Date of Publication: April 14, 2026, 08:41h.
Updated On: April 14, 2026, 08:41h.
- Recent polling indicates New Jersey residents may support casino establishments in North and Central Jersey
- Reportedly, over 60% of voters would choose to approve a casino at the Meadowlands
- New York City is set to welcome three new casinos
A recent poll conducted in New Jersey shows increasing public support for the introduction of casinos outside the traditional hub of Atlantic City.
In the wake of New York approving two large-scale casino resorts in Queens and one in the Bronx, New Jersey lawmakers and developers are revisiting proposals to introduce gambling options to the northern regions.
The last public vote on amending the New Jersey Constitution to permit casinos beyond Atlantic City occurred in 2016, resulting in a significant defeat of 77-23%. However, recent polling indicates a substantial shift in the public’s attitude over the past decade, possibly influenced by New York City’s gambling expansion.
A survey by Global Strategy Group involving 800 potential voters in New Jersey revealed that approximately 61% support establishing a casino at the Meadowlands Racetrack. This support cuts across party lines, with 64% of Democrats and 60% of Republicans expressing willingness to endorse a Meadowlands casino.
Support for a casino in Monmouth Park, located in Central New Jersey, stands at 54%.
Casinos Beneficial for NJ
The Global Strategy Group found that 54% of respondents believe that casino gambling has been advantageous for New Jersey. Permitting gaming outside of Atlantic City could potentially retain important gaming tax revenue originating from Northern New Jersey.
“Voters understand the advantages casinos offer the state, positioning expansion as an effective solution for some of New Jersey’s pressing issues,” the firm noted. “The revenue generated by casinos is particularly useful given the financial difficulties acknowledged by the state’s residents.”
In the previous year, Atlantic City’s nine casinos generated $216.8 million in gaming taxes from in-person play. An additional $581.8 million came from iGaming, while sports betting contributed $209.1 million, culminating in over $1 billion in total revenue.
The effect of downstate New York casinos on New Jersey’s gaming sector remains uncertain. Atlantic City’s notable strengths may include its beachfront attractions, family-friendly amenities, and perceived value offer.
Poll Financing Details
Jeff Gural, the operator of Meadowlands Racetrack, sponsored the Global Strategy Group poll concerning casino expansion outside Atlantic City. Gural has long advocated for transforming the facility adjacent to the home of the NFL Giants and Jets into a casino resort.
Despite the track currently running retail and online sports betting in partnership with FanDuel, Gural had previously collaborated with Hard Rock International to introduce casino operations at the Meadowlands. However, Hard Rock may seem an improbable associate now, as they are linked with billionaire Steve Cohen for the substantial Metropolitan Park casino initiative in Willets Point.
A recent Fairleigh Dickinson University Poll revealed that 50% of New Jersey voters oppose expanding the casino boundary.
“The public has already made up its mind about casino expansion,” stated Dan Cassino, a government and politics professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University and executive director of the FDU Poll. “Unless there are significant changes, revisiting the issue with voters is likely to yield the same result as before.”