Christie prospecting for progress in Atlantic City

Gov. Chris Christie says he’s looking for significant results in the new year in the effort to revitalize Atlantic City.

Regulatory reforms and the creation of a tourism district are among the steps taken in the first three years of the five-year plan to invigorate the resort city. That revival must take place before Christie will consider allowing casinos anywhere else in the Garden State.

“It’s obviously a pivotal year because we need to make continued progress in Atlantic City, or we’re going to need to start considering alternatives,” he said.

Casinos in neighboring states continue to have a big impact on Atlantic City, said Assemblyman Ralph Caputo, D-Essex.

“Right now, we are losing hundreds of millions of dollars being siphoned off to other places,” he said. “If this continues there will be no market to go there.”

Caputo is pushing for the creation of a new commission to explore prospects of casino expansion to Bergen County.