A pair of duelling proposals to ask New Jersey voters to approve expanding casino gambling to the northern part of the US state advanced last week.
This is despite the fact that the measures continue to clash and south Jersey lawmakers fear either one would devastate the already struggling Atlantic City.
New Jersey's constitution currently allows casino gambling only in Atlantic City. But both resolutions - one from the Democratic leaders of the state Assembly and the other from the Democrats who control the state Senate - would place a question on next November's ballot asking voters to amend the constitution to allow casinos in two different counties, each 72 miles from Atlantic City.
The goal of each plan is twofold: to help New Jersey battle ever-growing casino competition in neighbouring states and to give a portion of the tax revenue from the new gambling halls to boost Atlantic City, which has seen four casinos close and more than 8,000 jobs lost over the last two years.
