Trump Plaza Casino has officially closed its doors for good. It opened up in 1984 and is situated on the center of the Boardwalk , smack-dab on the end of the Atlantic City Freeway. During its seven-month run in 1984, it was ranked seventh out of the ten casinos operating at the time. The casino pulled in $36.8M last year, suffering a 31.5% drop in profits from the previous year. Trump Plaza casino is the fourth Atlantic City casino to close in 2014, after Atlantic Club Hotel Casino, Showboat Hotel Casino and Revel Hotel and Casino.
Another closing and employee cuts are on the way, as a report stated that The Trump Taj Mahal has issued layoff notices to its 3,101 employees. The casino could be shut down by Nov 13. It was inaugurated in 1990 by Michael Jackson performing at the ceremonies and cost $1B to build.
Many people believe that growing competition could be one of many causes of Trump Plaza Hotel’s closing. The trip to Pennsylvania is easier for many, and the atmosphere is much safer than the dilapidated and non-family friendly areas that spot Atlantic City. In 2012, Pennsylvania passed New Jersey to take the number two spot in money spent on gambling behind Nevada. Casinos like Parx Casino in Bensalem, PA, offer free parking, no headline entertainers, no buses bringing customers, and yet they bring in a consistent crowd and expanding revenue. Over 80% of their customers come from within 20 miles of their location.
Featured image via flickr/Phil LaCombe
