In November of 2016, New Jersey voters overwhelmingly rejected a plan to allow two casinos to be built in North Jersey in an effort to regain some of the gaming market it has lost over the last few years to neighboring states.
NJ.com reported that more than 80 percent of the state’s voters cast ballots against the referendum, causing it to fail by more than 1.5 million votes — the largest margin of defeat for any referendum the state has ever seen.
State Senate President Stephen Sweeney commented “I don’t see any way it comes back. . .It was crushed.”
The issue looks like it will be back on the ballot in November of this year.
NJBiz reported that Vincent Prieto, the president of the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority as appointed by Gov. Phil Murphy, told the Meadowlands Regional Chamber that a casino “would make this region (Meadowlands area) the economic engine that this state desperately needs.” Prieto also added, as reported by casino.org, that Governor Murphy was “all in” on the idea of a casino in that area.
Governor Murphy will be the luncheon keynote speaker at the 22nd Annual East Coast Gaming Congress and NexGen Gaming Forum, June 13 – 14, at Harrah’s Waterfront Conference Center.
The Chamber will once again take a leadership role in opposing this issue.