North Jersey Casino Plans Move Forward

New Jersey's constitution allows casino gambling only in Atlantic City, however two proposals advanced in the state Legislature today that will ask NJ voters to approve expansion.

There are a lot of details to both proposals, but South Jersey lawmakers are fearing the worst, that casino expansion will hurt Atlantic City's already struggling economy.

Others, seem to think that expansion will lessen competition from neighboring states that already have casinos.

According to NJ.com,

State Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) — south Jersey's top lawmaker and a likely 2017 candidate for governor — said he hopes the Assembly would agree to the deal by Monday.

He said the measure would help New Jersey fight increased competition in neighboring states by offering an alternative in another part of the state.

"The people that won't drive two-and-a-half hours to Atlantic City any more will drive to a casino in northern New Jersey," Sweeney said.

NJ.com explains how the proposals can make it to the ballot,

To place a question on the ballot, a resolution needs to pass both houses of the Legislature by a simple majority in two consecutive legislative years. Failing that, they need a three-fifths majority in one legislative year.

Thus, if lawmakers vote on a uniform plan by the time the current legislative calendar ends on Jan. 11, it needs to pass only one more time next year by a simple majority.

But if they can't reach an agreement by then, they will need three-fifths next year — which lawmakers say will be much more difficult to attain.