Atlantic City, eastern casino markets brace for Hurricane Sandy
Atlantic City casinos are bracing for the arrival of Hurricane Sandy.
Wells Fargo Securities gaming analyst Cameron McKnight told investors the storm was expected to hit the east and mid-Atlantic regions, possibly by Sunday night.
State officials are reportedly monitoring conditions for emergency procedures including evacuations and casino closures.
“We believe several regional casino markets could be at risk, including Atlantic City casinos, Connecticut tribal casinos, New York VLT industry, Eastern Pennsylvania casinos, and Maryland casinos,” McKnight said.
On Saturday morning, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie declared a state of emergency as the storm moved up the East Coast.
"We have to be prepared for the worst," said Christie at a televised press conference shortly before noon.
Christie urged residents to heed warnings from weathercasters about the severity of the coming storm and prepare to move to safer locations.
The governor suggested residents pack medications and notify others of their whereabouts.
"We need to reach out to each other, not just depend on government," he said.
