South Jersey Lawmakers Voice Opposition to Casinos Expanding Outside of Atlantic City
Posted on: March 30, 2026, 12:37h.
Last updated on: March 30, 2026, 12:39h.
- State lawmakers in South Jersey oppose efforts to allow casinos outside of Atlantic City
- Casinos are coming to downstate New York in the Bronx and Queens
- NJ voters rejected casinos at the Meadowlands and Monmouth Park in 2016
Three members of Congress representing New Jersey and 34 lawmakers in Trenton have written Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D) and the state Legislature to voice their opposition to allowing casinos to expand outside of Atlantic City.
The debate regarding whether to allow casinos at the Meadowlands and Monmouth Park racetracks has been renewed in the wake of New York’s licensing three casino resorts in New York City. The forthcoming properties, located in the Bronx and Queens, stand to impact the gaming business down the New Jersey Shore.
Passing legislation to possibly authorize additional casinos in the Garden State through a statewide ballot referendum isn’t the state’s best bet. That’s according to the coalition of state and federal lawmakers who represent the southern portion of New Jersey.
New Jersey last asked voters to allow slot machines and table games at the Meadowlands and Monmouth Park in 2016. The constitutional amendment was resoundingly rejected by a 77-23% vote.
Voters in Bergen County, home to the Meadowlands, voted 73-27%, while voters in Monmouth County voted 78-22% against Public Question 1.
Bigger Problems Facing State
New Jersey Sen. Joe Pennacchio (R-Morris) has been fighting to allow slot machines in North Jersey since the 2014-15 legislative session.
In 2026, Pennacchio filed Senate Concurrent Resolution 31, a bill that would place a statewide casino referendum before voters this November to authorize casinos at state-licensed horse racetracks. SCR31 is cosponsored by Sens. Joseph Cryan (D-Union) and Declan O’Scanlon Jr. (R-Monmouth).
The statute suggests that the state allocate 30% of its tax revenue from racetrack casinos to the casinos located in Atlantic City. Another 7% of the Meadowlands and Monmouth Park casino tax money would go towards programs “dedicated for the purposes of the recovery, stabilization, or improvement” of Atlantic City.
SCR31 was introduced in January but hasn’t made any movement in the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee.
The signers of the letter to Sherrill and the Legislature say lawmakers should be focusing their attention elsewhere than on more casinos.
New Jersey has serious challenges and our time as elected officials would be better spent focusing on issues that matter to the people we represent, not well heeled special interests who want to expand gaming in defiance of the clear will of Monmouth and Bergen County voters who rejected expanded gaming by a devastating margin of 25-75,” the letter read, as reported by the New Jersey Globe.
“We hope that the threatened legislation does not come to a vote. If it does, we will work to defeat it in Trenton and at ballot boxes, just as we did the last time this bad idea was put to a vote a decade ago. We are not just ‘no’ votes, but ‘hell no’ to expanded gaming in New Jersey,” the letter concluded.
Will NYC Casinos Impact AC?
Atlantic City has always relied heavily on business from North Jersey and downstate New York. However, with the three New York City casinos being limited to Queens and the Bronx, not exactly an easy or pleasant commute from North Jersey or the lower Upstate New York area, the impact of Bally’s Bronx at Ferry Point Park, Hard Rock Metropolitan Park at Willets Point, and Resorts World NYC near JFK International could be minimal.
Many Upstate New Yorkers are already gambling at the four Upstate New York casinos and/or tribal casinos. Downstate, New Yorkers have access to slot-like video lottery casinos. Online sports betting is legal everywhere.
No comments yet