Despite some rumors to the contrary, it looks like the proposed sale of Trump Marina to New York-based Coastal Development LLC is on track.

According to various news reports, New York-based Coastal Development has secured all of the $316 million sale price, and expects to close the deal for Donald Trump's perennially under-performing bayside gaming hall by early next year at the latest. Coastal CEO Richard Fields has also announced that--again contrary to some gossip--the property will remain open while the complex is transformed into the Margaritaville casino-hotel.

Coastal's purchase of the Marina, and its planned Margaritaville strategy should prove to be an across-the-board winner.

Trump's gambling entity, Trump Entertainment Resorts, wins because the Marina has been a loser pretty much from the day it opened in 1985. It's too small, architecturally challenged (the casino is on the second floor--a no-no as far as gamblers are concerned) and aesthetically inferior (it's uninteresting design begs the name "Trump's Cell Block").

Not only does TER finally rid of itself of the albatross that is the Marina, but it will also have more than a quarter-billion dollars to plow back into its two remaining AyCee operations, the Taj Mahal and Plaza.

The city wins because Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville concept is perfect for AyCee, especially for that nautically inclined property. Buffett's cache with the demographic that casinos crave should make Margaritaville a huge draw (incidentally, the singer-songwriter is not a partner; his company is simply entering into a licensing deal with Coastal Development).

And the theme is a perfect compliment to the casino's two Marina District neighbors, Borgata and Harrah's, both of which tend to market to the same kind of audience Margaritaville is expected to target.

TROP UPDATE: The ongoing, state-sponsored search for a buyer for the beleaguered Tropicana appears to be headed to a denouement: Bids have been submitted by several parties including, we hear, the Planet Hollywood organization. A decision should be announced some time this fall.

A 22-year-old from Seattle playing in his first "live" poker tournament has won the World Poker Tour portion of the 2008 Borgata Poker Open. It took Vivek Rajkumar just six heads-up hands to claim the Atlantic City-record cash prize by being the last player out of 516 standing.

Prior to this week, Rajkumar---whose nickname is "Psyduck"--had confined his poker playing to the online realm. But he beat out such superstars as Mark Seif, Gavin Smith, Roy Winston and 2006 World Series of Poker champ Jamie Gold to claim the top spot.

His final opponent was Sang Kim of Virginia, who took home $750,000 for his second-place finish. The other final table contestants were Dan Heimiller ($387,500), Jason Strochak ($337,500), Seif ($287,500), and Andrew Knee ($237,500).

WEEKEND PREVIEW: Things may have been kind of slow in AyCee showrooms last week, but that sure isn't the case this weekend.

For instance, Frankie Valli returns to Borgata for another set of sold-out shows in the Big B's Music Box tonight through Sunday, while Celine Dion will pack Boardwalk Hall for Harrah's Entertainment tonight.

There's also plenty for Motown fans as The Temptations open a three-night stand at Tropicana while their comrades-in-larynx, The Four Tops make with the hits at the A.C. Hilton tonight and Saturday.

On a more contemporary note, the hot country act Sugarland hits the Taj Mahal Saturday. And if you're looking for laughs, Robert Klein yuks it up at Trump Plaza Saturday.

On a purely personal note, the coolest gig is that of Connie Stevens, who on Sunday, opens a five-night run at the Hilton. When I was a little (and I mean little) boy, Stevens was my first crush when she starred as nightclub photog Cricket Blake on "Hawaiian Eye."

As promised there were plenty of famous faces among the 516 hopefuls who hit the felt as the World Poker Tour portion of the 2008 Borgata Poker Open commenced Sunday morning.

Among those vying for their piece of the guaranteed $5 million prize pool (including an AyCee record $1.425,000 for the winner) were Ylon Schwartz and Dennis Philips (two of the nine players who will be present and accounted for when the final table of the 2008 World Series of Poker begins in November in Las Vegas).

