All hopes for a November vote on the potential construction of casinos in North Jersey are gone now, as State Senate President Steve Sweeney said on Tuesday that there is not enough time for legislators to discuss the matter.
New Jersey lawmakers were to vote on a proposed legislation that would allow for three new casinos to be opened in the northern part of the state before August 3. If approved, the proposal would have been included in the November ballot. However, Sen. Sweeney said that time has simply run out for such a question to be included in this year’s vote, which means that discussions on the matter would be renewed in 2016.
The legislator also pointed out that he would continue supporting the expansion of the state gambling industry outside Atlantic City. Yet, Sen. Sweeney said that the matter should be discussed responsibly and should generate substantial public support.
The potential expansion of gaming outside the resort has been considered for quite some time now. It has even divided legislators from the northern and the southern parts of the state. The first claimed that this would help the state keep casino players at local venues. The latter argued that the new facilities would draw visitors from the city’s gaming properties and result in further revenue declines and closures.
Last year, four Atlantic City casinos closed doors. Two others had ben shuttered in the previous years. In addition, gaming revenue has been declining. North Jersey legislators argued that if casinos open doors in that part of the state, those would share a portion of what they generate with the struggling Atlantic City. Sen. Sweeney and a number of other key lawmakers have found the idea quite appealing.
As previously reported, Assemblyman Ralph Caputo, together with Raj Mukherji and Valerie Vainieri Huttle, sponsored a bill that called for the construction of three new casinos in the Hudson, Bergen, and Essex Counties. Another proposal suggested that a referendum for the establishment of two casinos in North Jersey and one in the central part of the state should be held.
New Jersey legislators have already concluded work for the summer and will now pay more special attention to the upcoming re-election campaigns. Thus, the casino bills have been put aside for a while.
Sen. Raymond Lesniak, one of the keen supporters of the gambling expansion, said that he will do his best to get a casino-related measure on the next year’s ballot. He said that it is crucial that New Jersey residents support the potential opening of casinos outside Atlantic City. The legislator also noted that the fact that the matter would not be voted this November would result in millions of dollars in gambling revenue being lost instead of being contributed to the state coffers.
Recently, a number of businessmen expressed interest in launching casinos in North Jersey. For instance, real estate developer Jeff Gural and gambling operator Hard Rock International proposed the addition of a fully-fledged casino at the existing Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford.
Paul Fireman, known to be the founder of Reebok, revealed plans for a $4-billion casino resort at the so-called Liberty National Golf Course in Jersey City. Newark officials have also voiced interest in hosting a gambling venue.
