$32,281,983

Amount spent on most expensive ballot referendum in NJ history

July 12, 2024 | Number of The Day

Gambling has been at the heart of New Jersey’s recent history, in more ways than one. The latest is in a new top 10 ranking by the state Election Law Enforcement Commission of the most expensive ballot referendums ever in New Jersey.

At the top by far is the $32,281,983 (in current dollars) spent by labor, political and industry groups in the failed 2016 referendum to open casinos in north Jersey. That’s more than the next nine ballot initiatives combined, first among them the $7,461,843 spent in 1976 on the ballot measure that led to casinos in Atlantic City. Four of the top 10 ranked all related to gambling.

Here’s the full list.