Legislators in New Jersey have failed to meet the constitutionally required deadline this summer to create a ballot question on opening a Meadowlands casino this November. This means that voters in the state won’t be able to weigh in on the matter this fall.
Legislators Miss Deadline for Casino Vote
State legislators were unable to meet the August 3 deadline to approve putting the question on the ballot. As a result, the earliest voters could consider the ballot question is in the November 2027 election, midway through Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s term. If that fails, the next opportunity would come during the 2028 presidential election.
Dennis Drazin, CEO of Darby Development, which operates Monmouth Park, explained that legislators could not reach the deadline as they were bogged down in deciding on the state budget. Meanwhile, Jeff Gural, owner of the Meadowlands Racetrack, said that he is disappointed and shocked that he wasn’t able to get it on the ballot.
To place a ballot question before voters, lawmakers must either approve it once with a supermajority vote in both the Assembly and Senate or pass it twice with a simple majority. According to Dan Cassino, executive director of the polling institute at Fairleigh Dickinson University, turnout in New Jersey’s gubernatorial midterm elections has historically been low, and the voters who do participate tend to be older.
What Do Supporters and Opponents of the New Casino Say?
Supporters have pitched the two proposed casinos – one at the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford and the other at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport. They claim that it would be a great way to keep gambling revenue in New Jersey rather than lose customers to the three casinos planned for New York City’s outer boroughs.
However, lawmakers representing Atlantic City argue the expansion would further weaken the city’s struggling casino industry, calling it a potential death knell for its nine casinos, many of which already face financial challenges. This way of thinking seems to extend to older voters as well, according to Cassino. Older voters are opposed to casino expansion, he claims, which means a future vote might mean even worse prospects for opening a Meadowlands venue.
That being said, even a higher voter turnout would not necessarily improve the proposal’s chances. As turnout increases, the electorate more closely reflects New Jersey’s overall population, Cassino said, and statewide polling has consistently shown broad opposition to expanding casino gambling. This is reflected in the fact that New Jersey regulators recently approved a bill that would ban sweepstakes casinos across the state.