Bill Allowing Casinos In North Jersey Approved

Legislation allowing casinos to exist in New Jersey outside of Atlantic City was approved Monday afternoon.

The state Senate approved the legislation 33-6. After the affirmative vote, Governor Christie announced that a deal between officials had been reached to construct casinos in North Jersey.

The historic moves come after weeks of political posturing and infighting by state officials, including Senate President Steve Sweeney, as to how many casinos would be built and where they would be located.

“We can announce today we have an agreement on how to move forward on North Jersey gaming,” Christie said. “This involved a great deal of compromise on the parts of all parties.”

Monday was the last day lawmakers had to approve the legislation. It was the final day of the legislative session. If it had not been approved, new legislation would have needed to be introduced.

The agreement would cover a single bill in the next legislative session that would guarantee a $1 billion minimum investment in any new North Jersey casino.

• Related: State Could Pave Way For Building New Casinos

State lawmakers began talking earlier this year about ways they could create legislation that could bring casinos outside of Atlantic City. Newark, Jersey City, and East Rutherford were all possible landing spots. Efforts were made to get a referendum on the matter on the November ballot, but the deadline for legislators to approve it passed with no action. It was reported last week that the developer of the American Dream Meadowlands wants to make a casino a part of the $5 billion project.

But opinions about how many and their exact locations, along with who gets to run them and how the tax money would be divided up, stalled the process.

• Related: Who Will Get Jersey’s New Casinos?

Sweeney (D-3), who sponsored the legislation along with Robert Gordon (D-38) and Loretta Weinberg (D-37), wants to put two casinos in North Jersey. The resolution needs to be approved by three-fifths of both legislative houses or the majority of voters twice over two legislative years before going to the voters via a referendum. The legislative votes would have to be completed at least 90 days before the referendum goes on election ballots.

Tax revenue from the new casinos would help Atlantic City compensate from the massive loss in business to hit this year. Four casinos have closed recently and the eight that are left are in need of a lifeline. That help could come in the form of revenue from hefty taxes the new casinos would have to pay.