Press of Atlantic city – Barely a week on the job, the new chief executive of Harrah’s Resort is sounding a new theme for the Atlantic City casinos: Let’s put aside the old rivalries and work together to boost the local economy.
With competition from gambling markets in surrounding states growing even more intense, the city’s casinos simply can’t afford to act independently anymore, Rick Mazer said.
“We really need to start looking at it from a citywide perspective, not just isolated to our individual boxes,” Mazer told the Atlantic City Hotel & Lodging Association on Tuesday.
Mazer, in his first public speech since becoming Harrah’s regional president and general manager seven days ago, said cooperation, not confrontation, will be key to drawing more tourists to town.
“I would encourage you all to think a little bit differently about how we approach the business going forward and how we start working together to bring people to Atlantic City and bring it back to what I believe it could be — the dynamic environment, the dynamic town and the natural resources that don’t exist anywhere else, including Las Vegas,” he told the audience.
The fragile economy and competition from casinos in neighboring states have pushed down Atlantic City’s casino revenue for seven straight years. Mazer urged the casino industry and tourism officials to capitalize on the attractions that distinguish the city from other gambling markets.
“We have a lot of things that we need to offer, that no one else can offer,” he said. “We need to take advantage of those things. We need to start working together more as a team, and less as independents, to enhance the entire city.”
