The big news in Atlantic City this week is that Landry’s, the owner-operator of the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas, has agreed to buy the ailing Trump Marina hotel and casino. The deal is expected to close in the spring, and the local paper is reporting that Landry’s plans to spend $150 million to give the place a much-needed facelift. The work should be done by the end of the year. They are promising a new spa, to refurbish all the hotel rooms and to bring their famous restaurants onto the property.

   Landry’s was initially looking to buy the Hilton, which Steve Wynn built as the Atlantic City Golden Nugget back in the 1980s. But they decided to go for Trump Marina in order to compete for the higher-class customers that made the Borgata and Harrah’s successful.

   Some people are saying it’s ironic, that the original Golden Nugget is now a Hilton, and the original Hilton (before Trump took it over) will be a Golden Nugget.

   Gamblers told the Atlantic City Press they would like to keep the same friendly staff, but want to see the casino go smoke-free – or at least enforce the current law for separate smoking and non-smoking areas. Gamblers on message boards are hoping for good video poker machines and a good comp/cashback scheme.

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