Also on board Sunday were Mark Seif, Gavin Smith, Joe Sebok, Matt Keikoan, Roy Winston (last year's event champ) and Jamie Gold, whose 2006 WSOP championship earned him $12 million--the largest poker pot in history.

As Frank Seravalli reported in today's DN sports section, another contestant was Flyers' forward Scottie Upshall, whose $10,000 buy-in was covered by Borgata, and who has designated any winnings to two charities.

But what wasn't reported was that Upshall made a new friend yesterday. He and Gold were introduced by Borgata poker boss Ray "Call Him 'Sal'" Stefanelli. The two exchanged cell phone numbers, so Gold can invite Upshall to future charity events staged by Gold.

The final-table event is scheduled to air on Fox Sports Net some time in the late winter or early spring of 2009. Fans are welcome to attend Thursday's final round. Doors open at 3 p.m. with cards in the air at 4. Admission is free.

USPC UNDER WAY: The WPT isn't the only big game in town. Yesterday, the 2008 United States Poker Championship kicked off at the Taj Mahal. It continues through Oct. 8, with the $10,000 buy-in Main Event slated to begin Oct.5.

For a complete scheduled of events, go to http://trumptaj.com/media/docs/tajMahal/USPCPoker.pdf

It's definitely not the most star-studded weekend in AyCee--partly because the Borgata Poker Open is still camped out in the casino's Event Center. But there are a few shows of interest scheduled.

LYNDA SYNGS: "Wonder Woman," a.k.a Lynda Carter, continues her run at Harrah's Resort. Backed by a quintet of big-time players who've worked with everyone from Toto to Cher to Elton John, the still-fabulous-looking Carter, 57, serves up a mixed bag of jazz-flavored tunes that covers a lot of territory, including Motown and pre-rock pop standards.

Carter's voice won't blow you away, but it's sultry and expressive enough to put across the material. The problem with her set is that the overwhelming majority of tunes are ballads; a few more up-tempo numbers would definitely make for a more sonically interesting 60 minutes.

Harrah's Resort Atlantic City, 777 Harrah's Blvd.. 9 p.m. today and tomorrow, 8 p.m. Sunday, $40, (800) 735-1420, www.ticketmaster.com.

A MUSICAL MARRIAGE: Way across town at the Atlantic City Hilton, the husband-wife team of Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. are recalling the glory days of their '60s hit machine, The 5th Dimension, as well as performing material--including "One Less Bell to Answer" and "You Don't Have to Be A Star (To Be in My Show")--from their collective and solo post-5D careers.

Atlantic City Hilton, Boardwalk at Boston Avenue, 9 tonight, $35. (800) 736-1420, www.ticketmaster.com.

NAS ATTACK: For something a little more contemporary, you can hit House of Blues tonight, where rapper  Nas makes with the rhymes. The hip-hop vet--born Nasir Jones--has just released his ninth CD, "Untitled." It was originally called "N----r," but protests from various and diverse quarters, including Rev. Al Sharpton on the left, and various Fox News jabbering heads on the right, succeeded in getting Nas to reconsider.

Showboat, Boardwalk at Delaware Avenue, 9 p.m., $76 and $48,50, (800) 736-1420, www.ticketmaster.com.

They like it! They really like it!

That's the word from Joe and Jane Q. Public about Atlantic City--at least according to the 2008 Visitor Profile Study released this morning by the Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority.

Conducted at the ACCVA's behest by Spectrum Gaming Group of Linwood, N.J., the year-long, $100,000 survey tells a tale that belies the town's current economic situation, which finds gaming revenue down (despite a miniscule rise in August relative to August of '07).

In a nutshell, said Michael J. Pollock, Spectrum Gaming's managing partner, the study suggests the city's current financial situation is far more a reflection of the depressed economy and increasing competition from neighboring states than an indication of dissatisfaction with AyCee or its attractions.

