State efforts to revitalise Atlantic City's struggling gaming industry have been reinforced by new legislation signed into law by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie in February.
At a ceremony held at the unfinished Revel casino resort – an unfortunate symbol of Atlantic City’s present predicament – bills S-11, which creates a state-led tourism district within the city, and S-12, providing for the reform of New Jersey’s casino regulatory structure, were signed.
“The challenges faced today by the Atlantic City tourism and gaming industries have been a long time in the making and significant steps are needed to stop the decline and set a new course of economic growth and job creation and return Atlantic City to the ranks of the best destinations in the world. But it can and must be done for the economic health of New Jersey as a whole,” said Governor Christie. “Since we announced our plan for reform just over six months ago, we have already taken steps to secure that future – to stabilise the city’s finances and create jobs through new business investment.
“Today, we are going much further to signal to businesses, to the public and to the people who call Atlantic City home that a new, brighter and more prosperous future is coming again.”
Under the new legislation, the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, which is charged with the task of establishing the new tourism district, will partner a not-for-profit organisation fronted by the Casino Association of New Jersey comprising the state’s casino licensees. Funds totaling $30m a year are to be earmarked for the development of a new marketing programme to promote the city in an effort to bring tourists back to its casino resorts.
