New Jersey decision on Eldorado, Caesars deal delayed — again

Eldorado Resorts Inc.’s acquisition of Caesars Entertainment Corp. is going to have to wait another day.

The New Jersey Casino Control Commission on Thursday received petitions from two Atlantic City casino competitors of Eldorado seeking to participate with testimony in the decision to allow Eldorado to acquire Caesars for $17.3 billion.

Attorneys with New Jersey’s Division of Gaming Enforcement told commissioners Thursday that Hard Rock Atlantic City and Ocean Casino Resort had filed petitions to be heard on issues involving competition and casino saturation before the deal is completed.

Late Thursday, commissioners opted not to allow the competitors to intervene.

The acquisition was first announced more than a year ago and New Jersey gaming regulators are the last to consider the deal which already has been approved by company shareholders, the Federal Trade Commission and regulatory bodies from the 15 other states in which the merged company will operate, including Nevada.

Eldorado already operated the Tropicana Atlantic City and, with acquisition, would add Caesars Atlantic City and Harrah’s Resort at Atlantic City if the deal is approved. Caesars announced in April that it is planning to sell Bally’s Atlantic City to Twin Rivers Holdings LLC of Rhode Island for $25 million.

Commission Chairman James Plousis said deliberations on the deal would occur Friday morning with a vote coming afterward.

Eldorado shares fell $1.26, 3 percent, on average volume trading on the Nasdaq exchange. After hours, shares rebounded by 3 cents, 0.1 percent, to end at $40.80 a share.

Contact Richard N. Velotta at rvelotta@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893. Follow @RickVelotta on Twitter.