Mainland Grad & Hard Rock CEO Named to Gaming Hall of Fame

Mainland Regional High School graduate Jim Allen has been named to the Gaming Hall of Fame Class of 2024 by the American Gaming Association, honoring his significant contributions to the industry.

Let me add that Jim is a good guy and very caring to his employees.

It has always stuck with me that Hard Rock Atlantic City handed out hundreds of thousands of dollars in supermarket gift cards to employees furloughed during the Covid pandemic.

Congratulations, Jim!

South Jersey Native to Enter Gaming Hall of Fame

Allen started his gaming career in Atlantic City and has become the Chief Executive Officer of Seminole Gaming and Hard Rock International.

Under Allen’s leadership, Hard Rock has expanded its presence from 46 to 76 countries since its 2007 acquisition by the tribe, and grown from 125 Hard Rock cafes to 211, nine hotels to 32, and from four casinos to 13. That's impressive.

Allen has continued to be heavily involved with the AC Hard Rock property, since swooping in to buy the struggling Taj Mahal from Carl Icon for a meager $50 million.

Jim Allen's Rise to Power

Jim Allen has said he always liked to work. He had to from an early age.

After his dad died, Allen took a full-time job washing dishes in a South Jersey pizzeria at age 14 to help support the family while attending high school in the mornings.

His gaming career began as a cook at Bally's Park Place, where he helped implement data-tracking software to balance profit and food costs.

Along the way, he took classes at Atlantic-Cape Community College.

Allen then joined the Atlantic City Hilton as a purchasing manager, before being named the vice president of operations for the three trump properties in town.

Jim Allen eventually left to work for Sol Kerzner, developing the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut and the Atlantis Resort and Casino on Paradise Island, Nassau, The Bahamas.

In 2001 he became the chief executive officer of Seminole Gaming.

Allen's Accomplishments at Hard Rock International

Under his leadership, Seminole Gaming and Hard Rock International have grown their global footprint in U.S. casino gaming, winning numerous awards for excellence in operations, hospitality, and employment.

Allen has also led the expansion of the company’s entertainment offerings to sports and sports betting, including the 2020 launch of Hard Rock Digital—an online and retail sportsbook and internet gaming platform.

Jim Allen oversaw the creation of partnerships with Formula One Racing, Red Bull Racing, Lionel Messi, and Hard Rock Stadium which hosts the NFL’s Miami Dolphins.

“He’s an MVP in our industry, no doubt about it,” Casino Journal Executive Editor Charles Anderer said.

“With the Hard Rock, he’s been so smart about how they have leveraged that brand and they’ve done it perfectly. He has an intrinsic understanding of branding and also customers.