In an effort to keep the casino collective close home, expect to see a lot more of Ivanka Trump in the coming months, as she becomes one of the main public faces of Trump Entertainment. Already familiar from Trump Entertainment billboards in and around Atlantic City dating from the days before she and her father quit its board during the bankruptcy filing, the executive vice president of development & acquisitions for the Trump Organization will play a larger role in marketing Trump Entertainment as well. "If they are looking to bring in a younger crowd and turn this into a hipper destination, Ivanka is definitely a smart choice," says Mermelstein.

But despite talk of turning around these assets, there is larger problem at play here, namely that Atlantic City has suffered huge hits from other states' involvement in the gambling industry. "It's an uphill battle," admits Mermelstein. "There is tremendous competition from Las Vegas, but now also with Connecticut, which is building newer and bigger properties that are, in some cases, closer to the major metro areas surrounding Manhattan." Separate from this, is the issue of blight. "Over the past couple of decades, Atlantic City has been going downhill in terms of bringing in newer properties and improving the area surrounding these assets," Mermelstein continues. "You're really limiting yourself to staying within the individual property because once you go outside that area it gets scary." Hirschfeld agrees Atlantic City is suffering, but he adds that it is a weak time for the casino industry in general. "There is no quick fix, but as the economy improves, which is occurring, tourism will return—step by step," he tells GlobeSt.com. "What's more, Atlantic City has a competitive edge in that it's not an isolated casino location like Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut."