Poll Says NJ Casino Expansion Plan Is An UnderdogNearly 60 Percent Of Respondents Oppose North Jersey Casinos |
|
A November referendum in New Jersey to decide if casinos should be allowed outside of Atlantic City is facing an uphill battle, according to findings from a recent Rutgers-Eagleton poll. The results were first reported Tuesday by NJ.com.
Half of respondents said they think brick-and-mortar casinos should only be in Atlantic City. Forty percent said they should be allowed in other parts of the state. Three percent said they don’t want casinos anywhere in New Jersey, while seven percent said they were unsure.
In March, the percentages were 49, 44, two and five, respectively. So, the north Jersey casino plan backed by Gov. Chris Christie could be losing steam.
The results were worse for the plan when the question was more specific, but that’s how it will read on the ballot. The second version of the question read:
“Right now, casino gambling is only allowed in Atlantic City. Do you approve or disapprove amending the New Jersey state constitution to permit casino gambling in two additional counties in the state that are at least 72 miles from Atlantic City?”
To that question, 58 percent of respondents said they disapprove, while 35 percent said they approve. Seven percent said they were unsure.
The margin of error for the poll was +/-3.5 percentage points.
Here’s how the poll was conducted:
The Rutgers-Eagleton Poll was conducted by telephone using live callers September 6-10, 2016 with a scientifically selected random sample of 802 New Jersey adults, 18 or older. The sample contains a subsample of 735 registered voters. Respondents within a household are selected by asking randomly for the youngest adult male or female currently available. If the named gender is not available, the youngest adult of the other gender is interviewed. The poll was available in Spanish for respondents who requested it. This telephone poll included 441 landline and 361 cell phone adults, all acquired through random digit dialing.
Atlantic City has had a New Jersey casino monopoly since the 1970s. Gaming win in Atlantic City has been slashed in half over the past decade, from a record high of more than $5 billion in 2006.
Experts believe that Atlantic City could be left with just four casinos should north Jersey casinos be approved. The seaside town will have seven left when the Trump Taj Mahal closes next month.
The casino expansion plan had the blessing from the majority of Garden State lawmakers (85 percent in the Senate and 76 percent in the Assembly).
Copyright © 2001-2024
CardPlayer.com. All rights reserved.
