Word has it that the Excelsior Casino in the Holiday Inn in Aruba has been closed and is undergoing way overdue renovations. The old casino management company is gone and is being replaced, but there is no word, even to employees, who is taking over. In Aruba, casino management change generally means a new casino name, new chips, new everything. The last change at the Holiday Inn is when the Grand Holiday Casino became the Excelsior Casino in September 1998. The Excelsior lasted 20 years. Personally, it was my favorite poker room on Aruba, but I understand it went downhill, and was never all that nice, but the games were good.

Michael Siskin