Even though New Jersey voters overwhelmingly defeated a referendum to allow new casino construction in the state on Election Day, Hard Rock International’s CEO said the company is still committed to building a casino in the state.
Jim Allen told the Associated Press he’s prepared to wait two years or even much longer to build a proposed casino at the State’s Meadowlands Sports Complex. Hard Rock has teamed with Meadowlands racetrack owner Jeff Gural and proposed a casino at the track.
The referendum put before voters allowed for two casinos to be built in northern New Jersey—the first that would be allowed outside Atlantic City—but did not name the sites for the casinos, the tax rates they would pay or who would build them. That ambiguity was seen as a key reason the measure was defeated by a nearly 4 to 1 vote.
Gural and other proponents have said they hope to put another, much more specific plan before voters which could name only the Meadowlands proposal. However, state law requires a two-year wait before another referendum can be placed on the ballot. Gural has said he is willing to wait as long as six years to get a new proposal before voters.
Allen told the AP his company will be patient in New Jersey and will also wait it out.
“We’re committed to the state of New Jersey for the long term,” Allen said.
Allen also said he could support a plan by state Assemblyman Ralph Caputo, a north Jersey Democrat, to authorize slot machines at the state’s racetracks by reclassifying them as “video lottery terminals” under the auspices of the already legal state Lottery. However, that plan relies on a decades-old legal opinion that it would not require a public vote—which may not be true today—and attempts to put VLTS at state racetracks have failed repeatedly in the past.
In a related matter, Allen made his comments while in Atlantic City, where he said the company is working to keep its Hard Rock Café at the now closed Trump Taj Mahal open. The restaurant employs 107 people.
“We made a decision that we’re going to try to save those jobs and keep those individuals able to support themselves and their families,” he said. “I will be candid: We certainly aren’t going to be profitable. We know this is an expense we’re going to incur to appreciate the employees that have been with us for 20 years.”
