Trump Taj Mahal

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Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort
Trump Taj Mahal and Chairman Tower.JPG
View of Main Tower and Chairman Tower from the Boardwalk
Location Atlantic City, New Jersey
Address 1000 Boardwalk
Opening date April 2, 1990
Theme Taj Mahal, India
Number of rooms 2,010[1]
Total gaming space 167,000 square feet (15,500 m2)
Permanent shows Mark G. Etess Arena, Xanadu Theater, Ego Lounge, Rainforest Lounge,
Signature attractions Steel Pier
Notable restaurants Safari Steakhouse, Il Mulino New York, Dynasty, Moon at Dynasty, Hard Rock Cafe, White House Sub Shop, Beriyo, Mrs. Fields Cookies, Pretzel Time, Fralinger's Salt Water Taffy
Casino type Land
Owner Trump Entertainment Resorts
Operating license holder Trump Taj Mahal Associates
Previous names Resorts Taj Mahal (pre-opening)
Renovated in 2008
Coordinates 39.3587° N, 74.4198° W
Website Trump Taj Mahal

The Trump Taj Mahal is a casino located at 1000 Boardwalk in Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States, in the casino area along the shore. The casino is owned by Trump Entertainment Resorts. With approximately 50 regular tables and 25 tournament tables, the Taj Mahal had one of the largest poker rooms in Atlantic City, second in size only to The Borgata.

The casino was officially inaugurated in 1990, with Michael Jackson performing at the ceremonies, and was built at a total cost of nearly one billion dollars. Restaurants at the Taj include Dynasty, Il Mulino New York, Moon at Dynasty, Safari Steakhouse, and Hard Rock Cafe.

On November 25, 2014, the Trump Taj Mahal announced plans to close and cease casino and hotel operations on December 12, 2014 but on December 5, 2014 the date was pushed back to December 20, 2014. On December 18, 2014 the Trump Taj Mahal received an agreement with its union to drop its appeal against the company to save the casino and it remains open.

History

Trump's third property in Atlantic City was wrapped in controversy prior to opening because of its role, along with Resorts Casino Hotel, in the fight between Donald Trump and Merv Griffin in 1988 over Resorts International. Resorts was developing and constructing the Resorts Taj Mahal Casino north of Resorts Casino Hotel on the boardwalk, but had run out of money and construction was stopped. Trump was attempting to buy the unfinished resort, along with Resorts, but Merv Griffin would not sell. Eventually, a deal was created between Trump and Griffin giving Griffin Resorts in Atlantic City and the Resorts Paradise Island with the unfinished Taj Mahal project going to Trump. The casino opened in 1990 as the Trump Taj Mahal and was the largest and highest grossing casino in the city until the opening of The Borgata in 2003. The Chairman Tower opened in 2008, bringing the complex to over 2,000 rooms.

The casino is also the scene for a notorious baccarat session in May 1990, in which the Japanese high roller Akio Kashiwagi lost $10 million.[2] The incident was later fictionalised in Martin Scorsese's film Casino. In 2013, the Taj Mahal opened the nation's first casino strip club, featuring scantily clad dancers.[3][4]

Uncertain future

Trump Entertainment Resorts Inc.'s Taj Mahal Hotel and Casino filed for bankruptcy on September 10, 2014.[5] Trump Taj Mahal set a potential closing date of November 13, 2014 if the casino does not get concessions from its unions.[6]

Recently, workers are trying to petition against the closing of the casino. Workers from the Trump Taj Mahal casino marched to Mayor Don Guardian's office on the morning of November 3, 2014 to ask him to reconsider granting concessions, which the struggling casino says are necessary to keep the casino open. So far, about 1,000 employees have signed a petition calling on the mayor and other elected officials "to do everything possible" to keep the casino open. Thus far, four of twelve casinos in Atlantic City have closed and Trump Taj Mahal would be the fifth if it indeed were to close. [7]

On November 14, 2014, Trump Entertainment Resorts announced that the casino would shut down in December if its main union didn't drop its appeal of a court-ordered cost-savings package. However, it was revealed that the closing will happen because it has not received the state and local tax breaks it sought.[8] The owner of the struggling Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort filed court papers on Friday, November 14, 2014 saying it will close next month, making it the fifth of the city's 12 casinos to shut down this year.

In filing a revised reorganization plan in Delaware bankruptcy court, Trump Entertainment Resorts said its board has approved a shutdown of the casino by December 12, 2014. The Taj was given a small reprieve announcing today a new shutdown date of December 20. On December 18, 2014 two days before The Taj was slated to close, the union, Unite Here Local 54 reached a deal with Trump Entertainment Resorts which saved The Taj from closing. Billionaire, Carl Icahn, also committed 20 million for The Taj that same day, which gave some efforts to help with Trump Entertainment Resorts fourth bankruptcy.[9]

Shooting incidents

On May 27, 2009, Ray Kot, a casino shift manager was shot and killed by 57-year-old Mark Magee of Norristown, Pennsylvania. Magee claims that he killed Kot because casino executives at the Trump Taj Mahal had conspired to cheat players by manipulating the outcome of the table games.[10][11] On August 11, 2010, Magee was convicted of murder and is currently serving a minimum 30-year sentence at the New Jersey State Prison in Trenton.[12] He is tentantively scheduled to be released on May 28, 2039 at the age of 87. On October 16, 2010, a small park on the Trump Taj Mahal property was created and dedicated to the memory of Ray Kot.

On September 18, 2011, a man was shot to death and a woman was wounded during an apparent carjacking inside the parking garage of the casino. The man, 28-year-old Sunil Rattu, and the woman, 24-year-old Radha Ghetia, were held up as they left the casino, and then forced to drive to a nearby alley where Rattu was shot dead, while Ghetia was shot to the upper part of her body. Ghetia was treated for her injuries and has since recovered.[13]

Comp Cards

Trump Taj Mahal has a comp card similar to most casinos. The club has four levels:[14]

  • TrumpOne: Free to all members age 21 and older.
  • Executive: 4,000 tier points in a calendar year required.
  • Chairman: 10,000 tier points in a calendar year required.
  • Signature: 70,000 tier points in a calendar year required.

Gallery

  • The Trump Taj Mahal, seen from the beach.

  • 20060627 Trump Taj Mahal from Fairfield Resorts.JPG

    The Taj Mahal, as seen from the Fairfield Resorts.

  • The Trump Taj Mahal, as seen from just beyond Pacific Avenue.

  • Entrance to the Trump Taj Mahal at night

  • Front of Taj Mahal

  • View of The Taj Mahal from the beach.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ The impact of a finite bankroll on an even-money game
  3. ↑ Augenstein, Seth. "Nation's first casino strip club coming to Atlantic City" in The Star-Ledger (4 July 2013). Retrieved 27 August 2013.
  4. ↑ Parry, Wayne. "A.C.'s Taj Mahal looks to score with strip club" in The Philadelphia Inquirer (27 August 2013). Retrieved 27 August 2013.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Man admits killing casino worker.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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Preceded by Tallest Building in Atlantic City
1990—2002
429 ft		 Succeeded by
The Borgata
Preceded by Tallest Building in Atlantic City
2008
470 ft		 Succeeded by
Harrah's Waterfront Tower
Events and tenants
Preceded by Ultimate Fighting Championship venue
UFC 28
UFC 30, UFC 31		 Succeeded by
Differ Ariake Arena
Continental Airlines Arena
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