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As It Happens

Six thousand workers are out of luck and out of work in Atlantic City as casinos close

Atlantic City, New Jersey is in the midst of a bad losing streak. On Sunday, the Showboat Casino shut its doors. This morning, the Revel closed. In two weeks, Trump Plaza will follow. When it's all over, more than 6,000 people will lose their jobs. ...
CBC Radio ·
Atlantic City, New Jersey is in the midst of a bad losing streak. On Sunday, the Showboat Casino shut its doors. This morning, the  Revel closed. In two weeks, Trump Plaza will follow. When it's all over, more than 6,000 people will lose their jobs. 
"They were very very greedy, and that's the reason why they lost"

Magician  Arnaldo Leggi is one of them. He's worked at the Showboat since it opened in 1987. He says the city has suffered due to competition from other gambling centres that have opened in New York, Pennsylvania and Florida. He also believes casino owners overextended themselves -- in particular the multi-billion dollar Revel casino which opened two years ago. 

"There's no other work. They are waiters. They are dealers. There is no other work here"

With three of Atlantic City's eleven casinos closing, the chances of finding work in the city's lifeblood industry are low. 

"I will stay in Atlantic City another two or three years and then after that, I will move on"

Leggi - who lost his wife two months ago - says that he will stay on in AC until his son finishes college, but eventually he will have to move.

leggi1.jpg
Magician Arnaldo Leggi - one of 6000 people out of work in Atlantic City (Photo: arnaldosmagic.com)

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