Revenue for the Tropicana's parent company grew 12 percent during the first quarter of 2005, based on positive results from its $275 million nongaming expansion to its Atlantic City resort.

Phoenix-based Aztar said Wednesday the company earned 27 cents per diluted share, compared with 10 cents per share a year ago. However, the company still fell below the consensus of 32 cents per share by analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call.

"Since the opening of the expansion at Tropicana Atlantic City, our top priority has been to achieve an enthusiastic response to our new product from existing and first-time customers," Aztar Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Robert Haddock in a statement. "All of the evidence seems to show that we have been very successful in that goal."

Revenue at the Tropicana Atlantic City rose 21.5 percent to $111.7 million, compared with $91.9 million a year ago, based on customer activity brought to the property through The Quarter at Tropicana, a 200,000-square-foot dining, entertainment and retail complex.

The Tropicana Las Vegas saw its revenues jump slightly from $40.5 million a year ago to $42.2 million.

During a conference call, company leaders were adamant that the property and its surrounding 34-acre site were not for sale and that Aztar would redevelop the property.

"Overall, it was pretty much what we expected," said Steven Ruggiero, gaming analyst with the CRT Capital Group. "The company is not going to buy back stock and not make any capital expenditures immediately, so they will have a lot of free cash flow in the next quarter."

Aztar's Laughlin casino, the Ramada Express, reported revenues of $26.5 million during the quarter, up from $24.2 million last year.

Aztar's earnings were reduced by 5 cents because of the retirement of former chairman Paul Rubeli, who had a settlement of $2.9 million.