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New York City is preparing to open a wave of new casinos, a reality that has set off fresh alarms in New Jersey and revived a debate many residents believed had been settled.
A decade after Garden State voters rejected a plan to legalize casino gambling outside Atlantic City, lawmakers in North Jersey are pushing for another referendum. Their argument is simple: If New Jersey does not act, revenue will flow across the Hudson to New York.
The battle over New Jersey casino expansion
New Jersey’s constitution limits casino gambling to Atlantic City. The restriction has been in place since 1978, when Atlantic City first opened its doors to operators as part of a plan to revitalize the struggling shore town.
The rule has survived multiple challenges, including a 2016 ballot referendum that failed by a wide margin. More than three-quarters of voters rejected expansion that year, sending what seemed to be a definitive message.
But circumstances have changed. New York City is currently celebrating the opening of its first full-scale casino, Resorts World New York City in Queens, which officially launches live table games today, April 28. Two additional full-scale casinos are planned for the Bronx and near Citi Field in Queens by 2030.
The development has forced some lawmakers to reconsider their positions. Among them is State Sen. Vin Gopal, D-Monmouth, who warned that inaction is no longer viable. He characterized the situation as a direct financial threat New Jersey must confront.
Gopal and Sen. Paul Sarlo, D-Bergen, have introduced Senate Concurrent Resolution 66, which would place a constitutional amendment before voters. The amendment would permit casino gambling at two specific locations: the Meadowlands Sports Complex and Monmouth Park Racetrack.
Proposed casino locations: Meadowlands & Monmouth Park
Both venues already hold licenses for horse racing and sports betting. Expansion advocates argue that adding slot machines and table games is a logical evolution rather than a drastic policy shift.
Dennis Drazin, CEO and chairman of Darby Development, which operates Monmouth Park, said neighboring states have long benefited from casino revenue that New Jersey racetracks cannot access.
“We need to recognize the competition that is coming,” Drazen said, according to news on NJ.com.
“If we don’t protect our own market, New York is going to take it from us, and that’s going to hurt the tracks and the thousands of people who depend on them.”
Horse racing in New Jersey supports an estimated 3,700 jobs and generates approximately $75 million in state tax revenue annually. Despite $20 million in temporary subsidies running through 2029, the industry has been shrinking. Proponents argue casino revenue would provide a long-term lifeline.
Under the proposed legislation, tax revenue would be channeled into property tax relief, special education, and the state pension system. A dedicated provision directing funds to Atlantic City is also included to soften opposition from South Jersey lawmakers.
Atlantic City casinos fight North Jersey competition
Atlantic City has much at stake. Visitors pumped $8.2 billion into Atlantic County’s economy in 2024, and gaming remains the region’s primary economic driver.
However, the data shows a complicated landscape:
- Operating Profits: Casino profits have declined in recent years.
- Employment: Sector jobs have fallen sharply since 2005, when 12 casinos operated in the city. Five have since closed.
- Unemployment: The city’s unemployment rate stood at 8% in January, well above the statewide average of roughly 5%.
Michael Suleiman, chairman of the Atlantic County Democratic Committee, is skeptical that more casinos are the solution. “We have to kill the myth that you sprinkle casino dust on the Meadowlands and Monmouth Park and all will be well,” he said.
Suleiman launched the website nonorthjerseycasinos.com to organize opposition. Sen. Vince Polistina, R-Atlantic, said South Jersey stakeholders—including Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small, council members, and casino operators—will oppose the measure.
“Given that New York’s casinos are already coming for us, this is not the time to start competing with ourselves,” Polistina said, according to news at Politico.
Will a casino referendum hit the 2026 ballot?
Getting a constitutional amendment on the ballot is difficult. The measure must pass both legislative chambers by a three-fifths majority in a single year, or by a simple majority in two consecutive years. Either route requires convincing lawmakers who represent Atlantic City’s interests to support the measure or abstain.
While Gopal wants the question on the November ballot, political insiders say the votes likely aren’t there. South Jersey Democrats have shown little appetite for a deal, and cross-party cooperation remains elusive.
Polls show voter support for North Jersey gambling
Public opinion is more divided than the 2016 results suggest. A March poll from Fairleigh Dickinson University found that 49% of New Jersey residents oppose expansion, while 44% support it. This is a significant shift from the 77% to 23% split in 2016.
An April poll commissioned by Meadowlands operator Jeff Gural showed that when voters were told revenue would compete with New York and support senior services, support climbed to 61%.
The future of the NY-NJ casino war
Whether or not expansion reaches the ballot, the pressure remains. Resorts World New York City in Queens officially launched its full-scale gaming floor, marking the debut of the city’s first live-dealer table games.
Brian Tyrrell, incoming director of the Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality and Tourism at Stockton University, said the New York casinos will largely draw “convenience gamblers” — residents who prefer a shorter commute over a destination experience.
“Without large-scale destination resorts like those in Atlantic City and those coming to New York, full competition would be a tough ask for North Jersey,” Tyrrell said.
For Atlantic City, the trend toward localized gambling is already well underway. Proponents of the North Jersey expansion argue that failing to respond to the Queens opening will only accelerate the flight of New Jersey tax dollars across the Hudson.
The fight over New Jersey’s gambling future is far from settled. While Sen. Vin Gopal and his allies are pushing to secure a spot on the November ballot by June, South Jersey stakeholders are resisting just as forcefully. For now, the debate moves from the legislative floor to the reality of a live casino floor just 15 miles from the Meadowlands.
