Following yet another impending casino closure in Atlantic City, Governor Chris Christie will chair a gaming summit to look at ways to address declines in gambling revenue.
The meeting is set for September 8, just two days before the latest casualty – Revel Casino – is due to close with the loss of 3,000 jobs.
State officials, casino executives and labor leaders will be invited to the summit.
Revel announced earlier this week it would close after failing to find a qualified buyer for the property which only opened in 2012 at a cost of over $2 billion.
"There is no doubt that Atlantic City faces real challenges as the city undergoes revitalization, which is why this summit of key policymakers, local leaders and stakeholders is needed to be an active part of the conversation as to how we can best address these issues," said Christie.
Casino gaming revenues fell 7.7% from July compared to last year, and the city is pressing ahead with marketing non-gaming attractions.
The Atlantic City Alliance destination marketing firm has started newspaper ads highlighting its diversity.
"Atlantic City isn’t just a destination for gaming; it’s also where you’ll find designer shopping, the famous Boardwalk, a beautiful beach, five-star dining, and top performers like Lady Antebellum and Blake Shelton all in one place," the ad copy said.
"The ads were designed to combat the wrong perception that casino closings means there are not a lot of visitors here," said Atlantic City Alliance spokesman Jeff Guaracino.
