Sen. President Sweeney Proposes North Jersey Casino Referendum

State Sen. President Steve Sweeney (D-3) wants to put the future of casino gambling in New Jersey in the hands of the people.

Sweeney’s introduced legislation to put a public referendum on the ballot asking for voter approval to expand gaming in New Jersey with two casinos in the northern part of the state, his office announced on Friday.

The concurrent resolution, SCR-185, would have to be approved with three-fifths votes by both houses of the Legislature or majority votes twice over two legislative years before going to the voters. The legislative votes would have to be completed at least 90 days before going on the ballot.

The public’s approval is needed to amend the state’s constitutional provisions that now limit gaming in New Jersey to Atlantic City.

Sen. Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg (D-37) and Sen. Bob Gordon (D-38) are co-sponsors of the proposal. Senator Paul Sarlo (D-36) said he would like to join them as co-sponsors.

“The question of gaming outside of Atlantic City has long been debated,” Sweeney said. “Now is the time for the voters to decide. Fourteen months ago I proposed a framework for any proposed expansion to North Jersey. This plan is consistent with those principles.”

There has been opposition in the southern portion of the state to the expansion of casino gaming, saying it would further cripple Atlantic City, which is already suffering from the closure of four casinos and the subsequent loss of about 8,000 jobs. Revenue generated by the gaming industry has dropped from $5.2 billion in 2006 to $3.0 billion in 2014.

But on Friday, Sweeney said revenue generated by the new casinos would be dedicated to senior citizens, the disabled, and supporting the economic recovery of Atlantic City.

He said the proposal would direct millions of dollars per year back to Atlantic City, and that the two new casinos, each in separate counties, would have to be at least 75 miles away from Atlantic City.

“Expanding gaming to North Jersey is the best way to revitalize an industry that is important to the state’s economy so that we can compete with neighboring states, generate the revenue needed to revive Atlantic City and contribute to economic growth,” Sweeney said. “New Jersey tourism is one of the most important segments of our economy and gaming is one of the most important attractions for tourism. It is the source of good jobs and economic activity.”

But the idea continued to be met with criticism on Friday.

“North Jersey casinos would be disastrous for our local economy, driving jobs and investment out of our region,” Sen. Jim Whelan (D-2) said. “Instead of wasting our time on a short sighted proposal that won’t benefit Atlantic City or the state in the long-run, we need to focus our energies on stabilizing Atlantic City’s finances and transforming the city into a world-class resort destination.”

“Today’s announcement is another punch in the gut to Atlantic City’s road to recovery -- it’s ill-conceived and ill-advised,” Assemblyman Vince Mazzeo (D-2) said. “To think that the answer to an already overly saturated gaming market is saturating it even more is madness. I condemn in the strongest possible terms this continued attempt to siphon off business and jobs from Atlantic City. I will continue to staunchly oppose, like I always have, this short sighted effort that will put thousands more of Atlantic County’s hard-working middle-class families out of work.”

But it also had its supporters.

“As a longtime advocate of bringing gaming to North Jersey, I will review all bills that bring that goal closer to reality, but I also consider this to be an ongoing discussion,” Assemblyman Vincent Prieto (D-32) said. “The Assembly may well have its own ideas about how best to bring gaming to North Jersey, stabilize Atlantic City and support programs for senior citizens and the disabled. Those ideas will be part of this ongoing debate.”

New Jersey State Building and Trades Council President William T. Mullen said the proposal provides a “real boost” to trade workers and called it “just what New Jersey’s casino industry needs to compete with gaming facilities in the states that border North Jersey.”

“The plan will put people to work in construction jobs and put people to work in the new casinos,” he said. “The jobs in the casinos will help fuel economic activity in the region, which will benefit regional economies wherever they are located.”

Since the inception of Atlantic City gaming in 1978, billions of dollars have been generated to aid senior citizens and the disabled. Casino revenues have also produced financial assistance in support of investments throughout the state, including the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, the Yogi Berra Museum and the Meadowlands Racetrack.