Borgata president leaving Jan. 5

ATLANTIC CITY - The president of the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, is resigning Jan. 5 to take a position with an Australian casino operator.

Larry Mullin told the Associated Press today that he will become CEO of the casino division of Tabcorp Holdings, a Melbourne-based company that operates four casinos in Australia, among its other business ventures.

Robert Boughner, who is in charge of Boyd Gaming's $4.4 billion Echelon project in Las Vegas, will run the Borgata until a permanent successor can be found. He will remain in charge of Echelon, as well, during that time.

Boyd Gaming is co-owner of the Borgata, along with MGM Mirage.

"It's going to be an adventure," Mullin said. "Tabcorp is the largest casino operator in the country."

Mullin became president of the Borgata in 2006, having previously served as executive vice president of marketing.

Since it opened in 2003, the Borgata has been Atlantic City's dominant casino, routinely leading the market in terms of revenue.

Boyd spokesman Rob Stillwell said the company is sorry to see Mullin leave, but recognizes "this is a tremendous opportunity for Larry."

Tabcorp's casinos are Star City Hotel and Casino in Sydney; Conrad Jupiters Hotel and Casino on the Gold Coast; Conrad Treasury Hotel and Casino in Brisbane, and Jupiters Townsville Hotel and Casino.

Its casinos have 399 table games, more than 4,500 electronic gambling machines, and 1,409 hotel rooms.

Boughner will relocate to Atlantic City in January to oversee the Borgata until a new president is found. The president and CEO of Echelon Resorts in Las Vegas, he is the former chief executive of the Borgata.