Strip club in casino an act of desperation

Strip club in casino an act of desperation

Way to stay classy, Atlantic City.

The state Division of Gaming Enforcement ruled last week that it would be OK to have a strip club inside the Taj Mahal Casino Resort. It would be Atlantic City’s first “gentlemen’s club” inside a casino. The ruling would permit Scores to open a $3 million club inside the Taj, provided the company can apply for and get a liquor license. Can’t you just feel the pride?

This move raises any number of questions: Exactly what is Atlantic City trying to become these days? If the answer is “a premier destination resort,” the question then becomes: Who, exactly, is the city trying to attract with this sort of entertainment? Gamblers? Folks already get their gambling fix in neighboring states. Strip club enthusiasts? In certain parts of New Jersey, you can’t swing a sparkly thong without hitting a half-dozen strip joints.

Scores told regulators its club would charge “a significant admission fee” and that private dance rooms would be available, at a cost of $300 for 30 minutes. And that only covers the use of the room. That’s one heckuva lot of quarters. Not the sort of money day-tripping seniors are dropping.

In describing the plans for the strip joint, Robert Griffin, CEO of Trump Entertainment Resorts, said, with an apparently straight face: “This multifaceted project will give us additional entertainment, food, beverage, and retail amenities that will be great additions to the property.”

A strip club won’t rescue Atlantic City, but it could provide jobs for up to 200 dancers. Touting Scores as a big deal is just embarrassing.

Almost as embarrassing as if Gov. Chris Christie were to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony.