Legislation is being put before the New Jersey state senate to permit a number of new casinos in Atlantic City, US.
Former Atlantic City Mayor James Whelan is calling for the state to allow the construction of four new casinos, each with at least 200 rooms. Under current regulations, casinos must offer a minimum of 500 rooms.
Introducing his proposals on Monday, Whelan said that Atlantic City’s requirement for hotels with at least 500 rooms was proving too expensive for developers in the current climate. Neighbouring states without such rules therefore appear much more attractive locations for construction.
The move has drawn criticism from some quarters, including existing operators who believe allowing smaller properties is unfair given the amount they had to spend in order to build their hotels.
