If you believe owner Glenn Straub, TEN Atlantic City (former the Revel Casino Hotel) will open next month. But it’s not quite as simple as that.
The latest on TEN Atlantic City
Straub, a developer form Florida, has been in a battle with the New Jersey Casino Control Commission. The point of contention: Whether he needs a casino license to open the rebranded hotel and casino. The notoriously outspoken billionaire has often complained about red tape and bureaucracy.
This past week, however, Straub gave us a bit of good news. He plans to open TEN on Feb. 20, with or without a casino license. Straub told Philly.com reporter Amy Rosenberg not all features of the hotel will be completed by the President’s Day weekend opening, but that 1,499 rooms will be available, along with theaters and restaurants.
This of course, is not the first time Straub has promised an open date. Revel was supposed to reopen last summer, but that never came to fruition.
TEN moves slowly ahead
Straub said the city’s casino regulations and approval processes make it pretty much impossible to get things done in a timely, efficient manner.
“The red tape is so abusive,” he told Philly.com. “Who would ever invest here?”
The main point of contention between Straub and the CCC is the commission’s belief that Straub himself should apply for a casino license. According to procedure, that would require that the commission to reveal Straub and his development company’s finances.
Straub argues that he shouldn’t have to apply for a casino license because a third-party operator will operate TEN’s gambling floor. Why should the state require a landlord to obtain a license that will apply to one of his “tenants”?
Last-second lease amendment postpones hearing on casino license
This week the commission was supposed to meet and discuss the case. However, they postponed that meeting because Straub’s lawyers filed some amendments to his lease. Instead of scrapping the allotted time for the hearing, they used it to discuss the matter of 500 Broadway’s finances.
The CCC actually agreed with Straub, saying they didn’t feel it was necessary to delve into 500 Broadway’s finances unless it was decided that Straub needed to file for a casino license. This rare point of agreement between the two parties may be a positive sign, but at this point, it’s hard to tell how everything will shake out.
If it’s any consolation for the CCC, Straub has been an equal-opportunity attacker.
This past August, he called officials from the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority “backwards” and “politically controlled.”
Straub has kept busy despite the drama with city officials. In November, he swooped in on the jobless execs from Trump Taj Mahal to fill his needs for VPs of food, lodging and gambling.
Image credit: Jon Bilous / Shutterstock, Inc.