SBOA president: expand gaming at Meadowlands

February 18, 2013

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Tom Luchento, president of the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey, has written a Letter to the Editor of the Asbury Park Press, imploring the state to allow expanded gaming at the Meadowlands. His letter appears below:

"In the Asbury Park Press editorial of Feb. 15 ("Stop playing bad hand in A.C.”), it was correctly pointed out that there is a flaw in the "rosy view that Atlantic City's monopoly on casinos is the recipe for financial success.”

"The struggles of Revel and other casinos in Atlantic City, which have lost gambling dollars to casinos and racinos in Pennsylvania, Delaware and New York, have made it clear that the state has put its bet on the wrong horse.

"It's time to look at gambling in New Jersey with a clear eye.

"We are conceding the dollars our citizens gamble to venues outside of New Jersey, rather than offering more convenient locations, such as the Meadowlands Racetrack. No one with a realistic eye can ignore what a successful and convenient location the Meadowlands offers.

"Why should these gaming dollars go elsewhere, when they could be benefiting New Jersey's treasury?

"Polls have already indicated that this would be popular. Given the latest decision by the state to permit Atlantic City's casinos to serve as a hub for statewide Internet gaming without benefit of a referendum, there would seem to be no legal obstacle to expanding slots and table games outside of Atlantic City's borders.

"As the Asbury Park Press editorial pointed out, "staking so much on Atlantic City casinos as the exclusive venue for casino gambling in New Jersey was always a bad idea and a bad bet.”

Thomas F. Luchento

President, Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey

Manalapan (NJ)

Click here if you wish to see the Letter on the Asbury Park Press website.

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