Voters in New Jersey Express Resistance Towards Proposed Casinos, Yet Potential Benefits for the State Could Warrant Consideration
Published on November 15, 2022, 6:05 am
Last updated on November 16, 2022, 3:49 pm
Steve Bittenbender
Steve Bittenbender
Expertise: Legislation, Sports Betting, Horse Racing
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New Jersey residents might not be clamoring for a casino expansion beyond Atlantic City, but that doesn't mean the state should rule it out altogether. A new poll from Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) suggests that while only 37% of residents support adding new casinos, half of Democrats, Independents, and Republicans oppose the idea.
The results mirror those of FDU's poll six years ago, indicating that sentiments haven't changed significantly. But, as New York prepares to open up to three new casinos, the question of whether New Jersey should keep pace looms large.
Negotiating New York's Expansion
Legislation,
Three members of New York's siting board were appointed in October, setting in motion the solicitation of casino license applications. While the state isn't expected to issue any licenses until the end of 2023, New York may command licensing fees of at least $500 million per casino.
Developers in New Jersey, especially those with racetracks under their belts, will likely be keeping a close eye on New York's expansion aims. Dennis Drazin, CEO of Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, expressed that New Jersey should consider letting the tracks offer casino gaming if New York City casinos are set to open.
Experts warn, though, that if New Jersey wants to compete with New York's new casinos, it will have to win over a significant share of its residents who currently oppose casino expansion.
Sports Betting,
The Middle Ground
While opposition spans across political lines, a closer look at the poll data reveals some nuances:
- Half of adults aged 31 to 44 support casino expansion, albeit narrowly.
- New Jersey seniors are the demographic with the strongest opposition to the proposition.
- Voters aged 45 to 64 and under-30s hold similar positions slightly in favor but still somewhat skeptical.
Horse Racing.
FDU's poll also probed into voters' attitudes towards smoking in casinos, with only 29% advocating for an outright ban.
Navigating Casino Expansion's Tangle
If New Jersey decides to pursue casino expansion, it will need to tread carefully. Some factors to consider include:
- Careful Regulation: Expansion requires robust regulatory structures to account for potential negative social impacts and to ensure an equitable distribution of benefits.
- Economic Implications: While New Jersey could potentially gain revenue, casino expansion could likewise lead to losses for existing properties in Atlantic City.
- Political Challenges: New Jersey politicians juggle the need for growth with the opposition of voters who are skeptical of casino expansion.
- Job Market Overhaul: Expansion might create new employment opportunities, but there's also a chance that Atlantic City's casinos may suffer losses due to reduced revenue, leading to job cuts.
- Community Impact: Casino expansion could have impacts on local communities, from gentrification to added traffic and noise concerns.
New Jersey's path forward on casino expansion isn't clear-cut. However, understanding the complex blend of public opinion, potential economic challenges, and political considerations will be crucial for any policy decisions the state makes.
a siting board were appointed in New York last month, and the solicitation for casino license applications is expected to be released by early next year. Still, New York officials do not expect to issue any licenses until closer to the end of 2023.
Enrichment Data:
Overall, the complexities surrounding casino expansion in New Jersey extend beyond simple public opinion. Here's a closer look at the issues at play:
Public Opinions
Monmouth Park in Oceanport, told
- Diverse Views: New Jersey voters' opinions on casino expansion are split, with a significant number opposing the move and a smaller but substantial group in favor of it.
- Cross-Ideological Opposition: Opposition to expanding casinos is wide-spread across all major political groups, with Democrats, Independents, and Republicans holding similar sentiments.
Potential Implications
- Competition with New York. New York's plans to establish up to three new casinos may put pressure on New Jersey to enter the fray. New Jersey racetracks, like Monmouth Park, might be especially motivated to engage in expansion to keep up with the competition.
- Economic Impact on Atlantic City: Any expansion of casinos beyond Atlantic City could impact the city's existing casino industry, putting a strain on its economic health.
- Regulatory Challenges: The state will need to address concerns of social impact and distribute benefits fairly if it decides to expand casinos.
- Job Market Changes: Expansion might create new positions, but it might also result in job losses in the Atlantic City gambling sector.
- Community Concerns: Expansion might bring positive changes, such as increased economic growth, but the potential negative effects, like increased traffic and gentrification, need to be considered.
just 29% want an outright ban on smoking in casinos.
Ultimately, New Jersey must carefully weigh the pros and cons of casino expansion and consider how best to navigate the intricate interplay of popular opinion, economic considerations, and political realities.
- The new poll suggests that 'half of Democrats, Independents, and Republicans' oppose the idea of adding new casinos beyond Atlantic City, as indicated in the 'div' tag with class 'panel__author'.
- The 'fairly neutral' stance on casino expansion among 'adults aged 31 to 44' was revealed in the poll data, which could provide an opportunity for those supporting casino expansion in 'New Jersey'.
- The 'economic impact' of potential casino expansion beyond Atlantic City was mentioned in the text, and 'New Jersey politicians' will need to 'juggle the need for growth with the opposition of voters' who are skeptical of casino expansion.
