Hard Rock took Atlantic City’s shuttered Taj Mahal and turned it into a successful hotel and casino under its brand, in the hometown of Jim Allen, chairman of the company owned by Florida’s Seminole Tribe. While Atlantic City’s property hums along, Allen now has set his sights a little farther north.
The company would love to get the coveted license expected to be available for New York City, one of three expected in the Metro New York area. In addition to New York, look for licenses in Long Island, Westchester, Rockland, or Putnam counties.
Allen also hopes to land a casino at the Meadowlands eight miles away if a change in the state constitution permits casinos outside Atlantic City.
Hard Rock and other interested parties have until December 10 to make their intentions about New York known to the New York State Gaming Commission, Allen said at the East Coast Gaming Congress at Harrah’s Atlantic City. Other major casino companies anticipated to toss their chips into the ring include Caesars Entertainment, Bally’s, Las Vegas Sands and Wynn Resorts.
While Caesars wants in, CEO Tom Reeg isn’t sure the terms would allow for a profitable venture.
Ironically, Hard Rock’s bid for a Chicago casino would compete with a Hard Rock casino already approved in Rockford, Illinois and also operates Hard Rock Northern Indiana, less than an hour from Chicago, demonstrating that Allen is not adverse to multiple casinos in close proximity.
