NJ horsemen against northern casinos and racing

They suggested that the casino referendum facing voters next month is crucial to their survival.

US.- Meadowlands racetrack operator Jeff Gural warned residents that if they vote against casino expansion, more than 13.000 New Jersey horsemen could be out of work. The racetrack operator believes that NJ residents will vote against Public Question 1, which says that the state constitution should be amended to allow the building of two casinos in northers counties.

According to Gural, an opposition campaign has been persuading voters to the side by using fake claims of the consequences that these casinos could bring. “The way I see it we’re going to lose. We should have never lost. We had a lousy campaign. This legislation was designed to save Atlantic City. These people listen to these stupid politicians that they have down there who say, ‘Oh! It’s going to destroy Atlantic City!’ It’s going to save Atlantic City,” said Gural, who believes that gaming companies from New York and Pennsylvania are funding the opposition.

The opposition states that there are many ambiguos areas in Public Question 1, which would allow two US$1 billion casino resorts to be built. If voters approve the expansion, tax revenue from the casinos would be directed towards stimulating Atlantic City, and a lesser part to horsemen in New Jersey.

Trenton’s Bad Bet’s Executive Director Bill Cortese said that the amendment doesn’t specify a gross gaming tax rate on the casinos. “We will continue to ensure the voice of the majority of NJ voters who oppose gaming expansion is heard. Polling data has been very clear that likely voters across the state know this expansion is a bad deal.”