Casino union backs Sweeney plan for expansion referendum

President Steve Sweeney (D-Thorofare) and Assembly Speaker Vinnie Prieto (D-Secaucus).

“I’m pleased after a lot of effort and a lot of conversation amongst the three of us that we can announce today that we have an agreement on how to move forward on north Jersey gaming”, said Christie. Sweeney said the prospect of casinos in northern New Jersey will be “dead” if one of the two referendum plans is not adopted Monday, the final day of the Legislative session. “You will always need his involvement – not his [specifically], but the governor of New Jersey“, Assembly Majority Leader Louis D. Greenwald said.

Earlier Monday, the Senate approved a casino ballot measure with 33 yes votes. “Establishing new casinos in North Jersey will help recapture gaming revenue that is being lost to neighboring states and will capitalize on the unique features of this part of the state that already draw thousands of visitors each year”.

As previously reported, S. 3249 /A. 4717, sponsored by state Senator Loretta Weinberg (D-37) and state Senator Richard Codey (D-27), would repeal the ban on traditional handguns from New Jersey’s 2002 “smart gun” law. Union president Bob McDevitt said Sweeney’s bill does more than a competing version in the Assembly to protect Atlantic City from the anticipated loss of business from new in-state competition.

Democrats, who control both legislative houses, agreed that allowing gambling in other towns was crucial to reclaim revenue that has left New Jersey.

“Nobody here is getting exactly what they wanted or exactly the outline of what they asked for, but the most important thing in my view was to bring resolution to this issue”, Christie said.

Both proposals would authorize two casinos at least 72 miles (116 kilometers) from Atlantic City – making the state’s northern section near New York City the most probable site.

The new bill would give existing Atlantic City casino operators six months to propose projects in northern New Jersey. The Assembly bill would only require one of the two to be owned by an existing Atlantic City operator. “Delay puts the expansion of gaming in peril”. “This is a win for New Jersey – not for Atlantic City, not for north Jersey, but for New Jersey as a whole”.