Most N.J. voters unwilling to gamble on casino expansion, poll finds

A new poll indicates New Jersey voters are likely to reject the November referendum to allow an expansion of casino gambling into North Jersey.

Just 35 percent of voters surveyed support the proposed constitutional amendment to allow two casinos in North Jersey while 58 percent oppose it, said Ashley Koning, interim director of the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling.

“This is something that cuts across all demographics. It’s not a partisan issue. It’s not a gender issue. There really is just not a desire to expand casinos farther in the state,” she said Tuesday. “If patterns like this continue to hold for Election Day, then the ballot amendment really doesn’t have a chance of passing.”

Voters have never been on the side of casino expansion in the state, Koning added.

“We’ve seen opposition for a while now, and it fluctuates, depending on the climate of what’s going on with Atlantic City’s gambling,” she said. “But even back in 1979 we saw pretty solid opposition against expanding into other territories within the state.”