Ocean Resorts Casino once was known as Revel Casino.
Ocean Resort Casino has a June 20 special hearing before the New Jersey Casino Control Commission to determine whether the property receives a casino license. The special hearing comes only 8 days before Ocean Resort Casino, the former Revel Casino, plans to open for business.
The Division of Gaming Enforcement has filed a report on its findings about the Ocean Resort Casino’s preparations to operate an Atlantic City casino, according to a casino spokesperson. The Casino Control Commission wants to make sure all preparations for a full casino and sportsbook are complete.
Daniel Heneghan, a spokeman for the Casino Control Commission, reiterated that the special hearing on June 20 is not a mere formality.
Heneghan said the casino must convince commissioners that they have a serious, stable plan in place to run a casino. The spokesman for New Jersey’s CCC said, “Being awarded a casino license is a very major step.”
June 20 Casino Control Commission Hearing
The Casino Control Commission spokesman added, “We will hear testimony and they will discuss their plans to attempt to meet the burden of operating a casino, after which the commission will deliberate and make a decision.”
Ocean Resort Casino is owned by Bruce Deifik, a Colorado real estate developer with hotel properties in 5 states. Though Deifik has a solid reputation in the hotel and leisure business, his company does not have experience in running a casino operation.
It helps that Deifik has signed with top companies to partner on the Ocean Resort Casino. The Hyatt Corporation will manage the Ocean Resort Hotel, while William Hill USA is set to operate the Ocean Resort Sportbook & Racebook. At the end of the day, though, the casino operator is going to be handled by Deifik’s management team.
Seth Shorr on June 28 Grand Opening
During a media preview tour of the massive Revel Building, Ocean Resort officials expressed confidence they would receive a casino license and be able to open for business on June 28.
Seth Shorr, who serves as a consultant for the resort, told NJ.com, “We are fully on track with our gaming license to have it by the 28th. We are confident we are opening and we are working very closely and on track to be opened by the 28th.”
Revel Casino/Ten Casino Licensing Fiasco
If Bruce Deifik’s team wants to know how hard licensing can be in New Jersey, they should ask the person who sold the Revel Casino to them: Glenn Straub. The Florida real estate developer bought the $2.4 billion Revel Building for $83 million in a bankruptcy auction, but spent nearly 3 years unsuccessfully fighting to acquire a New Jersey casino license and liquor license. Eventually, Glenn Straub sold the Revel Casino to Bruce Deifik, seemingly out of frustation.
Some in Atlantic City felt like the enigmatic Glenn Straub never wanted to open a casino, but instead wanted to flip the property after a respectable interval. The truth will never be know, but what is certain: the Revel Building is a wonder to behold.
Ocean Resort Casino, if it receives a license, will be the biggest and most opulent Atlantic City resort. The majesty of the Revel Casino did not help the original operators, who declared bankruptcy twice in a 29-month period — then eventually closed the casino in September 2014.
Hardrock Atlantic City Grand Opening
The hearing is set for 1pm on Wednesday, June 20 and is planned for 3 hours of testimony. If a second day is need, another session could happen on Thursday morning, June 21. If all goes well, then Ocean Resort Casino will have a grand opening starting at 3pm on Thursday, June 28.
On the same day, Hard Rock Atlantic City is planning its grand opening. Hard Rock International had its licensing hearing in early May, so the more established gaming company has known for 6 weeks it would be able to open on June 28.
Hardrock International is owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, which owns 7 casinos in Florida and numerous other resorts throughout the United States. While it is no assurance of licensing in New Jersey, holding a casino license elsewhere in the United States helps assure regulators that a casino company has been vetted and the operators know how to manage a casino. Hardrock Atlantic City is a rebranding of the Trump Taj Mahal, along with a year-long, $500 million renovation.
