Showboat Atlantic City Owner No Longer a Wanted Man After Paying $533K Debt
Posted on: July 9, 2025, 10:33h.
Last updated on: July 9, 2025, 10:40h.
- Bart Blatstein has paid an outstanding bill for electrical services
- Blatstein owns the noncasino Showboat Hotel in Atlantic City
- The Showboat is focused on families
Philadelphia real estate businessman Bart Blatstein, whose Tower Investments owns the Showboat Hotel in Atlantic City, is no longer a wanted man after he made full a contractor who was owed more than $500K.
Lynda Cohen with BreakingAC, a local news outlet covering the Jersey Shore, lived up to its name last week by breaking the news that a warrant for Blatstein’s arrest had been issued by New Jersey Courts Civil Presiding Judge John Porto. The arrest warrant stemmed from a contractor, Lee-Way Electrical, telling the court that Blatstein had failed to pay a $532,933.35 invoice for electrical work performed at the Boardwalk noncasino hotel resort.
Landisville, NJ-based Lee-Way Electrical performed work at the Showboat parking garage and resort totaling $725K. Attorneys for the electrical contractor said payments from Showboat stopped in June 2024 after the company received about $200K.
Porto’s arrest warrant didn’t seek to put the Showboat owner in jail but simply bring him before the court. After learning of the arrest warrant, Blatstein told BreakingAC and the Press of Atlantic City that the failure to pay was “an oversight,” and that Lee-Way would be made whole “immediately.”
Court records show that the $532,933.35 outstanding obligation was rectified. Lee-Way attorneys filed an update with the court saying that Blatstein and Tower Investments “initiated a wire for the amount.”
Showboat Success
Blatstein is at the forefront of trying to diversify Atlantic City into a more appealing destination for nongamblers, business events, sports, and families. After acquiring the Showboat in early 2016 for just $23 million, a sprawling property that was formerly a casino owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment until 2014, the Philly real estate tycoon opted not to pursue a casino license in favor of making the property nongaming.
Obtaining a casino license would have been difficult, as Caesars placed a deed restriction on the property preventing it from housing slot machines before selling it. Though it was rumored that Blatstein could develop a workaround of the deed restriction by subdividing the property into new lots of record, Blatstein ultimately kept his family-first focus.
He invested more than $100 million in an indoor water park and $7 million for an indoor arcade where the Showboat’s casino slots once rang. But as reports surfaced that contractors behind the Island Waterpark weren’t paid, and entrance fees and hours were slashed, rumors around town were that Blatstein’s big bet wasn’t delivering a return.
Asked whether the Showboat has encountered financial difficulties by the Press’ Wayne Parry, a longtime reporter in Atlantic City, Blatstein answered no.
“None whatsoever. We’re having our best year,” Blatstein said.
New Website
Showboat Atlantic City recently launched a new, refreshed website with the tagline, “Embark on a Thrilling Vacation for the Whole Family.” Atlantic City visitors who wish to stay along the beach without the pestering sounds of ringing slot machines and casino smoke might find the Showboat attractive, as the entire property is smoke- and gambling-free.
Though there is no casino, the Showboat offers various entertainment and things to do.
Along with the Island Waterpark and Lucky Snack Arcade, the latter billed as the largest arcade in the world with over 100K square feet of games, which includes a go-kart track and mini-golf, the resort’s wellness offerings include the Aura Salon and Spa and state-of-the-art Showboat Gym.
Last Comment ( 1 )
the showboat is a horrible mess we stayed there for 2 and half nights the rm was just horrible, the security was bad there was a man causing a big scene at the front desk and nobody did anything the parking was 100.37 because we didn't have a smart phone the front desk staff never answered the phone this place needs to be checked really good by the owner himself because so many other said the same thing it won't last because it's so ruined down its dangerous.