Assemblyman Ralph Caputo is correct that one or two casinos in North Jersey, will help the State and could prove beneficial to Atlantic city. What AC needs to do with its revenue share is to underwrite commercial air service into AC International, that would make it possible to reach new markets and easier to promote the convention/ trade show markets, like the strip resorts in Las Vegas. The meeting trades primarily meet mid-week, and usually not in the summer months, a perfect fit for AC resorts. And the attendees pay rack or posted rates for rooms and meals, no discounts, comps or free play required. This kind of business would substantially increase room rates, turning that department into a meaningful profit center; while greatly reducing the discounting and the costs of promotional allowances, needed to induce mid week casino demand. And even though many conventioneers do not gamble, many do, and the profit margin on these customers is greatly enhanced without the need for free play and other freebies.
With casino gaming now closer to 95% of AC’s previous markets, we can no longer expect 10 to 20 casino visits a year, like in the past, and most will now come on weekends, when our casinos already do good business. And our old line run busses from Manhattan and North Jersey, are now going to Sands Bethlehem. We need air service bringing persons to Atlantic City and South Jersey, not the kind we now have, providing cheap flights for South Jersey and Philadelphia residents to various Florida resorts.
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