Vol. 9 • No. 33 • August 22, 2011 - Print This Issue
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Vol. 9 • No. 33 • August 22, 2011, Featured Articles, GLOBAL GAMING BUSINESS PODCASTS
GLOBAL GAMING BUSINESS PODCAST: Dennis Gomes, President and Part-Owner, Resorts Atlantic City
This week, the Global Gaming Business Podcast features an interview with Dennis Gomes, the president of Gomes Gaming and part-owner of Resorts Atlantic City, along with his son Aaron, the senior vice president of casino operations, on what has occurred since they took over the property last December.
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When Dennis Gomes and Morris Bailey bought Resorts Atlantic City in December 2011 for around $30 million, may experts thought they got a great deal. After all the property has a 400-room tower that was one of the newest in town, a huge casino floor and a history that other casinos in Atlantic City envy. But Gomes says that the property was in worse shape than even he imagined. And then when the economy refused to budge and Atlantic City was continually buffeted by regional competition, the strategies he had to turn around the property had to change. A marketing genius, Gomes has appealed to the lesbian, bi, gay and transgendered market by opening a club specifically for that segment and has also erected circus tents in the casino’s parking lot to appeal to a family audience. Rooms in the older tower have been renovated and there are other plans to add more retail, entertainment and meeting space. He and his son Aaron, the vice president of casino operations, met with Global Gaming Business Publisher Roger Gros in the Resorts executive offices in August.
Roger Gros is publisher of Global Gaming Business, a the industry’s leading gaming trade publication, and all its related publications. Prior to joining Global Gaming Business, Gros was president of Inlet Communications, an independent consulting firm. He was vice president of Casino Journal Publishing Group from 1984-2000, and held virtually every editorial title during his tenure. Gros was editor of Casino Journal, the National Gaming Summary and the Atlantic City Insider, and was the founding editor of Casino Player magazine. He was a co-founder of the American Gaming Summit and the Southern Gaming Summit conferences and trade shows. He is the author of the best-selling book, How to Win at Casino Gambling (Carlton Books, 1995), now in its fourth edition. Gros was named “Businessman of the Year” for 1998 by the Greater Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce.
More Featured Articles
WEEKLY FEATURE: Don’t Cash the Check
While he continued to refuse to state whether he would sign or veto the bill that would massively expand the number of slot machines in the state, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn engaged in some verbal sparring with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel (l.) over the issue. Emanuel wants to include gaming revenues in the city budget.
Details, Details
The Linq project by Caesars Entertainment in Las Vegas is unveiled. Partners, scope and properties affected are revealed as well as more details on the massive “observation wheel,” the centerpiece of the project.
No Barriers in Macau?
A representative of the Chinese government has suggested that there be barrier-free tourism between China, Hong Kong and Macau. Priority will be given to the construction of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (border crossing at left). The move would be huge for the Macau gaming industry since much of its limitations on growth are linked to immigration and transportation issues.
Deputy Minister Questions Taiwan Plan
The intention of Taiwan to install casino resorts on its offshore islands, such as Kinmen (l.), still faces a number of hurdles. Now, a deputy minister in the cabinet is calling into question the entire concept. However, just how seriously those doubts should be taken by prospective developers is the real question.
Down to Wire on California Internet Gaming
Less than a month remains in the current California legislative calendar, which means crunch time for some bill that would legalize internet gaming to come to the floor for a possible vote. Senator Rod Wright (l.) points to relaxation of lottery rules as an example.
Latvia Fine-Tunes Gaming Regs
The Baltic nation of Latvia seeks to broaden the scope of its general gambling license while tightening certain requirements for operators and consumers. Both online and land-based operators should find elements to praise and curse within the new proposed legislation.
Big Bang for Harmon?
The fate of the abandoned CityCenter tower is not yet certain, but MGM has already selected two companies to oversee the implosion, while the builder, the Perini Group, says it can still be saved.
FANTINI’S FINANCE: Managing Growth
For the first time in a while, casino companies and gaming manufacturers are talking about growth, not cost cutting. Here’s a few things we’ve learned from recent earnings calls.