Arnone: Casino referendum is bad for Monmouth County

Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

Freeholder Director Tom Arnone today announced his opposition to the public question that would amend the New Jersey Constitution to allow casino gambling in Northern New Jersey.

“My first responsibility as a Freeholder is to make sure Monmouth County’s interests are my top priority,” Arnone said in an announcement released by ‘Trenton’s Bad Bet,’ the group that has been campaigning against the constitutional amendment, “Unfortunately, the ballot question on casino expansion is misguided, shortchanges our horse racing industry, and favors a small group of out-of-state, special interests.”

“In no way does this legislation help Monmouth County,” Arnone concluded.

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What does Moody’s think about north Jersey casinos and Atlantic City?

TRENTON — A Wall Street rating agency said Tuesday a plan to expand casino gambling to north Jersey would be “bad news” for Atlantic City and could cause more casinos to close in the Jersey Shore resort. The report by Moody’s Investor Services came on the same day a bill was formally introduced in the state… Read the rest of this entry »

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Compromise Reached on North Jersey Casino Gambling Measure

Governor Chris Christie, Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto announced this afternoon that a compromised had been reached over two competing proposals to amend the New Jersey Constitution to allow casino gambling in northern New Jersey.

The compromise requires that, should New Jersey voters approve the proposed Constitutional amendment in November, that the new licensees be required to invest at least $1 billion in constructing new casinos and to impose a timeline on the licensees to build the new casinos.

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Legislature Sets Sights on Rescuing Atlantic City from Financial Brink

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FDU Poll: Most in New Jersey oppose casinos outside of Atlantic City

A majority of New Jersey residents oppose expanding legalized gambling in the State beyond the borders of Atlantic City, according to a Fairleigh Dickinson Public Mind Poll released this morning.  50 percent oppose casinos outside of AC. 42 percent favor expanding gambling venues in New Jersey.

Men favor casinos elsewhere in the State by a small margin, 48-46, while women are opposed , 53-36.  Young adults aged 18-34 are in favor of gambling venues outside of AC, 52-38.  Those aged 35-50 are opposed, 53-41 and those over 60 are opposed by a 56-36 margin.

Of the 819 respondents, those who have been to Atlantic City within the last 12 months are most likely to favor casinos elsewhere in New Jersey, by a 52-35 margin.  Those who have been to casinos elsewhere but not in AC favor new gaming halls in New Jersey by a much narrower margin, 47-45.  Those who have not been to a casino in the last 12 month are opposed to expanding gambling in NJ by 45-40.

When asked if they favored expanding to the Meadowlands or Monmouth Park in Oceanport, the Meadowlands was favored.  Respondents favored opening casinos in the Meadowlands by a 47-45 margin.  They opposed casino gambling at Monmouth Park by narrow 44-43 margin.

The margin of error of the poll is +/- 3.4%

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