PokerStars Says Atlantic Club Shutdown Could Have Been Avoided

PokerStars blames owners of the Atlantic Club for “gambling with their employees’ future”.

In recent gambling news, PokerStars representatives comment on the impending shutdown of the Atlantic Club Casino Hotel: “It’s always sad when hard-working people lose their jobs, especially during the holiday season. This is particularly sad, though, because it simply didn’t have to happen.”

Company officials posted a blog entry criticizing the former owners of the casino and blaming them for the venue’s bankruptcy. They mention the fact that, over a year ago, PokerStars reached an agreement “that would secure a new future for the casino, save the jobs of 1,800 employees and inject new blood, new technology and new finances into the Atlantic City casino economy.”

The blog entry continues by revealing that managers of the Atlantic Club chose to turn down the offer and “gambled with their employees’ future” instead, to their own financial benefit.

Tropicana and Caesars to pick up the pieces

The sale and shutdown of the Atlantic Club was approved by federal bankruptcy judge Gloria Burns, at the end of December.

The venue is due to be closed on January 13 and was bought for $23.4 million, with Tropicana Entertainment taking the slot machines and table games and Caesars Entertainment getting an 800-room hotel out of the whole deal. As the Atlantic City gambling market seems to be diminishing, the two casino developers have announced that they don’t intend to save the collapsed business.

Meanwhile, PokerStars have announced that they’re planning on taking advantage of the growing internet betting market, in states where American gambling laws allow it.