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Speaker Oliver, Ramos & Caputo Announce Plans for Public Hearings on Gaming in Meadowlands

(TRENTON) – Speaker Sheila Y. Oliver, Assembly Regulatory Oversight and Gaming Committee Chair Ruben J. Ramos, Jr. and Assembly Regulatory Oversight and Gaming Committee Member Ralph R. Caputo today announced plans to host public hearings this year to discuss the merits of bringing casino gaming to the Meadowlands.

“We need to at least discuss the idea of bringing casino-style gambling to the Meadowlands and whether it has the potential to create jobs, incentivize the local economy and position New Jersey’s gaming industry to better compete against the casinos that have cropped up in neighboring states. These are benefits worth exploring further,” said Oliver (D-Essex/Passaic).

“Expanding gaming options to North Jersey would strengthen New Jersey against the competition in border states which has already lured customers away,” said Ramos (D-Hudson). “Any plan that could bring additional revenue to the state and create jobs deserves careful consideration.”

“The reality is that Atlantic City is losing many of its North Jersey customers to newly-opened casinos in Pennsylvania and New York,” said Caputo (D-Essex). “Bringing gaming to the Meadowlands can help us reclaim them and bring back much-needed revenue to New Jersey.

“As a former casino executive, I support a constitutional amendment. As a legislator and member of this committee, I believe, as gaming in Atlantic City was decided by the voters in 1976, people should have a say in whether gaming should be allowed in the Meadowlands,” Caputo added.

The committee is currently working on scheduling the hearings. Dates and locations will be announced at a later date.