To the contrary, the 3,000 adults--who were questioned during the 12-month period that began in July, 2007--find the gambling mecca a pretty cool place to party. Or, as ACCVA President Jeffrey Vasser put it, an "overwhelming majority of respondents hold favorable views of the city." Supporting that claim was the 98.7 percent of those surveyed who said they'd recommend Atlantic City to their friends and family members, and the 68.6 percent who reported they intended to return to town within a month of being interviewed (on the other hand, only 0.3 percent said they'd never come back).

Interestingly, the main reason those questioned said they decided to come to A.C. wasn't any specific activity or amenity, but "ease of parking" (3.78 out of 5). Gambling clocked in at 3.12.

Perhaps the most striking finding was that, on a scale of 1-to-5, safety rated a whopping 4.56. This belies the long-held perception that Atlantic City is a dangerous place for visitors. Customer service received a 4.27.

As for who is coming to Atlantic City, while there is a demonstrable youth movement afoot, baby boomers predominate: According to the survey, the "average" visitor is a 52-year-old woman who makes eight trips a year, primarily to gamble. She stays for about six hours per visit, and spends $331 ($200 on gambling). Overall, women make up 64 percent of visitors.

In a half-empty/half-full moment, Vasser, during a presentation at the Atlantic City Convention Center, announced that only 18 percent of the city's primary market--the 24 million adults who live within a three-hour drive--have visited. But he followed up that news by suggesting it is actually a positive development. "That means there's a huge opportunity for us" to grow the market, he reasoned. "What would scare me more is, what if we had tapped out our market?"

Other findings include:

--Visitors are pretty much evenly split between married and single people.

--29.9 percent are retired.

--54.4 percent are employed full-time.

--79.6 percent said Atlantic City is becoming a "more attractive" destination.

--And in a finding that is sure  to dismay casino executives, the study indicates that smokers out-gamble non-smokers $500 to $469 per visit (the total smoking ban in the gaming halls takes effect Oct.15).

To see the complete survey, go to www.atlanticcitynj.com/!userfiles/pdfs/reports/acvp08_full.pdf.

Yesterday's post about the impending total smoking ban in Atlantic City certainly touched some raw nerves, based on the comments posted here and a few e-mails I received. So let me respond:

***Let's start with the perception that I am a gambling smoker (or is that smoking gambler)? With the one-day-only exception of splitting a pack of Tareytons with my best friend at The Who concert at the original Electric Factory in Oct., 1969, I have never smoked cigarettes (although I do enjoy the occasional stogie). And other than once or twice a year, when I might throw some dice, I do not play any casino games of chance (poker doesn't count as "gambling" because it is not mathematically engineered for the house to win, and you don't have to have the best hand to take a pot).

***I know inanimate objects can't "gloat" (I used the word in reference to those who paid for the sign).

***I have complete empathy and sympathy for those whose health has been negatively impacted by second-hand smoke. But I'm pretty sure no one held a gun to the heads of people who took jobs that put them in that kind of jeopardy. Put another way, no one who fears the prospect of injury or death would become a firefighter or police officer, would they? So why would anyone concerned about the effects of second-hand smoke take a job on a casino floor to begin with?

***With all due respect to those who mentioned it, the smoke-free poker room argument is specious at best. Players still pack AyCee's card rooms because there is no regional option. So far, it's either the kitchen table or Atlantic City for us poker nuts. Do you honestly think that smokers would continue to play in A.C. if they could play in poker rooms that permit smoking?

***My main point is that the timing of the ban is wrong. Perhaps if it had been implemented during that time in history when A.C. had the East Coast casino monopoly, it wouldn't have mattered as much; by now people would be more acclimated to it. But why, in these economically lousy times, give your customers a reason to go elsewhere?

***My beef with all anti-smoking legislation is that it impinges on what I (misguided dolt that I am) see as basic concepts of American freedom. What do you think the likes of Franklin and Jefferson would think of government telling adults how they should behave when it comes to behavior that doesn't IMPLICITLY endanger another citizen (before I hear it from the second-hand smoke crowd again, what I mean is, blowing a single puff of smoke in a person's face certainly won't have the same effect as firing a single bullet into his face). 

