By Matthew Gilson | The Save Jersey Blog
I have a message for Atlantic City that is about as New Jersey as it comes:
“What the hell makes you so special?”
South Jersey politicians from both sides of the aisle continue to promise to fight to make Atlantic City the only location in New Jersey with legalized gambling; I continue to wonder “why?”
As conservatives, no matter what part of the state we are from, we must reject this notion that a certain area deserves government protection over another. Our principles of limited government and free markets dictate that if you consider yourself a supporter of the free market, then you must support a Meadowlands casino, or at least Trenton’s obligation to restrain itself from interfering.
Yesterday, the new owners of the American Dream project (“Xanadu” for those of you who do not live and breathe this disaster every day) announced they are finally making progress recruiting some retail giants to the project. What would go perfectly with all of this? A casino, maybe more than one at that.
South Jersey critics will counter by arguing that the gaming industry must be the exclusive domain of Atlantic City. Why? It makes no sense. As free market conservatives, we must foster competition; if Atlantic City casinos are truly better then okay, they’ll stay open without government assistance.
I know there are arguments about over saturation, but this is something we must leave to the market place if we truly espouse principles of deregulation and the free market. Frankly, I think there are too many Chipotles locations near my house, but I do not see anyone looking for a ban on more Chipotles,because, well, it would not make sense. It’s counter to our principles. If there are too many Chipotles guess what will and should happen? They will start closing! The free market simply isn’t siding with Atlantic City right now. Out-of-state competition is winning.
I’d argue we’re actually losing more gaming revenue to New York and Pennsylvania than we otherwise would by refusing to let, for instance, East Rutherford compete for those gaming dollars.
I also understand the argument that Atlantic City is in the fiscal doldrums; that they cannot afford to have to keep up with more casinos. To this again I say, what makes you so special? Why should A.C. be immune from having to make continued tough choices to adapt itself to market forces like every other town in the country?
And is allowing legalized gambling only in Atlantic City really any better than only allowing certain places to sell any other merchandise or perform any other service?
Would anyone be in favor of allowing gun sales only in Salem County or allowing football to be played only in Vineland? Should people only be free to shop for shoes in Springfield or light bulbs in Livingston?
The A.C. entitlement complex is no less absurd. Allowing gaming only in Atlantic City is as big government as it gets and no matter where you are from, as a conservative. you must reject this notion. Not just for ideological reasons, of course, but primarily because it clearly does not work! If it did, we wouldn’t even be having this discussion right now ’cause A.C. would be healthy.
At the end of the day, if something is good enough for one part of the state, it is good enough for another. Politicians need to quit playing favorites with one part of the state over the other; we need a casino in the Meadowlands and we need it now.
Lack of competition is exactly what caused AC to become so complacent in the first place. If there had been any competition at all, they would have done marketing and upgrades and given out more than match-play coupons to bus riding day-trippers. They might have built something attractive. And they might have been ready when other states decided to get in on the act. Instead they are the Comcast of resorts, relying on a government granted monopoly as their business plan.
Spreading them around a state seems to be working in PA.
How about just making a really big commuter parking lot….I have my doubts that anything will work there
Excellent article.
Nailed it. Let the market decide.
I think expansion of gambling in New Jersey is a horrible idea, all gambling besides poker is rigged and should be banned. I have no sympathy for the decline in the new jersey gaming industry, whoever loses money running a casino is an abject fool as the market is already rigged in your favor. Gambling preys upon addicts and the poor, its not an activity that should be encouraged.
As much as to spread things out. In this case of where to build or what to build is more of the question. What works in. May not work in y. Nj communities have a strong false sense of self or home rule many communities look as casinos as Not in my back yard situation then as an economic tool. Where politicians see them as a reverse of that.
YEA For Casinos in North Jersey ….
Nay. Casinos as savior of AC is flawed. Seriously.