Atlantic City - In a stunning development, the New Jersey Casino Control Commission today denied a license renewal for the troubled Tropicana Casino & Resort, saying that a trustee would operate the Boardwalk facility immediately until a buyer was found. It was only the second time a license renewal has been denied in the 29-year history of legalized gambling in Atlantic City. The Tropicana's attorney, Paul O'Gara, said the casino owner, Columbia-Sussex Corp., would appeal the decision, as soon as tomorrow morning, in state court.

New Jersey’s casino enforcement agency recommended only a one-year license renewal for Tropicana Casino and Resort, citing mass layoffs and a litany of customer complaints under the troubled ownership of Columbia Sussex Corp. The recommendation by the Division of Gaming Enforcement will be considered by the New Jersey Casino Control Commission when it meets December 12 to make a final ruling on Tropicana’s license and the suitability of Columbia Sussex and CEO William J. Yung III as owners.

Atlantic City (AP) -- State casino regulators extended the Tropicana Casino and Resort's license until next week, when a final decision on whether it should be renewed can be made. The state Casino Control Commission has heard two weeks of testimony on whether to relicense the casino in light of concerns about cleanliness, staffing levels and compliance with state regulations.

As the Tropicana fights to keep its casino license in Atlantic City and its parent negotiates with lenders on USD 2.3 billion in debt, the company's chief financial officer announced yesterday he was resigning to take a job in Ohio. John Jacob, who last week testified about Tropicana's finances in its licensing hearing before the N.J. Casino Control Commission, is the second CFO Tropicana Casinos and Resorts has lost this year.

The third time is a charm. At least, that is what the developers of the proposed Pinnacle Las Vegas are hoping. The Falconi Group recently named its third general contractor for the planned USD 740 million, 1,100-unit condominium-hotel development at Tropicana and Cameron avenues, across from The Orleans. Dick Pacific Construction, a unit of Pittsburgh-based Dick Corp., has replaced Marnell Corrao Associates as builder. Marnell was the general contractor until two months ago. A reason for the change wasn't explained.

Atlantic City, New Jersey -- Panels separating from a wall at the Tropicana Casino and Resort may look bad, but engineers have found no structural problem, a state gaming enforcement official said. Earlier this month, a state gaming inspector filed a report with the U.S. Labor Department warning that a column was bowing and part of a wall was bulging at the casino. The inspector, Lewis M. Springer Jr., is not an engineering expert, but said the column appeared to be under "enormous stress."

Atlantic Cit, New Jersey - Full- and part-time card dealers at the Tropicana Casino and Resort have approved a bid to unionize. The dealers voted 626-157 on Sunday to join the United Auto Workers, the union said. "Workers are on a roll in Atlantic City," said Joe Ashton, director of UAW Region 9, which includes New Jersey. The UAW has been pushing hard to organize workers at all of Atlantic City's 11 casinos. It has won elections at four gambling halls and lost at two others.

Tropicana Casino chief Fred Buro, who had overseen the layoffs of about 1,000 employees at his Atlantic City casino this year, confirmed yesterday that he was fired by Columbia-Sussex Corp. He said the termination occurred late Wednesday. Columbia-Sussex announced Buro's replacement yesterday. "I was asked to leave," Buro, the Tropicana's president and chief operating officer, said yesterday. He declined to go into the specifics, saying only that he was in the process of getting an attorney.

Tropicana Casinos and Resorts announced that the company is changing the name of its property in Laughlin, Nevada, to Tropicana Express. The change, which aims to leverage the brand awareness of its legendary sister on the in Las Vegas strip, takes effect July 28. It will be ushered in with special promotions for visitors and a player event program.

Atlantic City - Tropicana Casino and Resort's new owner indicated Wednesday that it has completed most of its layoffs after making deep cuts that jolted the property over the last four months. Tropicana's work force has fallen from 4,507 employees on Jan. 2 to 3,818 as of May 1, a 15 percent decline, according to figures compiled by the New Jersey Casino Control Commission.