Gov. Christie.

Gov. Chris Christie vetoed the Internet Gaming Bill today (Thursday, Feb. 7) but added that he was in favor of the bill with a few changes. Christie said he supports online gambling, with some minor changes, including bumping up the tax rate on casinos’ online winnings from 10 percent to 15 percent.

“Now is the time for our state to move forward, again leading the way for the nation, by becoming one of the first states to permit Internet gaming,” Christie wrote. “While Atlantic City’s reputation and stature as one of the premier resort destinations on the East Coast are well-chronicled, it is no secret that revenue from the region’s most important industries, gaming and tourism, has been in decline.

“Since the beginning of my administration, I have stressed the importance of reversing the trend of economic contraction in Atlantic City and have made the revitalization of the region’s gaming and tourism industries a key priority.”

TRENTON, N.J. — On Friday, Dec. 21, the New Jersey State Senate gave final legislative approval to a bill that would allow gamblers to bet on casino games in Atlantic City over the Internet.

Lesniak

“By allowing casinos to tap into the burgeoning trend of Internet wagering, we can put New Jersey at the forefront of this lucrative gaming market and give our casinos the competitive edge they need in the current economic climate,” said Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Union), the bill’s leading sponsor, in a statement.

Under the bill, licensed casino operators or their Internet gambling affiliates would be able to set up and operate Internet wagering, allowing state residents to place bets on casino games without being on the casino floor. The servers would be located in Atlantic City and the casino would have to verify players are physically present in the state to comply with federal law.

Christie

The bill would allow Internet gambling on the same kind of games already available on gaming floors. An identical bill passed the Assembly on Monday, Dec. 17, by a 48-24-4 vote. The N.J. Senate passed it 33-3, sending it to the desk of Gov. Chris Christie for final approval.

Last year Lesniak introduced a bill designed to allow intra-state Internet gaming in New Jersey. Christie opposed and vetoed that bill, believing it violated the state constitution that only allows gaming in Atlantic City.

In March 2011, Christie released a statement saying he vetoed the bill due to “both the inconsistency with his administration’s commitment to revitalizing the gaming and tourism industries in Atlantic City and legal concerns with the legislation … legislation as it relates to the administration’s stated policy objectives and the New Jersey State Constitution, including potential allowance of gambling outside of Atlantic City’s borders and the continuation of a public subsidy for horse racing, respectively.”

Christie

ATLANTIC CITY — According to a media release from Gov. Chris Christie’s office, in addition to a new $20 million “DO AC” television, radio and print advertising campaign — the first of its kind in years — other signs that Atlantic City is moving in the right direction to attract tourists include the completion of the Revel mega-resort, completion of Phase I of the Boardwalk Relighting Project from Albany to Rhode Island avenues, over $125 million in renovations to the Golden Nugget Casino, completion of The Wave Garage/Christopher Columbus Mixed Use Center, the first phase of the $80 million Steel Pier renovation, and establishment of the Tourism District Ambassadors for the Boardwalk, Atlantic and Pacific avenues.

“I’m also pleased to announce our administration’s formal submission of sports wagering regulations,” said Christie during a Boardwalk media conference Thursday, May 24. “I signed this bill into law because it is another way to continue to boost our casino and horse-racing industries, and encourage tourists to come to Atlantic City. We’re doing this in a responsible way that not only gives visitors another option, but ensures we’re doing it the right way.”

Legislation signed earlier this year by Gov. Christie allows wagering at casinos and racetracks on certain professional and collegiate sports events. The rules announced Thursday by the Governor were developed by the Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE), in consultation with the Casino Control Commission (CCC) and the Racing Commission (RC), the release stated.

To engage in the business of sports wagering, a person or entity must obtain a “sports pool license.” Only a casino licensed by the CCC or a racetrack licensed by the RC may apply for and obtain a “sports pool license.” Moreover, 50 percent of the proceeds derived from the collection of license fees will be used to fund compulsive gambling treatment programs.

The new regulations also establish that sports wagering takes place within a “sports pool lounge” located at a licensed facility. For racetracks, the lounge must be located in the simulcasting room or area, unless approved for another location by DGE.

While the new rules prohibit sports wagering on collegiate sports events that takes place in New Jersey or those that involve a New Jersey college team, there are no limits on professional sports teams.
The proposed rules will be published in the New Jersey Register on July 2.

“We would expect those rules to be enacted this fall, in October or November, and for sports gambling to come here to Atlantic City to further enhance the experience of people who want to come here, visit here, gamble here and enjoy time here,” said the Governor.

