When Dr. Karyn Malinowski wanted to know where the New Jersey gamblers were going, she counted license
plates.
Unlike the game that parents have their vacation-weary children play on car trips, Malinowski, the director of the Rutgers University Equine Science Center, was engaged in scholarly research for the study she released on Tuesday, July 28, 2009 through the Hall Institute for Public Policy.
“We knew there was a lot of speculation on whether New Jersey gamblers were bypassing Atlantic City’s casinos in favour of gaming opportunities in adjacent states,” Malinowski explained. “Over the last couple of weeks we counted license plates at a trio of Pennsylvania facilities, Harrah’s Chester, Philadelphia Park and Sands Bethlehem, and Empire City Gaming at Yonkers in nearby Westchester County, New York to collect that data.”
The surveys revealed that 59.4 per cent of the vehicles at Sands Bethlehem were from New Jersey, 31 per cent at Philadelphia Park, 14 per cent at Harrah’s Chester and 10 percent at Yonkers.
“The Rutgers study validates what we have been saying all along – New Jersey is losing out to nearby states and the loss to the New Jersey economy is significant,” said Tom Luchento, president of the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey. “We need slots at our racetracks to bring those bettors and their bankrolls back to our state.
“The casinos in Atlantic City will never lure those players back in any significant numbers,” Luchento continued. “The public appears to be letting their feet – or cars – do the talking. They want something closer to home and save an hour or more of traveling time.”
The Rutgers report is entitled 'Impact of Slot Machines/Video Lottery Terminals on the Economy, Horse Racing and Breeding Industry, Agriculture and Open Space in States/Provinces Where They Exist – Why is This Important for New Jersey?'
The study observed that New Jersey “stands to lose its premier agribusiness which generates $780 million of economic impact annually, 7,000 jobs, $110 million in federal, state and local taxes and 57,000 acres of working agricultural landscape and open space if racing-related activities leave New Jersey.”
The report noted the installation of video lottery terminals/slots at New Jersey’s racetracks “has the potential to be a ‘win-win’ situation for both the racing and casino industries. The revenue would enhance the state budget significantly and provide capital for use by the horse racing industry to keep it competitive. Racinos (racetracks with slots) would add jobs to the state during construction and renovations of the racetracks as well as during operation. Video lottery terminals run by the operators of the Atlantic City casinos would help these interests diversify sources of revenue.”
(SBOANJ)