Casino May Be Coming To American Dream: Report

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - The developer of the $5 billion American Dream Meadowlands project would be “eager” to submit a proposal for a North Jersey casino if the opportunity presents itself, state Senate President Stephen Sweeney said Monday.

Sweeney did not given many details about the proposal, first reported by Politico, which would likely compete with a proposal for a casino at the Meadowlands Racetrack one mile away. There is another proposal to build a $4 billion casino in Jersey City.

“There are others that are going to jump in on this,” Politico quoted Sweeney as saying. “But I’m telling you, the guys who own the American Dream also want to have an opportunity to build. Because they’ve tld me — I’ve seen their plan.”

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

The issue of building a North Jersey casino continues to stretch on because of changes to the language of the proposed constitutional amendment that needs to be approved in order for one to be built. At issue is whether or not Atlantic City casino operators should be allowed to hold all the licenses.

Sweeney’s introduced legislation last month 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. Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg (D-37) and Sen. Bob Gordon (D-38), both from Bergen County, are co-sponsors of the proposal.

A concurrent resolution would have to be approved with three-fifths votes by both state legislative houses or majority votes twice over two legislative years before going to the voters.

An Assembly hearing on North Jersey casinos is scheduled for Thursday in Trenton, The Record reported.

“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.

(Pictured: The American Dream Meadowlands Project in East Rutherford/Patch file photo)