S1996

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Jim Whelan and Jeff Van Drew which would expand State support for the Atlantic City Racetrack was approved by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee today by a vote of 7-5.

“While New Jersey has taken steps to improve the sustainability of casino gaming in Atlantic City, efforts to bolster the horse racing industry have been exclusive to Central and North Jersey,” said Senator Whelan, D-Atlantic, and chair of the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee. “It seems that the Atlantic City Racetrack is always an afterthought, but with a minimal investment, the racetrack can be a vital component in the gaming economic of Atlantic City. This bill ensures that, as we line up private investors to bring Monmouth Park and the Meadowlands racetracks back from the brink, that we support horse racing in South Jersey as well.”

“When you look at it, the Atlantic City Racetrack suffers as much, if not more, from the draw of racinos in Delaware as any of the other racetracks do from competing facilities outside New Jersey,” said Senator Van Drew, D-Cape May, Cumberland and Atlantic. “However, while we’ve taken steps to help the horse racing industry achieve self-sustainability, we have yet to come up with a viable plan to support the Atlantic City Racetrack. By allowing the racetrack to collect a lion’s share of the funds coming in from out-of-State simulcasting, we can put them on a level playing field as the other facilities in the State and help them to build and maintain a world-class racing facility in the southern part of the State.”

TRENTON – A bill package sponsored by Senators Jim Whelan and Jeff Van Drew which would expand State support for the Atlantic City Racetrack and reduce unneeded regulatory bureaucracy for Atlantic City’s casinos was approved by the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee today.

“With recent changes and reforms in how we treat gaming and wagering – not just in Atlantic City, but in the entire State – we have to revisit existing laws and make changes where necessary,” said Senator Whelan, D-Atlantic, and chair of the Senate committee. “As our racetracks in central and northern New Jersey move away from casino subsidization, we should invest those funds into the Atlantic City Racetrack, and ensure South Jersey has a world-class racing facility. And we ought to revisit the regulatory needs of casinos, and reduce unnecessary and over-burdensome bureaucracy.”

“These bills are about further expanding South Jersey’s tourism and wagering economy, and making small changes in existing law which will pay off big dividends in terms of gaming revenue and jobs for the people in the region,” said Senator Van Drew, D-Cape May, Cumberland and Atlantic. “Tourism and wagering are such a vital part of our economy in the southern part of the State, and these bills will ensure a vibrant, active gaming economy for many years to come.”