Over the past year, the owner of the Tropicana casinos in Las Vegas and Atlantic City has alienated regulators and politicians, upset lenders and agitated labor unions and employees. But last week’s appointment of Scott Butera as president of Tropicana Entertainment is the most dramatic sign yet the company is starting to patch up relationships with regulators and business associates while attempting to shore up performance at its casinos in Nevada and other states that have lost ground to competitors.

Atlantic City - The Casino Control Commission Wednesday denied a request by the Tropicana conservator to defer payment of the largest fine ever imposed for regulatory misconduct. Gary Stein, who is overseeing the sale of the casino, wanted the USD 750,000 penalty imposed Dec. 12 to be put on hold until the Tropicana sale closes. The commission fined Tropicana and its former owner...

Tropicana Entertainment on Tuesday filed a long-threatened appeal of New Jersey regulators’ decision to strip it of its Atlantic City gaming license. The Crestview Hills-based affiliate of hotelier Columbia Sussex was denied the license in December by the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, which fined the company USD 750,000 in civil penalties. The regulators cited poor management practices...

The Nevada Gaming Control Board has boxed itself into a corner. Like some other enforcement agencies, the board sometimes confirms an investigation is under way, but won’t comment on its substance. Such silence exposes the board to criticism — including from the Culinary Union, which has attacked regulators for condoning business practices it opposed — such as when Station Casinos required workers to reapply for their jobs after purchasing the first Fiesta casino in 2000.

Atlantic City - The United Auto Workers union kicked-off contract negotiations today with Tropicana Casino and Resort, as well as continued contract talks with Caesars Atlantic City, months after workers at the two casinos voted overwhelmingly to unionize. The casinos met separately at the Atlantic City Convention Center with teams of UAW representatives made up of union officials and casino workers representing the collective bargaining committees.

The parent company of Casino Aztar in Evansville is back in the news as speculation mounts about the future of two major properties owned by the financially troubled hotel and casino operator Columbia Sussex. Wednesday's edition of the Wall Street Journal carries a report on the questions surrounding the future of the Tropicana Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, purchased by Columbia Sussex in late 2006...

Atlantic City - A New York developer said Tuesday he is putting together a group interested in buying the Tropicana Casino and Resort for USD 950 million. Joseph Palladino, who said he has been active in the Brooklyn, N.Y., real estate market and is considering a project on a former supermarket site in Brick Township identified himself Tuesday as the second bidder for the hotel-casino.

About two dozen potential buyers have expressed interest in the Tropicana Casino and Resort, whose owners were stripped of their license last month. The names include well-established local and other national casino operators seeking a cheaper way to buy into Atlantic City for about half the price of building a new casino from scratch.

Atlantic City, New Jersey (AP) -- About two dozen potential buyers have expressed interest in the Tropicana Casino and Resort, whose owners were stripped of their license last month. The names include well-established casino operators here, as well as others around the country seeking a cheaper way to buy into Atlantic City for about half the price of building a new casino from scratch.

The move this month by New Jersey regulators to deny a license to Columbia Sussex to operate the Tropicana casino in Atlantic City is both a stark reminder of the unique demands of the casino business and a cautionary tale for newer entrants. Perhaps more significantly, it's the latest example of how New Jersey's regulatory system differs markedly from Nevada's, which is closer to a free market system than any other gaming jurisdiction's and is generally reluctant to pull licenses from Nevada operators.

Tropicana Entertainment plans to sell its Casino Aztar in Evansville, as part of the fallout from the denial of its Atlantic City license last week. In addition, the company is selling the Tropicana in Atlantic City, and has already signed a contract to sell a casino it owns in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Word of the sales came as the company made a crucial interest payment Monday on its credit agreement, and said it was working on reaching an agreement with its lenders that would prevent it from filing for bankruptcy.

At least a half-dozen potential buyers have contacted state casino regulators about purchasing the Tropicana Casino and Resort, and a sale could take place within weeks, the head of the state Casino Control Commission said last week. Linda Kassekert appeared at a news conference at the Tropicana with former state Supreme Court Justice Gary Stein, the interim trustee who’s overseeing the casino until a buyer can be found, and Tropicana President Mark Giannantonio, who will stay on to run its day-to-day operations until the sale.