Group Continues To Fight Against Casino Expansion Despite Its Opponents Giving Up Amid Dwindling Support

A anti-casino group is continuing to push out the idea that casinos would be bad for North Jersey even though their opponents suspending their campaign and a state Assemblyman urging his colleagues to approve a declaration supporting the issue.

Trenton's Bad Bet is continuing its campaign despite Our Turn NJ, backed by former Reebok chairman Paul Fireman and Meadowlands Racetrack operator Jeff Gural, that they are abandoning their campaign in support of a statewide referendum that a recent Rutgers poll showed is "very unlikely to pass."

The public question remains on the ballot and voters will still cast ballots on whether or not to approve bringing two casinos near New York City. If defeated, proponents would have to wait at least two years before putting the question to voters again.

"Our plan from day one has not changed. We will work from now through Election Day to hold those pushing casino expansion accountable and make sure voters know to vote no on Question One," said Bill Cortese Jr., a spokesperson for Trenton's Bad Bet. "We will continue to run an aggressive campaign that will inform voters on the dangers of casino expansion and hold accountable those who continue to advocate for a referendum that will produce tens of thousands in job losses and billions in economic losses."

One of those advocates is Assemblyman Ralph Caputo (D-Nutley), chairman of the Assembly's Tourism, Gaming, and the Arts Committee. Caputo is sponsoring a resolution that explicitly details how state funding derived from casinos would be used. The revenue, according to the resolution, would support senior citizen programs, funding for transportation improvements, and support Atlantic City recovery initiatives.

Caputo could not be reached for comment.

Casino backers have touted casinos as a way of fixing the state's pension and Transportation Trust Fund, but a recent study by Rutgers shows casinos would not help the state's economy.

“Outside of reducing the state’s budget deficit by 1.2 percent, a new casino appears to do little else for the state’s economy,” said Michael Lahr, a research professor who led the economic study. “Relatively few new permanent jobs would be created because gaming is the primary focus. (A) casino would not serve as a destination for families, and there would not be a strong need for employment in such ancillary services as hospitality, entertainment and lodging.”

Voters' support of casino expansion is dwindling as well.

Just 35 percent of respondents approve of the proposed amendment while 58 percent disapprove, the results of a poll from the Rutgers Eagleton Center for Interest Polling show. Half of respondents agreed that gambling should be limited to Atlantic City.

"Voters see through the smoke screen, which is why they overwhelmingly oppose it," Cortese said.

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Related: Voter Support For North Jersey Casinos Dwindling, Poll Results Show

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