The Casino Control Commission of the state of New Jersey (NJCCC) will be holding a meeting this week, one that would decide the future of the proposed TEN Casino in Atlantic City. Namely, the meeting will be adjourned to discuss whether 500 Broadway LLC, the company owned by Glen Straub – the owner of TEN casino, will have to apply for a gambling license from the state or not.
The TEN Casino is to be launched at the former Revel casino in Atlantic city, and its opening has thus far been laden with legal hurdles that ranged from rent disputes to power supply obstacles, which almost forced Straub to give up on the project entirely.
According to a note from the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, Mr. Straub applied for a casino license approximately two years ago and then filed a completed casino license application last March. He was investigated by the NJ Division of Gaming Enforcement which submitted a report to the NJCCC on his suitability for licensure. The commission was reportedly prepared to hold a license hearing at that point. However, one week before the Division of Gaming Enforcement filed its report, Mr. Straub and his company filed a petition in which he sought a ruling from the NJCCC that his company did not need a license and any license requirement could be waived. While the commission waited for a response from the Division of Gaming Enforcement on that petition, Mr. Straub filed an action in court to require them to simply hear and rule on his petition. The suit did not seek a ruling from the court on the license issue, he only asked the court for the NJCCC to decide whether he needs a license.
The meeting comes less than a month before the casino’s scheduled 20th February launch, which was already a lengthy postponement over the prior estimated launch date set for June 2016.
The casino license isn’t the only obstacle posed for the casino owner. According to the city licensing and inspection director, Dale Finch, TEN Casino will still need to acquire a mercantile license and undergo health inspections in order to open its commercial amenities.
This article has been updated to correct several material errors of fact, specifically in regard to timeline and actions of the parties.