It is a topic which has come up continually over the years, and nothing has come from it, but New Jersey Assemblyman Ruben Ramos, who is also the chair of Assembly's Oversight and Gaming Committee, has gone on the record as saying that his committee will be discussing expanded gaming at the Meadowlands soon
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During an interview on NJ Today, Assemblyman Ramos was asked how he felt about people that constantly say that expanding gaming has to come to northern New Jersey.
Ramos said, "I agree with those that do say that, and that is why hopefully in the very near future we will be conducting hearings into the potential of having a casino in the Meadowlands facility. I think we have received some positive feedback on that, so we are reaching out to some members of the public that will testify before our committee. Hopefully this spring, during our spring session, we will do that, (but) definitely by the fall we will have some hearing to look into that."
Ramos didn't want to speculate on the scope of the expansion is it occur.
"Well, we haven't got to the real nuts and bolts of the discussion yet, that is why we will have the hearing to figure out if the northern part of New Jersey can handle a full-blown Atlantic City-type casino, or a more boutique type of casino, or just slots in the Meadowlands," he said. "We will have our hearings to try to guide us in the right direction."
In an effort to calm those that want to see expansion come to northern New Jersey overnight, Ramos stated that such an undertaking will not happen in the immediate future.
"I don't think we're going to put a casino there overnight," he said. "I think it will take a number of years before we see a casino there, but we can have the hearings now, and walk and chew gum at the same time while we try to do things to support Atlantic City (and) try to raise revenues there. And, at the same time, be ready to roll if the voters (decide), if it goes to a vote, or if a legislative action takes place to try to put a casino in [Northern New Jersey]."