The company that has populated the globe with Hard Rock casinos and restaurants received preliminary approval to enter the Atlantic City casino market - or one at the Meadowlands, if that market ever materializes. Seminole Hard Rock Entertainment received a statement of compliance Thursday from the New Jersey Casino Control Commission. That is a preliminary step in becoming licensed to own a casino in New Jersey.

It applies not only to Atlantic City, but also elsewhere in the state, including the northern New Jersey Meadowlands, where the company owns 16 percent of the Meadowlands Racetrack and has been given the right by its majority owner to be the gambling operator there.

That would require an amendment to the state Constitution allowing casino gambling to expand beyond Atlantic City, but popular and legislative support for such a move has been growing in recent years.

CEO James Allen did not reveal plans for any specific project.

- Associated Press

But he said he has had conversations this month with Glenn Straub, the Florida developer who is buying Revel out of bankruptcy.

- Associated Press