North Jersey Casino? Meadowlands Owner Believes It Could Happen Soon

If it goes in the way that the owner of Meadowland Racetrack would have it, we could see another casino in North Jersey. Just like the NJ online casino sector, new retail casinos are also growing.

The owner, Jeff Gural, believes there could be enough public support for one to be developed. 

However, this could prove problematic for Atlantic City casinos, which are notoriously struggling with revenue. Not only would they have this casino taking a cut of that, but just across the bridge in New York, there will be three new casinos there throughout 2025. 

According to the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, seven of the nine Atlantic City casinos have failed to return to revenue levels similar to pre-COVID times. Additionally, five casinos closed from 2014 to 2016. 

“Now more than ever, we know there’s a threat coming with New York City gaming coming,” Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small said at the conference, according to the Associated Press. “We understand the threat. We want to continue to work together to do things right to put Atlantic City into a prime position, no matter where these casinos are, that we diversify our options.”

Gural's Argument for North Jersey as the Location

While a casino in North Jersey could be an issue for Atlantic City, it could benefit residents who don’t want to travel to nearby New York due to tolls and traffic. 

“I’m just waiting for New York to open,” Gural said in an interview. “People will say, ‘Why am I driving over the George Washington Bridge and paying an $18 toll and sitting in traffic to go gamble?’”

Gural also noted that he does have a deal in place with Hard Rock to build a casino at the Meadowlands Racetrack. However, voters rejected a referendum to expand the casino gambling sphere in the state in 2016. Gural stated that it failed because of the wording, which indicated it could lead to multiple casinos. 

“People don’t want a casino in the neighborhood,” Gural said. “If we make it clear it’s only at the Meadowlands, common sense tells you there will be a casino in the Meadowlands.”