TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie says the New Jersey Legislature could "give Atlantic City a Christmas present" by reaching agreement on changes designed to revive the nation's second-largest gambling market. Christie said today that a deal could be worked out on Monday if the Assembly agrees to push back its Christmas vacation, but its top Democrat said lawmakers are...
Internet gambling would be run by Atlantic City casinos and would include all games, including poker, that can be played at casinos if a bill that is expected to advance today in the state Legislature eventually becomes law.TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie says the New Jersey Legislature could "give Atlantic City a Christmas present" by reaching agreement on changes designed to revive the nation's second-largest gambling market.
Christie said today that a deal could be worked out on Monday if the Assembly agrees to push back its Christmas vacation, but its top Democrat said lawmakers are in no hurry.
While the Republican governor would not commit in advance to signing bills that would create state-run tourism district in Atlantic City, allow Internet and sports betting, reduce casino regulation and allow smaller casinos to be built, he signaled a deal is close at hand with the Democratically controlled legislature.
"We could resolve all these issues by Monday and give Atlantic City a Christmas present of certainty as to how they're going to move forward," Christie said. "Put in just one more day of work."
But that's not going to happen. Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver, D-Essex, said the Assembly will not return for Monday votes.
She noted that bills advanced today that would create a state-run tourism district in Atlantic City, allow Internet betting on casino games, and subsidizing struggling horse breeders.
"The Assembly moved three gaming and horse racing bills through the Budget Committee today and plans to continue working on this issue into early January to be sure we get it right," she said.
Despite the partisan maneuvering, both sides appear to be coming closer to enacting a series of reforms Christie called for last July, many of which were included in a report by a special commission he appointed to study the future of New Jersey's casino and horse racing industries.
Christie at the time called for greater state involvement in and oversight of Atlantic City, while pulling the plug on state subsidies for money-losing horse racing ventures.
One of the centerpieces of Christie's plan is the tourism district. A bill moving toward final approval directs the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority to create a state-managed district encompassing the casinos, marina district, Boardwalk Hall and adjacent areas.
It still needs final votes in both houses before heading to Christie's desk.
The authority would have vast power over the district, including implementing a master plan promoting cleanliness, commercial development, and safety.
It would control road and traffic projects in the casino zone, implement a 10-year national marketing plan for Atlantic City, strive for non-gambling, family centered tourism such as amusement parks, and facilitate private investment in the zone with minimal government direction.
The casinos would be assessed fees based on their revenue to fund the new district, ranging from a minimum total for all 11 casinos of $22.5 million the first year, and $30 million after that, although those fees could be reduced under future proposals.
Public safety in the casino zone would be administered by a Joint Law Enforcement Task Force, headed by a joint appointment of the State Police superintendent and the CRDA chairman.
The bill makes CRDA responsible for allocating $30 million a year to the New Jersey Racing Commission for a maximum five years from revenues generated from a 20 percent tax on Internet wagering.
And it would spare the Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority, which Christie has tried repeatedly to kill, by folding its operations into the CRDA.
Other bills that advanced today would allow Internet betting on casino games, to be run through the Atlantic City casinos.
Another bill advanced by the budget committee today would establish a New Jersey Standardbred and Thoroughbred Racehorse Incentive Fund to assist the state's horse breeding industry. It would be funded by some taxes the horse racing and breeding industries currently pay.