The Atlantic City Convention Center is expanding, thanks to the board of directors of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA).
The 5,330-square-foot modular addition would accommodate Continent 8 LLC, which provides sports betting infrastructure for gaming companies. The company has data centers on four continents, according to the Press of Atlantic City, and is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Continent 8’s Atlantic City operation actually opened in 2014 to serve New Jersey and New York. But business is booming thanks to the growth of mobile sports betting.
Longtime CRDA board member Edward Gant objected due to concerns the project would not pay prevailing wages given the modular construction. He said the company could afford to invest in a new building.
“They obviously must be making money,” Gant said.
The expansion supposedly will allow Atlantic City to serve as a hub for online gaming In New Jersey and beyond, but Gant remained skeptical. He continued to question the resolution. In the end, the board approved the project, with Gant as the lone opposing vote.
At the same meeting, the board approved $1.2 million toward the NAACP convention planned for Atlantic City this year. The national convention is expected to bring millions of dollars in economic benefit to the city.
