In 2015 the Hard Rock partnered with Jeff Gural to get the BigM a casino.
That partnership ended last month, the Hard Rock sold its 50% share back to Gural.
The Hard Rock already has a casino in AC.
No major brand name casino partner is going to be good for Gural, because the lobby against want to make sure their side doesn't get hurt and the competition could benefit on top of it and he could definitely have his BigM casino now with the Hard Rock gone because they wanted to bend for no one and rock their competition.
Bad partnership, seemed visually stunning the finished product but not for the anti-lobby, no way, was too stunning.
Gural can now be super flexible with his approach, and he finally has majority poll support in NJ of 60%+ the super majority he not only didn't have but got voted down (73-27).
To start...A non destination (no hotel / resort) and medium sized casino enough to cover the racing costs to keep it the premier track and commensurate purses in the world and make him some cash profit. The rest of the BigM casino proceeds will go to projects that benefit AC and or directly benefit AC casinos, other benefits to coastal resort businesses all over the state, and more for the state for gaming tax revenue.
The NYC casino expansion is going to negatively impact AC's bottom line, they'll need a NJ ally to join them to not hurt their revenue, but actually be a financial help and now those negotiations that will get that approved will be controlled by Jeff Gural and the lobby against - together one goal, mutuality and equitable.
Now Jeff Gural can absorb some of that NYC casino revenue for NJ!
If all goes well it will go on a 2027 ballot referendum and it'll be passed because as of now it's too close to two consecutive legislature failures and the BigM and it's other gambling related biz revenue sank from a slow cold winter.
Next year, one and done
If AC sees they've not been badly impacted and thus benefited, they'll allow Gural to go full on destination in the 2030's and seek the same in a reciprocal relationship with the BigM casino, to benefit from that too.
Jeff Gural should have his casino approved in 2027, built and operating late 2028 / 2029.
I think that nails it!