This reminder from Stockton:

Christie

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is scheduled to appear and speak at the official New Jersey observance of Yom HaShoah, to take place 7:30pm, Tuesday, April 17 at Beth Israel Congregation (2501 Shore Rd. in Northfield)

The Sara and Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center of The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey is one of the sponsoring organizations of the event.

Yom HaShoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day as it is referred to in English, is the day of commemoration for the more than six million people murdered in the Holocaust. The program, entitled “Unto Every Person There is a Name – Remembering the Six Million Jewish Victims of the Holocaust” is free and open to the public. The program will highlight local Holocaust Survivors and will include a special memorial service. Seating for the event is on a first come, first served, basis.

Keynote speaker for the event is Donald Berkman, whose life story is chronicled in a memoir, “Two Voices: Mother and Son, Holocaust Survivors.”  Donald is a child Holocaust Survivor who hid in the woods of Lithuania with his mother for nearly three years.  He immigrated to the United States in 1949 and moved to a chicken farm in Oceanville.  He graduated from Pleasantville High School in 1958, attended pharmacy school and has enjoyed a productive career working in several Southern New Jersey pharmacies.

For more information please contact The Sara and Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center of The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, 609-652-4699.

Pictured from left are Gov. Chris Christie, president of South Jersey Building and Construction Trades Will Pauls, Assemblyman John Amodeo and Revel CEO Kevin DeSanctis.

ATLANTIC CITY — New Jersey Gov. Christie toured Revel  the day after the soon-to-open mega-resort’s gaming license was approved Monday, March 26.

The $2.4 billion Revel Resort and Casino begins three test nights starting Wednesday, March 28, then opens this coming Monday, April 2, for an eight-week preview, and the complete resort will premiere on May 25 — the Friday before Memorial Day weekend.

Click here to see a video of the Governor’s latest Revel visit.

Pictured from left are CRDA Director John Palmieri, Revel CEO Kevin DeSanctis and Atlantic City Alliance CEO Liza Cartmell.

The Governor shook hands with some of the 4,000 employees who have been hired to work at Revel, and was greeted by regional elected officials and members of the CRDA and other local agencies before addressing the media.

“The completion of Revel and its opening is a turning point for Atlantic City and a clear sign that people once again have faith in the city’s ability to come back and be successful,” said Christie.

Photos by Christine Steiner

Gov. Chris Christie was in Atlantic City yesterday (March 27) at Revel to once again reiterate that a strong Atlantic City is important to the state. During his speech he also put out a plea to New Jersey native son Bruce Springsteen to consider appearing at Revel for Labor Day weekend. Christie, who has seen Springsteen in concert 126 times, feels that Springsteen should appreciate the working men and women who now have jobs thanks to the opening of Revel.

Christie, joined by Revel CEO Kevin DeSanctis and hundreds of casino workers employed at the new project, toured the now-completed $2.4 billion Revel Atlantic City that has created 5,500 permanent jobs, part of over 10,000 temporary and permanent jobs associated with its construction and operation. The newest casino and resort to join the Atlantic City skyline, Revel will have an eight-week preview opening beginning on April 2, ahead of its official May 25 premier kick-off.

“The completion of Revel and its opening is a turning point for Atlantic City and a clear sign that people once again have faith in the City’s ability to come back and be successful,” said Governor Christie. “Atlantic City is the engine of the local and regional economies and critical to the economic success of the state as a whole. Through job creation, increased tourism visits and development projects, our continuing efforts to revitalize the tourism and gaming economies in Atlantic City are getting positive results.”

Go here for more video of the tour and here for an inside look at Revel.

Governor stressed appointee John Palmieri’s redevelopment experience a key credential in helping to restore Atlantic City as a destination and convention resort.

ATLANTIC CITY — At a press conference Wednesday, Sept. 7, at Boardwalk Hall, Gov. Chris Christie formerly introduced John F. Palmieri as the new director of the New Jersey State Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA).

John Palmieri

The New Jersey native is the former director of the Boston Redevelopment Authority and also led previous redevelopment efforts in Hartford, Conn., Charlotte, N.C., and Providence, R.I. Palmieri takes over the position from interim CRDA director Susan Ney-Thompson, who will return to her position as deputy CRDA director.

Christie emphasized  that Palmieri’s appointment will help accomplish his administration’s agenda of restoring the resort’s economy. As director of the CRDA, much of Palmieri’s responsibilities will be overseeing the newly formed Tourism District in Atlantic City.

“This administration is deeply committed to making greater progress on the reform agenda we’ve laid out to turn around Atlantic City’s gaming and tourism economy, make it a premier destination resort, and strengthen its role as an engine of economic growth and job creation for the state and region,” says Christie. “Over the past year, the Hanson Commission Report [the governor’s advisory commission on gaming] has provided us with a framework to focus our work on job creation, capital investment and regulatory reform.

