As the New Jersey Legislature begins a new session, two bills have been introduced in the state Senate involving gambling.
Republican Senator Joseph Pennacchio has reintroduced SCR 14, which would legalize slot machines at horse racing tracks, and Democratic Senator Joseph Cryan introduced SB 2156, which would place some restrictions on gambling advertising.
Pennacchio’s bill would authorize Meadowlands, Monmouth Park and Freehold Raceway to add slot machines, a proposal that has been opposed bitterly over the years by the Atlantic City casino industry and its lobbyists. To address that opposition, SCR 14 would earmark revenue from the racinos to contribute to improvements in Atlantic City.
Pennacchio has been pushing racino legislation since 2014, but no bill has made it out of committee in those 10 years.
Cryan’s bill would restrict certain gambling advertising, prohibiting ads that target self-excluded or underage gamblers. It also would restrict what it defines as “fraudulent advertising practices.”
Both bills were referred to the Senate Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee for debate.
