TRENTON — Two Democratic state legislators today slammed a recommendation to sell or close the Meadowlands racetrack as part of an overall proposal for the state to take a larger role in gaming in New Jersey and concentrate its efforts in Atlantic City. Assemblywoman Connie Wagner (D-Bergen) and Assemblyman Ralph Caputo (D-Essex) said Gov. Chris Christie should reject any...
N.J. Gov. Chris Christie, right, and Jon F. Hanson, chairman of the Governor's Advisory Commission on N.J. Gaming, Sports and Entertainment, during a press conference announcing the sweeping changes to the state's sports and gaming industries. TRENTON — Two Democratic state legislators today slammed a recommendation to sell or close the Meadowlands racetrack as part of an overall proposal for the state to take a larger role in gaming in New Jersey and concentrate its efforts in Atlantic City.
Assemblywoman Connie Wagner (D-Bergen) and Assemblyman Ralph Caputo (D-Essex) said Gov. Chris Christie should reject any plan that has the state shed itself of the Meadowlands. That was one of several proposals in a report issued today by the New Jersey Gaming, Sports and Entertainment Advisory Commission.
"That recommendation is the exact opposite of what we should be doing to spark New Jersey's economy, ease our budget problems and create jobs,'' Caputo said. "The last thing we should be doing is giving up this asset. Rather, we should be exploiting its full potential and modernizing it by adding video lottery terminals to the Meadowlands."
Caputo, who is a member of the committee that will review the report, and Wagner said the state should consider asking voters to decide whether video lottery terminals should be installed at the Meadowlands as a different form of gambling if live horseracing is to be ended there.
Wagner said video lottery terminals could generate $700 million annually in state revenue and create up to 2,000 new jobs. He based those estimates on similar sized facilities in Yonkers and Delaware.
They cited new gaming venues in New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Delaware as competition to Atlantic City.
"VLTs at the Meadowlands could bring in hundreds of millions of dollars in new revenue and create thousands of new jobs,'' Wagner said in a prepared statement. "That is an opportunity we cannot responsibly leave behind. I will continue my efforts to make it a reality and hope the governor sees the light on this issue."
“It is without question absolutely important to make sure Atlantic City remains strong, but it’s important to remember that transforming the Meadowlands complex into a modern and vibrant entertainment destination is also essential to New Jersey’s economy. We must find ways to embrace the potential of both," Oliver said.
Assemblyman Paul Moriarity (D-Gloucester) said he likes that the recommendations keep an emphasis on Atlantic City as the focal point of entertainment and gaming in the state.
"The success of Atlantic City is vital to the state — and especially the South Jersey region — when it comes to economic activity and job creation, and we must be focusing our efforts on ensuring it remains a top flight destination,'' he said.
Assemblyman John Burzichelli, chairman of the Assembly Regulatory Oversight and Gaming Committee, lauded the report's focus on helping Atlantic City, but said it didn't go far enough. He said it should have taken into consideration internet gambling and boutique casinos to attract new revenue, create jobs and compete with other states.
"Many recommendations appear to be a positive step toward promoting Atlantic City as a tourism and gaming mecca,'' he said. "I know many people would like to see video lottery terminals elsewhere in the state, but we must focus our efforts on ensuring Atlantic City's long-term stability.''
Christie this morning was at the Meadowlands Racetrack to announce the report and is scheduled to be in Atlantic City at 2 p.m. for a second announcement.
"This report is a blueprint that will guide our efforts in managing and protecting our gaming, sports and entertainment resources more responsibly and reforming issues critical to New Jersey's economic future,'' Christie said in a statement released this morning. "I look forward to reviewing all of the commission's recommendations so that we can put these industries on a solid foundation and path to long-term economic growth and prosperity."
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