Pursuits

New Jersey May Seize Atlantic City as Rebound Eludes Casinos

  • Senate president said he'll back bankruptcy if takeover fails
  • Lawmakers also consider ending city's 40-year casino monopoly
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After almost five years of piecemeal efforts to fix Atlantic City, New Jersey’s distressed seaside resort faces more drastic measures: the end of its casino monopoly and a state takeover or bankruptcy filing.

On the line is the future of a city that Governor Chris Christie once said was crucial to New Jersey’s recovery. Once the second-largest U.S. gambling market, Atlantic City has seen its key industry crumble as day-trip patrons shift to newer, closer casinos in nearby Pennsylvania and New York.