Gambling interests from around the country spent better than .1 million on lobbying efforts in New Jersey according to a report in NorthJersey.com.
The increase comes as the state prepares to hold a voter referendum to allow new casinos in the state—to be located outside of Atlantic City for the first time—and as Atlantic City fights to keep its municipal government out of bankruptcy.
The spending came from casino owners, racetrack interests, developers and various business groups to lobby lawmakers and state agencies in Trenton, records cited by the website—the website of the Bergen Record—show.
The biggest spenders are interests looking to expand into a possible Northern New Jersey casino market. In November, voters will decide if the state will allow two new casinos to be built in the northern part of the state. Though the referendum does not name sites for the casinos, the Meadowlands complex in East Rutherford is considered a leading contender.
Jeff Gural, the real estate developer who took over The Meadowlands Racetrack in 2012 spent $140,000 to lobby Trenton last year, the website reported.
“If there’s going to be a casino in the Meadowlands, I’ve clearly got the best place for it,” Gural told the website. “I’m doing what I need to do to compete.”
The ongoing political battle over state plans to take over Atlantic City’s municipal government—which is teetering on bankruptcy—is also driving the spending, the report said.
“Every session brings out an issue that really takes the lobbying world by storm, and for the last year or so it’s been gaming,” William J. Maer, a lobbyist for Caesars and a partner in one of Trenton’s most influential lobbying firms, Public Strategies Impact told the website. “There are still a lot of moving pieces out there.”
Lobbyists now representing gaming interests include top political fundraisers for both parties, advisers and Cabinet members to several ex-governors, union leaders, a former congressman and even former Christie administration aide Christina Renna, who worked under the governor’s indicted former deputy chief of staff, Bridget Anne Kelly, during the George Washington Bridge scandal.
According to NortheJersey.com, some examples include:
• The Borgata and MGM Resorts casinos paid a total of $170,000 to the lobbying firm that includes William Layton, a noted Republican, and Pete Cammarano, an aide to former Gov. Richard Codey, a Democrat and veteran legislator. MGM also paid $83,000 to Kaufman Zita, a firm whose principals in 2015 included leading figures from the administrations of both Donald DiFrancesco and Jim Florio.
• A consortium of seven casinos, including MGM, Bally’s and Golden Nugget, hired the rapidly growing lobby firm Optimus Partners, which is headed by Jeff Michaels, former chief of staff to DiFrancesco, a Republican, and noted Democratic lawyer Philip Norcross, the brother of South Jersey power broker George Norcross.
The firm was also paid $126,000 by New Jersey American Water, a firm mentioned as a possible partner in a privatization of Atlantic City’s water utility. Optimus also received $63,000 to lobby on behalf of an Atlantic City business owned by Bart Blatstein, the Philadelphia developer who last year bought the former Showboat casino.
• Caesars Entertainment paid more than $280,000 to lobbyists. The team included Maer’s firm, which is headed by former Brendan Byrne administration official Harold Hodes and Roger Bodman, a Republican who served in various Cabinet posts for Gov. Tom Kean.
According to the website, lobbyists representing various labor groups, chamber of commerce committees and real estate developers also lobbied Trenton lawmakers to be heard on the range of issues, from a possible state takeover of Atlantic City to the mechanics of a voter referendum on the spread of casino gambling.
Meanwhile the owners of both the Parx casino outside Philadelphia and the Hollywood Casino at the Penn National Race Course near Harrisburg, Pa., hired lobbyists in Trenton to oppose the spread of gambling to North Jersey.
Also, Paul Fireman, who has proposed a $4.6 billion casino and motor sports stadium in Jersey City has also hired a top public relations firm headed by Maggie Moran, who was a leading staffer for both former Governor Jon Corzine and the late U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg.
Analysts speaking to the Record, said the influx of cash shows that the gaming industry is expecting the New Jersey market to grow substantially.
