NJ slots case stated

A majority of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (NJSEA) board have reportedly stated their cases for the addition of slot machines at the Meadowlands before what one supportive state senator said would put the track “out of the racing business very shortly.”

Acording to published reports, NJSEA president George Zoffinger said at a board meeting on Thursday, “The honest answer is that business is bad, and if we don't have slots, we're not going to have the purses we need," Zoffinger said. "The horses and the owners will follow the purses. That's not rocket science."

A current purse subsidy from the Atlantic City casinos expires after this year and although a new one could be negotiated the majority of the board clearly would prefer slot machines to the cash infusion.

“If the horsemen don’t know months in advance what will happen in January (2008), they’ll make plans to go elsewhere,” said board member Jerold Zaro. “So even if we miraculously on Christmas Eve said we've extended the casino deal, we still won't have the horses. The time to make this deal is now."

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