Atlantic City casino’s woes have many causes, but the growing popularity of competing casinos in Pennsylvania and beyond figure big in the industry’s downturn. Here, Sugar House patrons explain why they no longer drive to A.C.

Associated Press fileIf North Jersey voters get their way, Atlantic City could lose its monopoly on gambling in the state. This May 21, 2012 photo shows a roulette table at the former Revel casino in Atlantic City, N.J. On Thursday Dec. 17, 2015, the New Jersey Legislature plans to consider changes Gov. Chris Christie requested to a financial assistance package for Atlantic City and its struggling casino industry. Revel was one of four Atlantic City casinos to go out of business in 2014. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)(Photo: Wayne Parry / AP)

Election Day voters will have the choice of doubling down or folding on gambling in the Garden State, as they decide whether to allow two new casinos to be built in the northern part of the state.

Critics of the expanded wagering say distrust in state legislators may sink the constitutional amendment. A lack of answers to big questions, including where the casinos would be located and how they'd be taxed, hasn't helped sell the initiative.

A Rutgers-Eagleton poll last month showed 50 percent of voters were against the measure, with 40 percent in favor.

MORE: NJ voters split on North Jersey casinos

“There’s a distrust of decision makers and things that come out of Trenton,” said Bill Cortese, executive director of Trenton’s Bad Bet, a group opposed to the ballot measure. “It leads us to believe that casino expansion will be no different."

Dozens of local restaurants and chefs will come together this weekend for the Atlantic City Seafood Festival. (Photo: COURTESY OF BOB KRIST)

Trenton's Bad Bet is partly funded by the parent company of Resorts World Casino in New York, a decidedly interested party.

MORE: Rift on NJ casino proposals

Advocates argue that casino expansion is long overdue, with more and more visitors gambling out of "convenience," not looking for a destination, Sen. Jennifer Beck said.

"This is the one opportunity New Jersey has to win back that economic engine," said Beck, R-Monmouth.

At an Asbury Park Press editorial board meeting Wednesday, officials discussed why voters should vote "yes" or "no" on ballot question No. 1, which would allow two casinos in northern New Jersey, the only legal gaming outlets in the state outside of Atlantic City.

Here are the main pros and cons of the ballot initiative, according to its advocates and opponents:

PRO: Keep pace with surrounding states

Since 2005, 11 casinos have opened up within 100 miles of Atlantic City. The problem? None of them is in New Jersey.

The result is, other states leeching what could be lucrative economic development — including tax dollars and economic development — for New Jersey, Beck said.

“Whether this passes or not, Atlantic City has a lot of competition,” Beck said. “If New Jersey decides not to compete on Nov. 8, our ship has sailed. This is our last opportunity.”

CON: Atlantic City takes a huge hit.

As other states have jumped on the casino bandwagon, Atlantic City has fallen off. Over the last three years, five casinos in the city have closed — capped off by Trump Taj Mahal earlier this month.

Gordon MacInnes, executive director of the New Jersey Policy Perspective think tank, said putting casinos elsewhere would cause two or three more Atlantic City mainstays to close.

FIRM: Referendum could kill 'half' of Atlantic City casinos

“How do you rebuild such a devastated tourist destination when you’ve taken one-third of its current market,” he said.

But the future of Atlantic City's success shouldn't be determined by the casino industry, said Meadowlands Regional Chamber CEO Jim Kirkos. Instead, Kirkos — who supports the ballot initiative — thinks the only way to turn around the city is by turning it into a resort that relies more on amenities than gambling.

“You can’t rely on casinos,” Kirkos said. “Transition it into something new, not something old, and keep the existing casinos that will survive.”

Casino workers make their way down the boardwalk in Atlantic City before Hillary Clinton is set to speak there Wochit

@ISSUE: Yes or no on casino referendum?

PRO: Destination Meadowlands

Kirkos expects a casino to lead the Meadowlands through a rebirth, much needed since the Izod Center left only two attractions, MetLife Stadium and the Meadowlands Racetrack.

The Meadowlands Chamber's plan includes a casino, a finally finished American Dream, a new convention center and hotels to handle the new visitor boom.

"You'll have one of the world's most diverse multi-venue sports and entertainment complexes, which will power North Jersey for the next 25 years," Kirkos said.

But the stadium complex is located along Route 3, already one of the state's most-congested highways, MacInnes said.

"What you have are very basic questions about the current infrastructure being able to sustain this supposedly much heavier traffic," he said.

MORE: Casino referendum proponents end campaign

CON: Monmouth Park is left out

Oceanport Council President Joe Irace is in favor of casinos outside of Atlantic City but still opposes the ballot question. The bill would require any new casinos to be located at least 72 miles away from Atlantic City.

The Monmouth Park racetrack in Oceanport is 69 miles away, disqualifying the park owners from trying to open a "racino" there. Racinos have been other states' footholds into casino expansion.

EDITORIAL: Casino referendum a big crap shoot

"Why a billion-dollar casino? We could put slot machines at Monmouth Park and the Meadowlands for 1/100th of the cost and capture the same convenience market," Irace said.

Included in the constitutional amendment is an estimated $5 million to the horse racing industry, including money for winners' purses and horse farms throughout the state. But it's a drop in the bucket, Irace said.

“There’s a tied-in dedicated revenue stream with racinos. It’s a home run, the only way the state of New Jersey should be looking at this," he said.

Mike Davis: 732-643-4223; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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