Gov Christie Rolls Back Half-Century-Old Law Clearing Way For Dave Busters In New Jersey

TRENTON, NJ -- With the stroke of a pen, a 56-year-old ban on serving alcohol in amusement venues in New Jersey has been reversed, providing certain conditions are met. Taking time out from his presidential campaign, Gov. Chris Christie on Nov. 9 signed into law a bill that allows holders of amusement game licenses to obtain liquor licenses for amusement venues measuring a minimum 20,000 square feet and having more than 100 games.

The old law was part of legislation dating back to 1957 that regulated games of skill or chance in entertainment and bowling centers, including skee-ball alleys, cranes, rotaries, pushers and sports games, among other redemption machines. Because of the antiquated law, Dave & Buster's, whose entertainment and dining business model includes the sales of alcoholic drinks, has not entered New Jersey.

Dave & Buster's, which had long lobbied for the bill, was denied a waiver from the ban in 2013 by the New Jersey Games of Chance Control Commission.

"The only thing that was standing between a multimillion dollar job creator like Dave & Buster's -- which is interested in opening multiple locations here as soon as possible -- and the state of New Jersey was one outdated law," said Assemblyman Joseph Lagana (D-Bergen), one of the bill's sponsors. "No other state in the country had that ban, and the bottom line is that it simply made New Jersey less competitive."

Prior to the governor's approval, the new bill passed in the state Senate, 27-6, and the in Assembly by an overwhelming 71-5. The law (A-4143), known as the Dave & Buster's bill, will allow the big box entertainment and restaurant chain to operate in New Jersey. Critics say the new law will threaten New Jersey's locally owned entertainment businesses.

Dallas-based Dave & Buster's operates in 30 states, including New Jersey neighbors New York and Pennsylvania.

SOURCE:

http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bills/BillView.asp?BillNumber=A4143

SEE ALSO:

Jersey Lawmakers Seek To Repeal Antiquated Amusement Machine Law; Make Way For Dave & Buster's, Beer And Skee-Ball