During the East Coast Gambling Congress’ 28-year annual run in Atlantic City, it has not been uncommon for the sitting New Jersey governor not only to serve as keynote speaker, but also to use the event as a vehicle to break major news in the world of gambling.
In 2011, for example, then-Gov. Chris Christie not so gently prodded the developers of the new Revel casino on the Boardwalk into announcing a mid-May 2012 grand opening — a declaration that at the time was perceived as a feather in Christie’s cap.
But any hopes in the audience on Wednesday that Gov. Phil Murphy would use the microphone to declare a retreat from his recent budget proposal to nearly double some key gambling tax rates were dashed by the end of his speech.
