Newark, N.J. ? Donald Trump, who has made prime-time entertainment out of firing people, proved that the real world of business can be just as ruthless when he sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy for his casino empire because of a crushing $1.8 billion in debt.

Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts and related operations filed for bankruptcy Sunday after months of negotiations with bondholders. Chapter 11 enables a business to hold off its creditors and continue operating as it tries to put its finances in order.

“I don’t think it’s a failure; it’s a success,” Trump said Monday. “In this case, it was just something that worked better than other alternatives. It’s really just a technical thing.”

The casino business consists mainly of three neon-lit Atlantic City properties and a riverboat casino in Indiana — only a small part of Trump’s overall real estate empire. The business has been undermined by competitors who built new hotel towers, spruced up their casinos and lured gamblers away.

It is the second time Trump casinos filed for bankruptcy.

Trump rose to fame in the 1980s, when he attached his name to buildings, casinos and books, notably “Trump: The Art of the Deal.” The Donald returned to the spotlight this year with television’s “The Apprentice,” which turned “You’re fired” into a national catchphrase and made his comb-over even more famous.

Forbes magazine in September ranked him the 74th-richest American, with a net worth estimated at $2.6 billion.

Trump said he would remain chairman and chief executive of Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts, but his share would be reduced to 27 percent from 47 percent under a proposed restructuring plan reached with bondholders last month. He still would be the largest single shareholder and would continue to run the company.

“The future looks very good. We have one of the most powerful gaming companies the day it comes out” of bankruptcy, he said. “There’s no way we could have done that without the b-word.”

Gamblers probably won’t notice a difference. The casinos will continue to operate during bankruptcy.