Some political questions have clear, settled answers — and in New Jersey, casino expansion appears to be one of them. The latest survey from Fairleigh Dickinson University confirms what polls have been showing for ten years: Garden State voters remain firmly opposed to allowing casinos beyond Atlantic City.
The numbers have barely moved. In the latest poll, 49% of respondents oppose expansion while 44% support it — a gap that mirrors findings from similar surveys conducted in 2014 and 2016. Despite renewed political interest in opening casinos at locations such as the Meadowlands and Monmouth Park racetracks, public sentiment has proven remarkably resistant to change.
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“The same outcome”
Dan Cassino, Professor of Government and Politics at Fairleigh Dickinson University and executive director of the FDU Poll, was blunt in his assessment. “People made up their minds about casino expansion a long time ago,” he said. “Unless something dramatic happens, putting the issue in front of voters is going to lead to the same outcome as it did before.”
History backs that up. A 2016 referendum on casino expansion was rejected by a landslide — 77% voted against, with just 23% in favour. The latest figures suggest that result would not look dramatically different if the question were put to voters again today.
Who opposes — and why
Opposition is particularly concentrated among older voters, with 58% of those aged 65 and over against expansion compared to 38% in support. Even among younger demographics, support fails to reach a majority — pointing to a broad, cross-generational reluctance that goes beyond simple generational politics.
Cassino offered a clear explanation for the older cohort’s resistance. “Older voters remember the commitment that casinos were only ever going to be in Atlantic City, and they’re holding the state to those promises,” he said.
Regional dynamics add another layer of complexity. Opposition is highest in Bergen and Passaic counties — precisely the areas nearest to the Meadowlands and most likely to host new casinos. Lawmakers representing Atlantic City and the surrounding region have also pushed back, warning that expansion could cannibalise an existing market that has already weathered significant competitive pressure.
The economic argument isn’t landing
Supporters of expansion argue that new casinos would help New Jersey compete with neighbouring states, particularly as New York continues to develop its own casino landscape. But based on the polling data, those economic arguments have yet to make a meaningful dent in public opinion.
For now, New Jersey residents appear to have other priorities. The same survey — conducted between March 20 and March 28, 2026, by Braun Research of Princeton — found stronger public enthusiasm for a bill that would allow plug-in solar panels on balconies and porches than for any expansion of the state’s gambling footprint.
Lawmakers are considering putting the casino expansion question to voters as early as November. If the last decade of polling is any guide, they may already know the answer.
Where New Jersey players are turning instead
While the debate over physical casino expansion remains at a standstill, New Jersey’s online gambling market tells a very different story. The state was among the first in the US to regulate iGaming, and its digital market has grown steadily ever since. For many Garden State residents, the question of where to gamble has already been answered — not by a referendum, but by the rise of trusted online casinos operating under New Jersey’s robust regulatory framework. These trusted online casinos offer the full range of table games, slots and live dealer experiences that physical venues provide, without requiring a single new brick to be laid.
Other priorities for now
For now, New Jersey residents appear to have other priorities. The same survey — conducted between March 20 and March 28, 2026, by Braun Research of Princeton — found stronger public enthusiasm for a bill that would allow plug-in solar panels on balconies and porches than for any expansion of the state’s gambling footprint.
Lawmakers are considering putting the casino expansion question to voters as early as November. If the last decade of polling is any guide, they may already know the answer.
