With 40 years of experience in an Atlantic City casino industry that itself is only 44 years old, Resorts Chief Executive Officer — and Atlantic City native — Mark Giannantonio was an obvious choice to be named as the new president of the Casino Association of New Jersey.
The announcement last Thursday accompanied the departure of former Hard Rock CEO Joe Lupo, who is moving to Las Vegas to serve as president of what will be a new Hard Rock casino in that city.
“It has been a privilege leading this organization and working for the betterment of Atlantic City,” Lupo said in a statement. “Mark is a lifelong Atlantic County resident who cares deeply about this city and community, and I am confident he will be a great voice for the industry moving forward.”
For his part, Giannantonio said, “I am honored to succeed Joe Lupo as the next president of the Casino Association of New Jersey. Joe has been a tremendous leader of this organization, and a tireless advocate for Atlantic City. I have deep roots in this community, and I am ready to work together with the city and the state to continue to advance Atlantic City and elevate its status as a leading entertainment hub and destination resort.”
AC casino-hopping
Giannantonio grew up in the Ducktown section of Atlantic City, landing a job at Resorts — Atlantic City’s first casino — in 1982. While there, he worked the night shift as a room service waiter as he put himself through college at Stockton University.
After college, Giannantonio shifted to the former Golden Nugget while it was becoming Bally’s Grand. Trump Marina was next, followed by a stint with the Tropicana that lasted 23 years. At the Tropicana, Giannantonio ascended to CEO, a role that ended in 2010 when owner Carl Icahn decided to make a change. That’s the point at which Resorts tapped its former waiter to return to his roots, and in 2013 he was elevated to CEO.
Giannantonio serves as chairman of the advisory board of the Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming Hospitality and Tourism (LIGHT) in the School of Business at Stockton University, his alma mater. Meanwhile, the Casino Association of New Jersey advocates for the Atlantic City casino industry by “supporting legislation and initiatives that advance the transformation of Atlantic City into a world-class destination resort.”
All nine Atlantic City casinos — Bally’s, Borgata, Caesars, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock, Harrah’s, Ocean, Resorts, and the Tropicana — are members.
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