Press Releases

Washington, DC -Today, Congressman Van Drew released the following statement upon learning that Democrat State Senators Vin Gopal and Paul Sarlo have introduced legislation and are pushing for a new referendum to expand casino gaming to Monmouth Park and Meadowlands Racetracks in North Jersey.

"A decade ago, we were told that North Jersey casinos were inevitable and that those of us here in South Jersey should just lie down, play dead, and cut the best deal we can. Sound familiar? Needless to say, we did not listen," said Congressman Van Drew. "The stakes were too high. We could not allow our local economy to lose up to half a billion dollars annually or, more importantly, 15,000 of our friends and neighbors to lose their jobs. So we fought like hell, and when the dust settled, the 2016 referendum to expand casino gaming outside Atlantic City was defeated by voters in all 21 counties. Make no mistake—we defeated North Jersey casinos once, and we stand ready to do so again, because South Jersey is always worth fighting for, and I will never back down when it comes to protecting our people."