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(AsiaGameHub) – Certain positions remain constant. For a decade, residents of New Jersey, US, have maintained a resolute opposition to gambling outside of Atlantic City. A recent Fairleigh Dickinson University survey confirms that “voters still oppose casino expansion.”
“The Same Outcome”
Even with revived political efforts to permit casinos in new venues, such as racetracks including the Meadowlands and Monmouth Park, public opinion has seen minimal movement over the past ten years.
The most recent poll indicates 49% of respondents strongly oppose expansion, with 44% supporting it, a divide that has stayed essentially static since comparable polls in 2014 and 2016.
“People made their decision on casino expansion years ago,” stated Dan Cassino, a Professor of Government and Politics at Fairleigh Dickinson University.
“Barring a major shift, presenting this issue to voters will yield the same result as previous attempts,” added Cassino, who also serves as the executive director of the FDU Poll.
Presently, casino gambling in New Jersey is confined to Atlantic City, and altering this would necessitate a constitutional amendment.
This procedure requires passage by the state legislature in two successive sessions, then a public referendum. Legislators are weighing the possibility of returning the question to voters as soon as November.
“Older Voters Remember”
Past results, however, imply the outcome is likely foretold. A 2016 referendum on casino expansion was soundly defeated, with 77% opposing the measure and just 23% in favor. Current polling numbers show scant movement from that position.
Resistance is especially pronounced among older voters. The new poll finds 58% of those aged 65 and above are against expanding casinos, versus 38% who support it. Even with younger voters, backing fails to achieve a majority, underscoring widespread hesitation among all age demographics.
“Older voters recall the pledge that casinos would only ever be located in Atlantic City, and they are insisting the state honor that commitment,” Cassino further noted.
Geographic disparities are also stark, with the most intense opposition found in regions that might be candidates for new casinos, like Bergen and Passaic counties near the Meadowlands.
Political representatives from Atlantic City and its environs have likewise expressed resistance, cautioning that new casinos might damage the established market.
Conversely, proponents argue that expanding gambling would let New Jersey better rival nearby states, especially as new casinos open in New York. Yet, recent data shows these economic cases have not convinced the public.
For now, residents appear focused on other matters, showing support for legislation that would permit plug-in solar panels on balconies or porches, according to the same survey carried out from March 20 to March 28, 2026, by Braun Research of Princeton, New Jersey.
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