(TRENTON) – Assemblyman Ralph Caputo (D-Essex), chair of the Assembly Tourism and Gaming Committee, on Thursday issued the following statement in light of Caesars Entertainments’ announcement to open a resort-like casino in New York after years of opposition to expansion of gaming options in other parts of New Jersey:
“Fearing expansion would pull consumers and revenue from Atlantic City, Caesars has been a major roadblock for the state over the past few years.
“Even the placement of slot machines in the Meadowlands they opposed. They are our main opposition to growing the gaming industry in the state and have not supported any opportunity to increase gaming revenue if it meant earning it outside of Atlantic City.
“New Jerseyans are already lured away from Atlantic City to other gaming venues in New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Delaware. We can sustain the gaming industry and the millions of workers and families it supports by seizing opportunities to expand and generate new revenue in New Jersey.
“For Caesars to impede the progress we could have made in New Jersey then go to New York to build is plain hypocrisy. This new move to build a casino resort in New York adds insult to injury.”