NJ Casino News: Weekly Roundup

Get the latest casino news and updates in New Jersey for this week (February 5, 2022 – February 11, 2022).

Ocean’s Interim CEO Given New Title

Bill Callahan, who had been the interim CEO for Ocean Casino Resort since November 2021, has now been promoted to the newly created position of general manager. He has shared his ambitious goal of making Ocean the number-one casino in the city:

“Our ultimate goal in the next few years is to become the No. 1 casino in the market,” he told The Associated Press on Monday. “This property is still in its infancy; there’s so much more that it can grow.”

That would entail leapfrogging competitors including Hard Rock, Tropicana and the perennial market leader, Borgata, where Callahan formerly worked before joining Ocean in July 2020 as senior vice president of hospitality. He was promoted to executive vice president of hospitality and gaming in July 2021.

Judge Marczyk To Issue Ruling on PILOT Bill in Coming Weeks

New Jersey Superior Court Judge Joseph Marczyk announced that he will soon issue his written ruling about whether or not he will block the new casino PILOT law from taking effect. He heard oral arguments from both Atlantic County and the state, after he had suggested the parties go into mediation but the state declined:

According to estimates by the state Office of Legislative Services, the county would lose about $4 million a year under the new PILOT law, while Atlantic County claims the annual loss would range between $5 million to $7 million. 

The new PILOT law was the source of much controversy throughout the last weeks of 2021. The legislation was sponsored by former state Senate President Steve Sweeney, who said four casinos would close if it did not pass.

Atlantic City Preparing for NAACP Convention This Summer

From July 14-21, the national NAACP convention will return to Atlantic City for the first time since 1995. Events will fill the entire Atlantic City Convention Center, the Atlantic City Country Club in Northfield, and other venues around the city. This will also be the first in-person national convention in two years, as the 2020 and 2021 events were held virtually:

“There are going to be nationally known leaders from every field,” said Atlantic City Councilman Kaleem Shabazz, president of the local NAACP chapter, who has been involved in attracting the national convention.

“I have been to several national conventions. They are exciting,” Shabazz said. “They are informative, educational and they are an economic boon to whatever city has them.”

The economic benefits of hosting the national NAACP convention are expected to be substantial, said Larry Sieg, executive director of Meet AC, which successfully bid for the convention.

“Not only is it going to garner national and international media attention, we are looking at over 8,000 attendees — 7,700-plus room nights for hotel properties, $9.3 million in economic impact,” Sieg said.