As Atlantic City continues to try and recover from economic hardship, the debate continues as to whether casinos should be allowed in Central and North Jersey.
Atlantic City's former Trump Plaza casino is likely to remain closed for at least 10 years following a judge's approval Thursday of a deed restriction prohibiting anyone from re-opening it as a casino.
Supporters of a ballot question asking New Jersey voters to amend the constitution to allow casinos outside of Atlantic City are not conceding that it won't happen this year, but they are losing confidence. In order for voters to get the chance in November, a resolution must receive final legislative approval by Aug. 3.
The deadline is in early August for the New Jersey legislature to approve a resolution asking voters, this November, if they want to amend the constitution to allow casinos outside of Atlantic City. If that doesn't happen, the question could not go on the ballot until 2016.
The Borgata casino will receive about $63 million after a state appeals panel concluded Monday that Atlantic City had overcharged it on property taxes.
From the ashes of its ruinous 2014, when a third of Atlantic City's casinos went belly-up, some green shoots of growth are emerging in the oceanside town.