Sen. President Suggests Possibility of Casino in Camden

State Sen. President Stephen Sweeney says New Jersey should target the state’s most distressed cities for casino expansion, The Press of Atlantic City reports.

Sweeney told that newspaper’s editorial board he believes the casino industry should expand into Camden, Newark or Jersey City.

Politicians have lobbied for a casino to be implemented at the racetrack at the Meadowlands, but Sweeney would rather see casinos in a place that would benefit the most financially, according to the report.

The implementation of a casino in Camden would fall in line with a multi-faceted efforts to improve the city. The state took over the city’s schools in 2013, while a joint venture with the county helped establish the Camden County Metro Division to handle crime in Camden last year.

The city continues to struggle, and any casino presence in Camden would have to overcome the city’s image as one of the most dangerous in America, as well as the advancement of the Pennsylvania casino industry.

Pennsylvania casinos have seen a financial boon since opening. In 2012, the Pennsylvania casino industry overtook Atlantic City as the second largest casino market in the country, behind Nevada, according to USA Today.

The industry in Pennsylvania is worth over $3.2 billion, according to that report, and 12 of the 14 casinos offer both table games and slot machines.

New York state voters approved the construction of seven casinos in New York on Election Day, meaning any casinos put in place in Newark and Jersey City would see their share of competition.

Sweeney also said the tourism district imposed by the state on Atlantic City needs to be given five years promised by Gov. Chris Christie to succeed before constructing casinos elsewhere in the state, according to The Press of Atlantic City. That five year timeframe began in February of 2011.