Supplier News
US – Icahn hinges £100m Taj Mahal investment on no North Jersey casinos
By Phil - 2 March 2016
Billionaire casino investor Carl Ichan has agreed to plough US$100m into his newly bought Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City but only if New Jersey rejects plans to allow two new casinos to be built in the north of the state, just outside New York City.
Mr. Icahn, whose Tropicana Entertainment will operate the Taj Mahal, said any in-state competition added to that from neighbouring states would make it impossible to invest that much money into his new casino as the model would be unprofitable.
Mr. Icahn, Chairman of the Board of Icahn Enterprises, said: “Although I had planned to invest up to $100m in the Taj, just as I previously made substantial investments in the Tropicana, obviously it would not be judicious to proceed with those investments while gaming in North Jersey remains an open issue. We will have to wait to see the outcome of those proposals.”
Mr. Ichan said: “Atlantic City has great potential to once again become a major tourist destination but only if everyone believes in and takes steps towards that goal. Unfortunately it appears that certain political leaders are lining up against Atlantic City because of their personal ambitions. They are for gaming in North Jersey, which as everyone knows would destroy thousands of jobs in Atlantic City and South Jersey. It would result in even more home foreclosures and further devastate an already devastated region, as well as mortally wounding Atlantic City’s great potential as a resort. It would also obliterate the hope for job growth, not only in AC but also the Jersey Shore and South Jersey. When money was invested in Atlantic City, the politicians repeatedly assured that they were committed to Atlantic City’s future and that casinos would not be permitted in North Jersey. Based on these assurances, hundreds of millions of dollars were invested in Atlantic City. If these assurances are now broken and Atlantic City is abandoned by politicians in favour of North Jersey gaming, why would anyone ever invest in the great state of New Jersey knowing that the assurances of political leaders in New Jersey mean nothing.”
His warning followed Tropicana Entertainment’s announcement that it would take over the management of Trump Taj Mahal Casino from Trump Taj Mahal Associates. It said it would manage the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Hotel and provide consulting services relating to the former Plaza Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Both the Tropicana and TTMA are subsidiaries of Icahn Enterprises.
Tony Rodio, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tropicana, said: “We are pleased to make this announcement today and are excited to take on a management role at the Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal is an outstanding property with many amenities and enormous potential. We look forward to leveraging all that the Taj Mahal has to offer and to restoring the property to one of prominence in theAtlantic City market,” said Mr. Rodio.
Mr. Icahn added: “Several years ago, despite the many problems in Atlantic City and when no one else was willing to invest, we saved the Tropicana because we believed in the future of Atlantic City. Today, under Tony Rodio’s leadership, Tropicana has turned around and become one of Atlantic City’s few success stories. Over the last year and a half, when no one else has been willing to invest any capital in the Taj, we stepped forward and were the only investors willing to take a risk and bet on the future success of the Taj. We are very pleased that the Taj has finally emerged from bankruptcy and believe that under Tropicana’s management the Taj will emerge as another Atlantic City success story provided that casinos are not built in North Jersey.”
