Atlantic City accounts for one-third of all New Jersey tourism

The report — commissioned by the Casino Association of New Jersey and conducted by the Center for Urban Policy Research at Rutgers University, which analyzed statistics from 2008 — shines new light on the value of New Jersey's gambling district.

Share It comes on the heels of Governor Chris Christie's plan to overhaul the area under control of the state. In announcing his plan, Christie said, "Atlantic City is dying."

Its 34.4 million visitors in 2008 made Atlantic City the second-most popular casino district in the U.S., not far behind Las Vegas' 51.6 million. 80% of visitors to Atlantic City said gambling was the reason for their trip, the report said. By comparison, the study said New York City saw 47 million visitors in the same year.

The gaming industry also either directly employed or supported more than 100,000 jobs in the state. This makes it a larger employer than the investment and pharmaceutical industries, "which continue to be heralded as the roadway to state’s economic future," the report said. "It also employs more residents than the state’s well-known transit industry and military sector," the report said.

The industry also generates more than us$ 900 million in state and local taxes, the report found. Nearly half of that revenue goes to fund medical, social and transportation programs for senior citizens, according to the report.