***Finally, I'd like to thank each and everyone who took the time and effort to tell me how stupid I am. Believe it or not, I love it. This is the ideal of the Internet: A sincere exchange of ideas between those who have fundamental disagreements. If you promise to keep calling me out when I write something you find wrongheaded, I promise to keep writing them!

As I was heading down the Expressway to AyCee earlier today, I glanced at a billboard that appeared to be gloating about the impending full smoking ban in the casinos.

It said something about "Breathe Easy Atlantic City," and was most definitely an anti-smoking sign. And it made me wonder about those who lobbied so enthusiastically in favor of sticking it to smokers who gamble: Will they be so giddy when casino jobs are lost because even more players head to Pennsy and Delaware instead of Atlantic City to court Lady Luck? Will they erect a billboard that proclaims their joy at the prospect of some of their fellow citizens applying for unemployment compensation and trying to figure out how to keep their houses from going into foreclosure?

Just wondering...

OOPS: The other day, I erroneously put the World Poker Tour--which comes to Borgata Sunday through Sept. 18--on the GSN channel. Technically, I was right--this past season has been on GSN. But it turns out the next season (which will include the Borgata throw-down) will air on FSN...

The post-Labor Day period isn't quite the same since Miss America packed her tiara and hightailed it to the Nevada desert, but that hardly means there's nothing to do in AyCee this weekend.

In addition to the casino debut of Wonder Woman's (Lynda Carter) at Harrah's and the Resorts Atlantic City debut of "Deal or No Deal"-er Howie Mandel (see my "At the Casinos" column in Friday's paper for more on both), the weekend will see the return of a bona fide Hollywood legend and an appearance by a celebrity chef.

The legend of whom I speak is Debbie Reynolds, who's still going strong at age 76 and coming to Resorts Sunday through Friday.Unless she's drastically altered her show's format, you can expect a potpourri of music, comedy (including several impersonations) and anecdotes from her 60 years in show business.

Show times are 7 p.m. Sunday through Thursday (no show Monday) and 9 p.m. Sept. 12. Admission is $40. For tix, call (800) 736-1420, or go to www.ticketmaster.com.

The celeb cook is Tom Colicchio, star of Bravo's "Top Chef" series. He'll be offering cooking demonstrations and tips and answering audience questions Sunday at Caesars Atlantic City. Show time is 1 p.m. Admission is $25. Contact Ticketmaster for tickets.

E!-A!-G!-L!-E!-S!: This probably isn't going to make New York Giants fans fist-bump, but Resorts has instituted a new contest whose grand prize is a luxury suite for the Oct. 5 game at The Linc between the Iggles and Washington Redskins. In addition to hosting 19 of his or her closest friends, the winner will also feed and ply them with drinks.

The contest is open only to card-carrying members of the Resorts Destinations Casino Club. Casino players can get a card by registering at the promotions center located in casino. Of course, you have to be 21 or older to be eligible.

Card holders can receive contest entries by accruing one point on slot play, or through one hour of rated table play. Entries can be earned through 8 p.m. Sept.27. The drawing for the suite will be held at 9 p.m. that day.  Every current card holder will receive one entry into the sweepstakes.

For more info, call (609) 344-6000.

The summer season may be over, but things are just beginning to heat up on the poker front.

Tomorrow, the Borgata Poker Open 2008 kicks off a 16-day schedule with a $300-$50 No-Limit Texas Hold'Em tourney.

By the time the final hand is played on Sept. 18, a minimum of $5 million will have been won by poker players who'll be coming to the Big B from around the nation and the world.

The centerpiece of the BPO is the five-day World Poker Tour event that begins Sept. 14 and concludes with the final table of the $10,000 buy-in contest, which will be taped for future broadcast on the GSN cable channel (which means you'll get to see some of the game's top pros in action if you come down to watch).

For all the info you need, call (609) 317-1000, or go to www.theborgata.com.