Caesars changes Atlantic City casinos' leadership

Caesars Entertainment named new leaders for two of its Atlantic City casinos. The company said Monday it has appointed Joe Lodise as senior vice president and general manager of Caesars casino, and Gregg Klein with the same title at Harrah’s casino. They replace Ron Baumann, who had overseen both properties.

Caesars has not provided reasons for the changes, the Associated Press reports. The two casinos posted some of the largest percentage declines in gambling revenue of all Atlantic City’s nine casinos in 2020. Harrah’s was down 46.8% to $166.3 million, and Caesars was down 43.8% to $152.3 million.

All the Atlantic City casinos were closed for months last year as the first wave of the pandemic spread. When they reopened in early July, they were limited to operating at only 25% of capacity, a restriction that remains in place.

Lodise returns to Atlantic City after most recently serving as general manager for Caesars Entertainment’s Horseshoe Tunica casino in Mississippi. He previously worked at Caesars in Atlantic City.

Klein joined Eldorado Resorts in 2018 as vice president of operations, initially working with Isle Casino in Waterloo, Iowa and then Tropicana Atlantic City after Eldorado acquired Caesars Entertainment. His appointment still needs to be approved by New Jersey gambling regulators.