Carl Icahn would not be able to retain the casino licence for his closed-down Trump Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City under a measure making its way through the New Jersey Legislature.
Seeking to avoid the possibility of Icahn keeping the casino shut during the winter and attempting to open it in the spring as a non-union facility, Democratic state senate president Steve Sweeney has introduced a bill that would disqualify casino owners from holding a gambling licence for five years after closing a casino.
Sweeney said the bill would prevent the owners of shuttered casinos from sitting on the licences indefinitely. Kerry Langan, a spokeswoman for the state Division of Gaming Enforcement, said there is no deadline under state law for the owner of a closed casino to surrender its casino licence.
The Taj Mahal shut down after a strike that began on July 1. Both sides were unable to agree on a new contract to restore health insurance and pension benefits that were terminated two years ago in the bankruptcy court.
