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Conventional wisdom warns against “putting all your eggs in one basket” because it lacks a contingency plan in case of emergency. Everyone should always have a Plan B in the wings just in case.
Well, New Jerseyans learned that lesson on a rainy night this past April. Governor Jon Corzine, on the job for 15 months, was in a horrific car accident 15 minutes from my house. He had just completed a local radio interview in Atlantic City, where he enthusiastically spoke about gaming and the city’s future.
Transported by a state trooper, who was driving at a high rate of speed, Corzine broke state law by not wearing a seatbelt. Had he been, he may have avoided several broken ribs, femur, vertebrae, collarbone, etc. that left him hospitalized and looking at months of rehabilitation. After a week on a ventilator and medically sedated, he publicly apologized for setting a poor example. Corzine also paid the $46 fine for not wearing a seatbelt.
The good news is that Corzine is recuperating at the governor’s mansion. With today’s available technology, he is back on the job via video conferencing.
During that interview prior to the accident, Corzine pledged his support to the Atlantic City gaming industry. The relevant points include:
Corzine opposes VLTs at New Jersey racetracks
Corzine supports separating the Casino Control Commission and Division of Gaming Enforcement employees from the ranks of general state employees. That would avoid another closure of the casinos in the event of a budgetary crisis like last summer.
Corzine acknowledges that gaming, tourism and the pharmaceutical industry drive the state’s economy. He has met with every prospective casino developer with an interest in Atlantic City.
Corzine divided the state into four economic sections. Atlantic City is the hub of the southeastern quadrant, headed by former Casino Control Commission Commissioner Diane Legreide. She will liaise between the casino industry and the regulatory and governing bodies in Atlantic City. Legreide will oversee all economic development projects relating to Atlantic City and the casino industry.
Transportation options in and out of Atlantic City will continuously improve and increase. Plans are underway for a direct train between Atlantic City and New York City. Air service may also expand as the airport increases its infrastructure.
The good news for New Jersey citizens and gaming fans is that Senate President Richard Codey took over as Acting Governor during Corzine’s convalescence. Codey had once before assumed that role prior to Corzine’s 2005 inauguration, and recognizes the value of the casino industry to the state.
New Jerseyans are lucky that our “Plan A” and “Plan B” guys are both advocates of gaming.
It is important to seize business opportunities as they appear. Only months after opening the first of their 14 potential slot machine venues, my home state of Pennsylvania is hitting hard at the competition.
The Commonwealth has rapidly acted to counteract potential table game competition from West Virginia racinos, which borders Pennsylvania’s southwest corner. Racinos in eastern Pennsylvania already compete with live dealers in Atlantic City, Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun in Connecticut, plus electronic table games in Delaware.
Pennsylvania prohibits table games with human dealers, and Governor Ed Rendell has consistently opposed amending the law. However, regulators seeking an alternative have designated multiplayer video blackjack games as slot machines. For accounting and licensing purposes, each of the five-seat games counts as five individual slot machines.
This interpretation avoids many restrictions. After approving the technology for electronic table games, trucks quickly delivered this equipment. The first site to receive the initial 11 games was Philadelphia Park in suburban Philadelphia. Supplied by Shuffle Master Inc., the rollout date was May 5.
Finally, here is some fun news. Have you ever discovered money in a coat pocket or drawer? While dismantling and removing 2,000 slot machines from the shuttered Sands in Atlantic City in March, prior to a public auction of the building’s contents and demolition, more than $17,000 was discovered under the machines, carpeting and seating cushions. The combination of coins, tokens and even a $100 bill belongs to new owner, Pinnacle Entertainment. Talk about found money!
At press time, the Sands is in the midst of a giant auction. For $10 admission, the public has been able to examine tens of thousands of items for purchase at bargain prices. What a super way to acquire great merchandise that has fabulous memories thrown in for free.
