Governor Christie Supports A North Jersey Casino Only If Tax Revenue Is Shared With AC Casinos

Governor Christie said Wednesday allowing a casino to be built in North Jersey would be “the right thing to do” as long as the casinos in Atlantic City get tax revenue as part of the project.

“I have no problem with that question going on the ballot right away because competition is only going to grow, in New York in particular, so if we could plant our flag firmly in the ground, particularly in the northern part of the state, I think that would make the project even more successful,” Christie said on his weekly call-in radio show on New Jersey 101.5 with host Eric Scott.

Hard Rock International and Meadowlands Racing and Entertainment plan on revealing their plan next week to construct a casino at the Meadowlands. They say a new casino there could generate $400 million in tax revenue and create 10,000 jobs.

‘If we could plant our flag firmly in the ground, particularly in the northern part of the state, I think that would make the project even more successful.’ - Governor Christie

Voters would have to amend the state Constitution with a referendum to allow the casino to be built. Gural said he is “optimistic” a referendum could be placed on ballots in November if the state Legislature adopts a bill authorizing it by the end of June.

If not, the referendum might not go before voters until 2017.

Meadowlands Racing Chairman Jeff Gural previously said the casino would pay a 55 percent tax rate on winnings. Atlantic City’s casinos pay just 8 percent. Four of Atlantic City’s 12 casinos closed last year and gambling revenues have decreased from $5.2 billion in 2006 to $2.74 billion last year.

The Meadowlands and Jersey City are the two likest locations because, Christie said, they could draw visitors from New York while keeping New Jerseyans from going outside the state to gamble.

Christie said he has not seen a proposal for the project yet, he’s only read about it in media reports.

“I certainly wouldn’t take any favorites without seeing all of the plans in detail to be able to then understand, well, form an opinion, as to which plan was best for the state of New Jersey,” Christie said. “And that’s what would be our guidepost in terms of how we would decide where it would go.”