prices:

“The decision to move our annual Atlantic City Restaurant Week promotion to the fall of 2021 was made during the event planning process late last year, as restaurants were still under COVID restrictions and not at full capacity at the time,” says CRDA Acting Director of Communications and Marketing Karen Martin. “We anticipate that presenting the event Oct. 3 through 8 will give restaurants and their customers the best possible experience.”

The experience is sure to be great, but reservations will fill up fast, so you should definitely make yours before they do.

Poker Pro’s Suit Against Borgata Dropped

Back in July, poker pro Scott Robbins had filed a $1.25 million lawsuit against the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa after management had him removed from the property and given a lifetime ban over a suicide joke he made while checking in back in 2019. He came up with the amount after claiming that he would lose $85,000 per year in poker earnings over the next decade, in addition to $200,000 in sponsorships and another $200,000 for false imprisonment and libel. He insisted that he hadn’t been joking about suicide, but the front-desk employee who heard his joke and security guards thought that he was. The suit has since been dropped, most likely voluntarily by Robbins:

According to court records, the two parties reached an agreement on Sept. 9 but there wasn’t a formal filing with the U.S. District Court of New Jersey. The lack of paperwork indicates that Robbins dropped the case voluntarily.

An account on a popular poker forum that claimed to be Robbins said that New Jersey’s highest-grossing casino gave him three different settlement offers to choose from. Details about a settlement were not disclosed in any court documents or on the forum.

… He also pointed out that the hotel’s windows are more than an inch thick and do not open. But there was a suicide at the casino just a few months before when a 25-year-old jumped out of a 29th floor hotel room.

AC Ballet Brings Back Live Shows

In celebration of its 39th season, the Atlantic City Ballet is back with in-person performances after an 18-month shutdown. They will hold their performances at The Circus Maximus Theater at Caesars Atlantic City with “Dracula” on Oct. 29. In December, ballet fans can look forward to seeing “The Nutcracker” once more, as well:

“We are just so thrilled to be back performing in person” Artistic Director Phyllis Papa said in a release. “It was hard not knowing, so we’re glad that the state is finding ways to reopen safely so people can enjoy the arts again.”

Founded in 1982, Atlantic City Ballet comprises professional dancers from around the world who have earned national acclaim for their technical expertise and exuberant stage presence. Although their home base is in Historic Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, the ballet has performed in theaters all along the east coast and across the country.

Sandpiper Coastal Bar & Grill Now Open

The latest dining concept at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City is now open, just in time for Atlantic City Restaurant Week. The kitchen will be led by executive chef John Zaitoun, a New Jersey native with over a decade of culinary experience. The Hard Rock is hoping that Sandpiper Coastal Bar & Grill will fill the void between fine dining and casual dining:

The casino hotel already features high-end places, such as Kuro, Council Oak Steaks & Seafood, and Il Mulino New York. More casual options, such as Sugar Factory, Hard Rock Cafe, and Fresh Harvest Buffet, are also available.

But, Hard Rock AC needed a middle-of-the-road dining experience, according to Charles Govan, food and beverage director at Hard Rock AC.

“We had a void where we needed to have a more affordable tier level in between the cafe and (our fine dining restaurants),” Govan told PlayNJ. “Sandpiper fills that void.”