Hilton Hotels Seeks Casino in Atlantic City

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. —  The chairman of Hilton Hotels Corp. on Monday said that the company was ready to buy a casino in Atlantic City but would not say whether he was seeking the troubled Trump Castle from Donald J. Trump.

“Our company is in a position to go ahead if we see the opportunity is there and to make the investment in Atlantic City,” Barron Hilton said at a hearing before the New Jersey Casino Control Commission.

Hilton and other executives of Beverly Hills-based Hilton appeared before the commission to try to persuade regulators that it has the financial and moral integrity to own a casino in the resort.

The commission is expected to issue its decision Wednesday. If it grants a license to Hilton, the company will be allowed to invest in Atlantic City.

Industry analysts say Hilton may be eyeing the Atlantic City casino it was forced to sell to Trump for $320 million in 1985.

Although Trump has denied that he wants to sell the Trump Castle to Hilton or anyone else, analysts say the New York-based developer may have little choice.

Last week, the commission failed to approve a new license for the Castle, citing the property’s troubled finances. But it allowed Trump to retain his other Atlantic City casinos, the Trump Plaza and Taj Mahal.

Hilton has said it wants to concentrate on winning approval for a license to operate in Atlantic City before it sets its sights on a specific property there. The company runs six casinos in Nevada.

Asked after the hearing if he was negotiating with Trump, Hilton replied: “Let me put it this way. Donald said that his hotels are not for sale, and he didn’t mention the Taj Mahal. . .he just said the Castle.”