The boss for American casino operator, Hard Rock International, has reportedly expressed disappointment that Atlantic City hasn’t done more to welcome his firm into its community.

According to multiple reports including those published by the online news domains at CalvinAyre.com and ACPrimeTime.com, Jim Allen serves as Chairman for Hard Rock International and was on hand some 18 months ago as the company opened its Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Atlantic City property.

Intensive investment:

Hard Rock International spent around $50 million in March of 2017 to purchase the former Trump Taj Mahal property before going on to expend a further $500 million so as to transform the iconic Boardwalk venue into its new-look Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Atlantic City. This move ultimately proved successful as the 17-acre facility complete with a 120,000 sq ft casino has gone on to become one of the most lucrative venues in Atlantic City and recently chalked up a 14.9% year-on-year increase in November gaming revenues to almost $26.2 million.

Following frustration:

However, Allen reportedly used a recent interview with Global Gaming Business to declare that he is ‘disappointed with Atlantic City’ because he does not feel that the ‘major statement’ his firm made in opening the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Atlantic City has been reciprocated by local officials.

Allen told Global Gaming Business…

“Candidly, we’re disappointed with Atlantic City. There’s no other way to say it. It’s a shame that they did not rise to the occasion of a company coming in [and] putting $500 million into that city.”

Earlier engagement:

In opening its Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Atlantic City, the reports from CalvinAyre.com and ACPrimeTime.com explained that Hard Rock International has turned what was once a derelict venue into a major tourist attraction while creating approximately 3,000 jobs. But the firm owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida purportedly believes that the New Jersey city is now even worse off than it was in the past because it is failing to adequately entice casino operators into making the necessary investments that would allow them keep their properties fresh so as to better compete with rivals in the nearby states of Pennsylvania and Delaware.

Allen stated…

“There were all kinds of promises from Trenton, the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority and the city [that] things were going to change. And, candidly, I think Atlantic City is in worse shape today than it was two years ago and that’s a shame. Pacific Avenue has the identical problems it had for the last 20 or 30 [years] and, frankly, it’s worse than it was ten years ago.”