While discussed for months, a formal effort to convince New Jersey voters to approve the building of two new casinos outside of Atlantic City got underway with a press conference touting the plan.
But supporters may have tough going as recent polls showed the state’s voters split evenly on the issue and Atlantic City’s continuing financial troubles may be dampening enthusiasm for the idea.
At a press conference held at the New Jersey Meadowlands—considered a likely spot for a casino—supporters said a successful campaign will stress the benefits for all of New Jersey and play down a north-south divide, according to the Associated Press.
“This is the right thing to do for the whole state,” said state Senate President Stephen Sweeney. “What this is trying to do is recapture the dollars of residents who won’t go to Atlantic City anymore.”
The referendum will ask voters to approve construction of two new casino projects. Though the referendum does not specify where the casinos be built—only that they be more than 70 miles from Atlantic City—the Meadowlands and Jersey City are considered the most supported contenders.
The proposed legislation would also redirect part of the gambling revenue for the casinos to aid in Atlantic City’s development of a full resort with less dependence on casino gambling. Though the figure is not set, estimates are that the city would receive up to $200 million a year.
Jim Kirkos, president of the Meadowlands Regional Chamber of Commerce, said the vote-yes campaign will stress one central message: that casinos in north Jersey benefit the entire state.
We can build and rebuild two great tourism destinations in New Jersey—here and Atlantic City,” said Kirkos, the Meadowlands business leader. “How great for New Jersey would that be? This is not about north and south. We can have both.”
However, opponents of the bill stress that adding even more competition for the resort—especially within its own state—will further devastate the resort and cause more casino closings there. They were recently backed up by a report from Fitch Ratings which predicted that four of the city’s eight remaining casinos would close if the new casinos come on line.
Democratic Sen. Paul Sarlo, who represents the Meadowlands region, acknowledged that opponents of the plan will also mount a well-funded opposition.
“There will be those who oppose this and who will spend a lot of money to oppose it,” he said. “It will be a campaign. But this is an investment in New Jersey. That’s the most important message we need to get out to voters.”
The two casino proposals that have gained the most momentum are at the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, where track operator Jeff Gural and Hard Rock International want to add a casino to the track complex, and in Jersey City, where footwear magnate Paul Fireman proposes a casino resort costing up to $5 billion, according to the AP.
Jersey City mayor Jeff Fulop also got some attention—though not by name—for initially supporting the Jersey City plan, but recently seeming to back off on his enthusiasm for the idea after a recent tour of Atlantic City.
Bergen County Executive James J. Tedesco said Fulop needs to think about “what’s best for the state of New Jersey,” and not just Jersey City.
“He represents hundreds of thousands of people who are part of New Jersey,” Tedesco said. “So I would hope that he would get behind this and support it from a New Jersey standpoint.”