“The momentum is with us to bring job creation, growth and hope back to Atlantic City and the region,” adds Christie. “Every day we are making progress to secure the growth, investment and success of Atlantic City’s gaming and tourism industries and I am pleased that John Palmieri will be there to provide leadership in that effort.”

Christie added that he chose Palmieri because he has the right combination of experience and development know-how.
“I really wanted someone who could bring their expertise and their bearing, who would be able to impress people that he’s someone who should be listened to. That’s what impressed me most about John,” says Christie.

From left, Susan Ney-Thompson, John Palmieri, Gov. Chris Christie. Photos by Lew Steiner.

The Associated Press played up the fact that during the press conference, the governor implied that going to Las Vegas in the summertime is “stupid,” and that vacationers should instead opt for traveling to Atlantic City.

“There is no reason people should go to Las Vegas in the summer,” Christie said. “Why would you go to the middle of the desert in the summer? You’d have to be stupid to do that. Come to Atlantic City, where there’s a beautiful beach, gamble if you want to.”

Rants and raves about burning topics that have caught my attention midweek, be it greedy corporate shenanigans, frustration or joy in regards to the Philly sports teams, a movie, show or DVD that has fired up my imagination, an intriguing personality, or what’s happening in the region. — Lori Hoffman, Associate Editor, Atlantic City Weekly.

With Memorial Day weekend coming up, we all start thinking about the summer season. All the gloom and doom about dwindling casino revenues and on-going layoffs of casino employees gets pushed to the back burner. Instead we dream about hot days strolling the beach and boardwalks (in A.C., Ocean City and Wildwood), and sizzling entertainment at night. Everything just looks and smells nicer in the summertime.

Gov. Chris Christie pushed for his tourism district to be run by the state and this summer we will see if it works out as promised, attracting more visitors with the promise of a clean, safe environment.

Artist's rendering of the Golden Nugget renovations.

Christie’s plan did help revive the Revel project, which is back on track, but of course that won’t be a factor this summer.

What will be a factor is the official signing over of Trump Marina to Landry’s Restaurants Golden Nugget brand. It should happen very soon, maybe even this week. Renovations have been on-going at the property for several months and the Chart House Restaurant is scheduled to open on May 26.

Also in upbeat news, Caesars Entertainment will be welcoming three new restaurants from Stephen Hanson and B.R. Guest Restaurants into Harrah’s Resort and Caesars. The upcoming additions are Dos Caminos and Bill’s Bar & Burger at Harrah’s, and Atlantic Grill at Caesars. Later this summer Luke Palladino’s self-named new restaurant will also open at Harrah’s.

Resorts opened the first gay bar at an Atlantic City casino, Prohibition, a great idea that reminds us that before the casinos made things too expensive, there was a vibrant gay entertainment/nightclub scene in Atlantic City.

Summer also sizzles with top tier entertainment at the casinos and throughout the region. Keep track of what’s coming this summer by checking out both the print and web versions of Atlantic City Weekly.

Although the deal has not been completed, a little bird has informed Atlantic City Weekly about a major non-gaming attraction that is in the works for Atlantic City.

Believe it or not, there is no such thing as a movie hall of fame anywhere in the world. It doesn’t exist, and never has.

Until now?

A team is currently working on plans to open the world’s first Motion Picture Hall of Fame in the Claridge Tower at Bally’s Atlantic City later this year.

Caesars Entertainment still has to formally sign the agreement, which is expected to be completed shortly.

The hall of fame will reportedly be located in the Claridge in a section that was once used as casino space.

At this point, everything is still either in development or a conceptual phase.

Stay tuned to acweekly.com.

Originally scheduled for Monday, Dec. 27, but postponed due to a blizzard, Atlantic City Mayor Lorenzo Langford will hold a press conference on the proposed “Tourism District” in Atlantic City on Thursday, Dec. 30, at 11:30am.

The press conference will be held inside Mayor Langford’s office, City Hall, Room #706, 1301 Bacharach Blvd. in Atlantic City. Mayor Langford is expected to answer questions concerning the proposed “Tourism District” and will “announce specific initiatives and ideas.”

In late November, the mayor told Atlantic City Weekly that the city was working on a plan — removed from any state plan — for the city moving forward to July 2011, a date that Gov. Christie, back in July 2010, gave as a deadline for the city to turn itself around. He also discussed his thoughts on many of the related matters, such as the problems his office has had working with the state, his thoughts on a proposed “Tourism District,” and much more.

On a related note, sources have informed Atlantic City Weekly that Stockton College will take a leadership role in the development of the proposed “Arts District” along Mississippi Avenue in Atlantic City.

Read the rest of this story here.