Published on: April 3, 2026, 10:23 AM.

Updated on: April 3, 2026, 10:23 AM.

• A recent survey indicates that New Jersey residents oppose additional casinos.
• Voters in New Jersey turned down a statewide ballot measure in 2016 to permit casinos beyond Atlantic City.

According to a fresh poll conducted by Fairleigh Dickinson University, New Jersey voters continue to resist the idea of establishing casinos outside Atlantic City.

The latest findings from the FDU Poll indicate that 50% of voters in New Jersey are against permitting casinos at the Meadowlands and Monmouth Park racetracks. This sentiment appears unchanged even as New York progresses with the establishment of three casinos in its downstate areas: two in Queens and one in the Bronx.

“The public has already formed a consensus regarding casino expansion,” remarked Dan Cassino, a political science professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University and Executive Director of the FDU Poll. “Until a significant change occurs, putting this issue back on the ballot is likely to yield the same results as before.”

The residents of New Jersey last faced the question of allowing casinos outside Atlantic City in 2016. At that time, the public squarely rejected the proposal, with a staggering 77% voting against it.

Casino Industry in Atlantic City 

In the previous year, the nine casinos operating in Atlantic City accumulated a gross gaming revenue of $2.89 billion from their physical slot machines and table games. This marked a 2.7% growth compared to 2024, although it remains a significant drop from the over $5.2 billion collected in 2006, the last year before neighboring Philadelphia began opening casinos.

The performance of Atlantic City casinos in 2025 was mixed, with only four of the nine venues reporting an increase in revenue from in-person gaming compared to the previous year. The presence of Hard Rock, Resorts World, and Bally’s casinos in New York City continues to put pressure on Atlantic City.

Despite this competitive landscape, New Jersey residents still do not support the expansion of gaming within the state.

“The only development since the last time this proposal was put forward is the emergence of more casinos in New York,” noted Cassino, the aptly named pollster. “That is a significant factor for those advocating for new casinos, but it appears to be irrelevant to voters.”

While 50% of respondents in the FDU Poll oppose the introduction of casinos beyond Atlantic City, 44% indicated they might support a referendum to establish casinos in alternate locations.

Proposed Casino Expansion Legislation 

Senator Joe Pennacchio (R-Morris) has long championed the expansion of casino gaming in New Jersey. This year, he has put forth Senate Concurrent Resolution 31, which aims to let voters decide on the potential introduction of slots and table games at the Meadowlands and Monmouth Park.

However, Senator Pennacchio’s bill has not progressed from the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee, where it has been stalled since mid-January. The 2026 session of the New Jersey Legislature is scheduled to continue through the end of the year.