Hard Rock International announced last week that demolition of the closed Trump Taj Mahal casino façade will begin this month.
Hard Rock purchased the property from billionaire Carl Icahn and plans to invest up to $500 million to turn the property into a full-scale casino and entertainment attraction.
Joseph Jingoli, one of the investors in the Hard Rock property, said the project would generate 1,000 union construction jobs and will include the removing of the casino’s Indian-themed décor at a recent public hearing on the project before the state Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, the Press reported. The former Trump Taj Mahal has hundreds of minarets across the property’s facing, and all of them will be gone, according to Hard Rock International President and CEO Jim Allen.
Hard Rock is seeking designation of the property as a state entertainment retail district.
“This is extremely important to us,” Jingoli said. “What we are doing is building a state of the art entertainment complex, casino, and hotel and having the support of the CRDA in the Entertainment district is going to allow us do more to the project.”
The designation would make Hard Rock eligible for various tax breaks and allow CRDA to receive certain sales tax and room rebates. The designation also entitles the company to a rebate on sales and use taxes on construction materials for the building and its luxury tax from hotel-room fees for 20 years or until the total rebate amount equals the cost of the project, the Press reported.
Meanwhile, Resorts casino—also neighboring the Taj Mahal—announced it will host PokerStars’ live poker tournament series Megastack in October after the event’s successful debut in Europe.
The series launched in the United Kingdom at the Hippodrome Casino in April, attracting more than 520 entries. The live tournament series aimed at recreational players will be held from Oct. 6 to 8, with more than $100,000 in guaranteed prize money.
“We are excited to host the first-ever Sunday Special Live New Jersey, and we look forward to welcoming players to the property for an exciting gaming experience,” said Mark Giannantonio, president and CEO of Resorts Casino Hotel in a press release.
