Bill would bar Icahn from keeping casino license

If the measure makes its way through the state Legislature, the billionaire would not be able to retain the Trump Taj Mahal casino license.

US.- Steve Sweeney, Democratic state Senate President, has introduced a bill that looks to amend the current law in the state and give the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (NJDGE) the authority to revoke the license of a closed casino. This bill would disqualify casino owners from holding a license for five years after closing a casino.

Sweeney said that the purpose of this bill is to prevent the owners from sitting on the licenses indefinitely. “Casino owners should not be able to misuse bankruptcy laws and gaming regulations in order to warehouse a license or take money out of the pockets of casino workers and strip them of benefits simply because they refuse to come to a labor agreement with their employees.”

After the Trump Taj Mahal officially closed its doors, almost 3000 workers lost their jobs. According to the state Senate President, this bill encourages casino owners to help rebuild Atlantic City rather than “throw thousands of families to the curb.” The bill has been approved by a state Senate committee and it awaits action in the state Assembly.