International casino developer Hard Rock Resorts has been awarded a casino licence in New Jersey by regulators, in a move which will enable it to reopen the former Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City.
In meetings on Wednesday, the New Jersey Casino Control Commission voted overwhelmingly to award a licence to the company, which has been redeveloping the shuttered Trump Taj Mahal since it purchased the property from billionaire investor Carl Icahn for $50m in 2017.
The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, transitioning from the Indian palace-theme to a “rock ‘n’ roll” casino resort will open on 28 June.
It will transform the 4.2 million square feet of defunct casino hotel space into a state-of-the-art casino, hotel, retail, dining and entertainment facility, aiming to increase employment opportunities, strengthening the faltering Atlantic City resort and by virtue the economy of New Jersey.
Speaking about the new development, Jon Lucas, chief operating officer of Hard Rock International, said:"What we have in store is going to blow people away. It'll be a boost for the reinvention of Atlantic City."
Seeking to launch the resort with a flurry of big celebrity names, Hard Rock International has budgeted over $30 million for entertainment in its first year, and will feature over 300 nights of live music, comedy and drama.
Officials from the company have said that they have received over 50,000 job applications from prospective employees for a total of 4,000 jobs.
