Luciani to Operate Griffin’s Casino

Former Golden Nugget Inc. executive Alfred Luciani has been appointed to run Merv Griffin’s financially troubled Resorts International Casino Hotel.

The announcement came at the same time disgruntled bondholders were deciding whether to file a lawsuit forcing New Jersey’s first gaming company into involuntary bankruptcy.

Griffin has asked Resorts bondholders to approve a massive restructuring in which the company’s two classes of bondholders would receive significantly less interest and principal in return for cash and stock. However, unsecured bondholders are unhappy with the deal and have been rumored poised to file suit by the end of the week.

Resorts President David Hanlon named Luciani executive vice president and chief operating officer of the 680-room Resorts International Casino Hotel.

“Al represents a strong addition to our management team,” Hanlon said in a prepared statement.

Luciani held a number of executive positions in the Golden Nugget over an eight-year period, including president and chief executive of Golden Nugget Las Vegas, where he was responsible for the operation of the 2,000-room casino hotel, and executive vice president of Golden Nugget Atlantic City.

Golden Nugget no longer has a casino hotel in Atlantic City. It is now called Bally’s Grand.

Most recently, Luciani headed A.L.M. Moonstone Inc., a New Jersey company formed to buy the Claridge Hotel Casino. However, after months of elaborate negotiations failed to culminate in a deal, Claridge officials in September pulled out of the transaction.