A November referendum in New Jersey to come to a decision if casinos need to be allowed outside of Atlantic City is facing an uphill battle, in line with findings from a up to date Rutgers-Eagleton poll. The effects were first reported Tuesday by NJ.com.

Half of respondents said they believe brick-and-mortar casinos should only be in Atlantic City. Forty percent said they need to be allowed in other parts of the state. Three percent said they don’t want casinos anywhere in New Jersey, while seven percent said they were unsure.

In March, the chances were 49, 44, two and five, respectively. So, the north Jersey casino plan backed by Gov. Chris Christie may well be losing steam.

The results were worse for the plan when the question was more specific, but that’s the way it will read at the ballot. The second one version of the question read:

“Right now, casino gambling is purely allowed in Atlantic City. Do you approve or disapprove amending the brand new Jersey state constitution to allow casino gambling in two additional counties within the state which are no less than 72 miles from Atlantic City?”

To that question, 58 percent of respondents said they disapprove, while 35 percent said they approve. Seven percent said they were unsure.

The margin of error for the poll was +/-3.5 percentage points.

Here’s how the poll was conducted:

The Rutgers-Eagleton Poll was conducted by telephone using live callers September 6-10, 2016 with a scientifically selected random sample of 802 New Jersey adults, 18 or older. The sample includes a subsample of 735 registered voters. Respondents within a household are selected by asking randomly for the youngest adult male or female currently available. If the named gender isn't available, the youngest adult of the opposite gender is interviewed. The poll was available in Spanish for respondents who requested it. This telephone poll included 441 landline and 361 mobile phone adults, all acquired through random digit dialing.

Atlantic City has had a brand new Jersey casino monopoly because the 1970s. Gaming win in Atlantic City have been slashed in half during the last decade, from a record high of greater than $5 billion in 2006.

Experts believe that Atlantic City might be left with just four casinos should north Jersey casinos be approved. The seaside town can have seven left when the Trump Taj Mahal closes next month.

The casino expansion plan had the blessing from the vast majority of Garden State lawmakers (85 percent within the Senate and 76 percent within the Assembly).

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