Days after Trump Plaza became the fourth casino in Atlantic City to shut its doors, Gov. Christie on Townsquare New Jersey’s “Ask the Governor” program said it was "inevitable" that casinos would close and stressed that the city is in the midst of transition away from being a gambling destination.

The recently closed Showboat and Revel Casinos in Atlantic City.
The recently closed Showboat and Revel Casinos in Atlantic City. (Jessica Kourkounis/Getty Images)
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Christie denied an allegation made by a caller that the Christie administration "dropped the ball" on Atlantic City and says that "the 12-15 casinos" that once operated in Atlantic City were built at a time when the city had a monopoly on gambling and believes the city's problems have been "overplayed." He cites interest from a potential buyer for Revel as proof that there is hope for Atlantic City for non-gaming development.

The recent closures of four casinos was "fairly predictable" according to the governor and part of a "conversion" started by his administration four years ago into "something beyond just a gaming destination" towards non-gaming development. He urged the legislature to post the Economic Opportunity Act with his conditional vetoes and "significant incentives" for alternative development "if they want to help Atlantic City.

The governor expressed concern about the nearly 8,000 casino workers who have lost their jobs lost their jobs as a result of the closures of the Showboat, Trump Plaza and Revel and wants to offer "safe passageway" for them to new jobs including job training.

Christie said he would not approve gaming anywhere else in New Jersey unless part of the revenue went to help Atlantic City.

Earlier in the day, Christie said he would welcome Donald Trump's possible return to Atlantic City.

“If Donald Trump wants to come in and be a participant again in an active way in Atlantic City I’d welcome him and I think most people in New Jersey would,”  Trump tweeted that he would may "buy back in, at a much lower price, to save Plaza & Taj" just hours after the Plaza closed.

Trump Entertainment, the company that runs Trump Taj Mahal, filed for bankruptcy and had threatened to close if they cannot gain concessions from the union representing the employees.

State Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-West Deptford) is backing a plan to open a casino in the Meadowlands to put those people to work and to slow the stream of gamblers heading to Pennsylvania.

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See video from Ask the Governor below.

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