British Online Gambling Company Wants Atlantic City Casino

The advent of Internet gambling in New Jersey has left a British online gambling firm placing a bet on Atlantic City with plans to build or buy a resort casino.

London-based 2UP Gaming PLC is in negotiations to purchase an Atlantic City casino. If that’s not possible, the company is prepared to build anew, said Vincent Crandon, who will oversee 2UP Gaming’s American expansion. The company announced its intentions Friday, saying an Asian investment firm is prepared to contribute $330 million to the project.

“I don’t count New Jersey out by any means,” Crandon said, speaking about the decision to enter the Atlantic City market. “We’re dedicated to being in Atlantic City. We’re not going to walk away.”

2UP plans to announce whether it will pursue an acquisition or new construction by Labor Day weekend, about the time an agreement between the firm and the investment group is expected to be finalized.

Crandon said the company would prefer to acquire an existing casino by September, as that would allow it to move forward with the state’s first day of legal Internet gambling in November. 2UP is in negotiations with multiple properties, but officials would not identify which casinos are in the mix.

Read more about how British online gambling could find a place in New Jersey at Press of Atlantic City.