The house doesn't always win in Atlantic City as two casinos close
In an unprecedented few days amid sliding profits in the gambling resort of Atlantic City, three casinos will have closed and 5,000 jobs will be lost
A time few could imagine during the not-too-distant glory days of casino gambling has arrived in Atlantic City, where two casinos are closing this week and a third will shut down in two weeks.
More than 5,000 workers will lose their jobs within a few days in the seaside gambling resort, leaving many feeling betrayed by a system that once promised stable, well-paying jobs.
The Showboat was earmarked to close yesterday, followed by Revel today and tomorrow. Trump Plaza is next, closing on September 16. To the thousands who will be left behind, it still seems unreal.
"We never thought this would happen," said Chris Ireland, a bartender at the Showboat since it opened. His wife works there, too, as a cocktail server. Neither has a job to go to.
What makes it even tougher to swallow is that the Showboat - one of four Atlantic City casinos owned by Caesars Entertainment - is still turning a profit. But the company says it is closing Showboat to help reduce the total number of Atlantic City casinos. Caesars also teamed up with Tropicana Entertainment to buy the Atlantic Club last December and close it in January.
"They just want to eliminate competition," Ireland said. "Everyone's in favour of a free market until it doesn't exactly work for them."