Sweeney: North Jersey casinos ‘dead’ if bill not OK’d Monday

New Jersey’s Senate President says the possibility of having casinos in northern New Jersey will be “dead” if a bill for a statewide referendum on them is not passed on Monday.

Democrat Steve Sweeney says New Jersey will have lost the opportunity to expand casinos beyond Atlantic City if the bill is not passed on the final day of the legislative session.

Sweeney predicts opposition from southern New Jersey lawmakers will be too strong to get a bill approved in the next session that begins Tuesday, where more votes would be needed.

An impasse between Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto over the issue shows no signs of ending.

The competing bills differ on who can own the casinos, and how much tax revenue would go to help Atlantic City.