Deal or No Deal?
By: Jaimie Weiss
Updated: December 13, 2007
Evansvilles Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel wants Casino Aztars license revoked.
Yesterday the New Jersey gaming commission revoked Columbia Sussexs license in Atlantic City.
Theyre the same parent company for Casino Aztar.
New Jersey denied the license for what it calls mass layoffs and poor ownership practices.
Weinzapfel claims the company is doing the same thing here in Evansville.
He already initiated an investigation by the Indiana Gaming Commission into Casino Aztar.
That is still ongoing but the mayor says this newest detail should shut the company down in Evansville too
I talked with gaming lawyers in Indianapolis who say they have just learned of the newest details.
They say there are few things they need to look into like who holds the title.
Here in Evansville its Aztar Indiana Gaming Company LLC.
Thats a different company who owns the license in Atlantic City, but Weinzapfel says that shouldnt matter because they are both run by Columbia Sussex.
"If they have a license in another jurisdiction and they revoke that license they end up having their license in indiana revoked. So basically the action in Atlantic City in New Jersey requires the Indiana Gaming Commission to revoke Columbia Sussexs license in Evansville at Casino Aztar."
Weinzapfel doesnt want to see the casino leave town.
He just wants new ownership.
Meanwhile Columbia Sussex has appealed the New Jersey decision.
