Casino Gambling in Atlantic City: Issues of Development and Redevelopment

Abstract

In 1976 the citizens of New Jersey legalized casino gambling in the resort town of Atlantic City. Since the Great Depression, Atlantic City had been on an economic downswing representative of resort cycles in general. Casino gambling was supposed to revitalize Atlantic City and generate jobs and revenue for New Jersey. While the casinos have become successful, and jobs and revenue have been created, the revitalization of Atlantic City beyond the Boardwalk remains to be achieved. This outcome may be accounted for by pointing to rampant land speculation following the passage of the casino referendum, ineffective government intervention, and an historic urban planning pattern that emphasized Boardwalk and tourist-associated infrastructure development. With the casinos successfully in place, attention is now being paid to a second phase of development in order to improve other segments of the city.

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References

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