Company eyes N.J. expansion, revamping of Bally’s Las Vegas

Tuesday, May 31, 2005 | 9:02 a.m.

Harrah's Entertainment Inc., the No. 2 U.S. casino company, may expand its two Atlantic City resorts and renovate Bally's Las Vegas to take advantage of growing demand in both markets, Chief Executive Gary Loveman said in an interview.

Harrah's may add more hotel rooms and restaurants to the Showboat and Harrah's Atlantic City casinos, Loveman said yesterday. The company expects to acquire Bally's Las Vegas next month with its $6.5 billion purchase of Caesars Entertainment Inc.

Loveman wants a bigger share of revenue from younger gamblers coming to Atlantic City, where the opening of the Borgata casino and more clubs and restaurants spurred a boom in nightlife the last two years. Bally's, which opened in the 1970s on the Las Vegas Strip at Flamingo Road, may be renovated or renamed to woo visitors attracted to newer resorts such as the Bellagio and Paris.

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