A recent poll conducted by Fairleigh Dickinson University reveals that New Jersey voters are still against the idea of expanding casinos beyond Atlantic City. Dan Cassino, a professor at the university and the executive director of the FDU Poll, stated, “People made up their minds about casino expansion a long time ago. Unless something dramatic happens, putting the issue in front of voters is going to lead to the same outcome as it did before.”
Currently, casino gambling in New Jersey is limited to Atlantic City, and any expansion would necessitate a constitutional amendment. This amendment must be approved by the state legislature in two consecutive sessions and subsequently voted on by the public in a referendum, which could potentially occur as soon as November.
Proposals being discussed would permit casinos at existing racetracks, such as Meadowlands and Monmouth Park, partly to compete with new gambling establishments emerging in neighboring New York. A similar initiative was decisively defeated in 2016, where 77% of voters opposed the expansion.
Last year, the nine casinos in Atlantic City generated $2.89 billion from physical slots and table games, reflecting a 2.7% increase from 2024. However, this figure is still significantly lower than the over $5.2 billion earned in 2006, prior to the opening of casinos in nearby Philadelphia.
The performance of casinos in 2025 has been mixed, with only four out of nine experiencing year-over-year growth in in-person gaming. New casinos like Hard Rock, Resorts World, and Bally’s in New York City present additional competition for Atlantic City.
“The only thing that’s changed since last time this was tried is more casinos opening in New York,” Cassino noted. “That matters a lot to the folks who want to open casinos, but it doesn’t seem to matter to the voters.”
Support for the expansion of casinos has reached 44%, a slight rise from 41% in 2016 and 42% in 2014, while opposition remains steady at approximately 50%. The strongest opposition comes from older residents, with 58% of those aged 65 and older against the expansion. Younger voters, particularly those 30 and under, are also more likely to oppose the measure, with 49% against and 45% in favor.
Regional differences are also notable, with resistance particularly high in areas close to proposed casino sites. In Bergen and Passaic counties, adjacent to the Meadowlands, only 38% support expansion, while 56% oppose it. Lawmakers from the Atlantic City area have been leading the opposition, arguing that new casinos would divert business from existing ones.
New Jersey Senator Joe Pennacchio (R-Morris) is advocating for the expansion of casino gambling. He introduced Senate Concurrent Resolution 31, which would allow voters to approve slots and table games at the Meadowlands and Monmouth Park. This resolution mandates that 30% of the tax revenue from these racetrack casinos be allocated to support existing casinos in Atlantic City, while another 7% would fund recovery and improvement programs for the city. However, the bill has been stalled in the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee since mid-January. The Legislature's session for 2026 will continue until the end of the year.