Sands is Ready to Go

Atlantic City won’t be the same without the Sands Casino, and it is now ready to be knocked down – out of AC forever. As you walk by the casino it seems like an old relic long past its time, and inside it is even worse. Rows of slot machines stand empty with no sound of coins clanking, no guests waiting to check into the hotel, no drinks in the Swingers Lounge, absolutely nothing to tell of an era gone by.

Pinnacle Entertainment has purchased the casino for $250 million, and is planning on knocking it down making way for their new $1.5 billion resort. The casino has been closed since November 11th of last year. Since then workers have been getting it ready for the wrecking ball, which includes removing all of those slot machines.

There has been some additional money made however, for as the slot machines are taken apart money has been found that now belongs to Pinnacle – that is after the State of New Jersey gets their share of anything found. Even with the casino closed, the state will get their 8% of anything that the workers find, but so far they say they have only found about $1,000 worth of tokens and pennies. The slot machines will go on to other Pinnacle casinos, as will the poker tables.

All slot machines must be cataloged as to where they are going per New Jersey gaming laws, and the Casino Control Commission will get a list of all of the serial numbers of the machines and where they went. They will also be stripping the casino of everything – including plumbing fixtures – some will be sold and some will be used in other places. They are hoping to demolish the building in October, start construction by 2008 and have the new casino up and running by 2011.

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