Chamber of Commerce Proposes Casinos in Meadowlands

You might want to place your bets on the Meadowlands.

The Meadowlands Regional Chamber of Commerce presented a plan yesterday to add casinos to the Sports Complex there. They hope to support Atlantic City, where three casinos are slated to close within three weeks.

“This is not a plan to create a district that competes with Atlantic City,” said Jim Kirkos, president of the Meadowlands Chamber of Commerce. “Part of the casino tax that would be generated from the product up here could go directly to Atlantic City.”

The Chamber of Commerce plan, set for the Meadowlands sports complex, includes a resort-style hotel, conference facilities, and a combination race track and casino.

Casino gambling licenses are not presently available outside of Atlantic City, but a referendum proposed by State Senate President Stephen Sweeney could allow for North Jersey casinos. The referendum could be up for vote in November 2015.

“Our goal is to try to recapture the business that’s leaving New Jersey and going to Bethlehem (Pennsylvania) or Yonkers (New York),” Jeff Gural , a representative for the Jets and the Giants, told the Star-Ledger.

The Chamber of Commerce also spoke of reviving the American Dream mall plan.

“I want it all,” Kirkos said.