New Jersey voters to decide whether to end Atlantic City’s casino monopoly

New Jersey voters will decide whether to authorize casinos outside Atlantic City after state legislators approved the measure by the necessary margin.

On Monday, elected members of both of the state’s legislative chambers cast votes on the proposal to build two casinos in two different counties in the north half of the state.

In both cases, the bills were approved by the necessary 60% supermajorities to ensure a referendum question would appear on this November’s election ballot asking voters whether or not to amend the state constitution to end AC’s casino monopoly.

As for how that November vote could go, a Rutgers-Eagleton poll released last week showed voters largely split on the issue, with 49% opposed to casino expansion and 44% in favor. Ominously, the same poll found only 22% support for the notion that “Atlantic City’s best days are yet to come.”