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With three failing Atlantic City casinos slated to close their doors within the next month, officials near New York City are pushing shiny new gaming facilities harder than ever.

Officials from the Meadowlands Regional Chamber of Commerce, trying to capitalize on their proximity to Manhattan and affluent stretches of northern New Jersey, outlined a proposal Tuesday that included four different themed gambling areas, two 1,000-room hotels and a convention center. The facilities would be sited at the Meadowlands Sports Complex, home of MetLife MET +0.43% MetLife Inc. U.S.: NYSE ^$53.86 +0.23 +0.43% Aug. 20, 2014 11:59 am Volume (Delayed 15m) : 1.14M P/E Ratio 13.71 Market Cap $60.32 Billion Dividend Yield 2.60% Rev. per Employee $1,078,520 08/08/14 HEARD ON THE STREET: Insurers ... 08/07/14 MetLife to Pay $23 Million to ... 08/05/14 New York's Financial Regulator... More quote details and news » MET in Your Value Your Change Short position stadium and the Meadowlands Racetrack.

The project would cost more than $2 billion, and it is unclear whether investors can be found, though Meadowlands officials said some had already shown interest.

Meanwhile, Jersey City officials are touting a 95-story casino project that would include a motor-racing track and dramatic Manhattan views.

Officials behind these projects are pushing state lawmakers to put a referendum on the ballot in 2015 allowing gambling outside Atlantic City. Both Gov. Chris Christie and state Senate President Stephen Sweeney have said they would consider such a move.

"The longer we wait, the more crowded the market becomes," said Jim Kirkos, president and chief executive of the Meadowlands Regional Chamber. "I think the state is at a point in time when it needs to make decisions."

That officials want to build new gambling facilities at a time of deep contraction for Atlantic City and market saturation across the Northeast strikes some observers as risky. Revel Casino Hotel, the Showboat Atlantic City Hotel and Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino are all expected to close within a month.

Analysts say the beleaguered shore town has faced increased pressure from gambling in other states—including Pennsylvania and Maryland—along with a younger generation less interested in playing slot machines. The city's gaming revenue has dropped from $5.2 billion in 2006 to $2.86 billion in 2013.

"If there are casinos shutting down in Atlantic City, why would they do any better in North Jersey?" Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian said.

Officials involved in northern New Jersey projects said the key is essentially one thing: New York City, and its surrounding counties, which are home to more than 10 million people.

In New York, the state gaming commission is currently weighing 16 bids for casinos with live table games in regions near Albany, the area along the Pennsylvania border and the Catskills and Hudson Valley. The state will award four licenses this fall.

Among the bidders: Malaysian gambling company Genting Group has proposed building two casinos and resorts in Orange County, including a $1.5 billion project in Tuxedo, N.Y., about 45 miles from Manhattan.

Other big-name bidders include the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, owner and operator of Mohegan Sun, and Caesars Entertainment. CZR -4.74% Caesars Entertainment Corp. U.S.: Nasdaq ^$13.25 -0.66 -4.74% Aug. 20, 2014 11:59 am Volume (Delayed 15m) : 425,350 P/E Ratio N/A Market Cap $2.01 Billion Dividend Yield N/A Rev. per Employee $125,665 08/12/14 Caesars to refinance debt of k... 08/12/14 Stocks to Watch: Intercept Pha... 08/11/14 Caesars Loss Widens on Weaknes... More quote details and news » CZR in Your Value Your Change Short position

Robert Shore, a casino analyst for Union Gaming Research, said proximity to New York made the northern New Jersey bets smarter, but that the market could still become oversaturated.

"If you're an investor, you're probably more bullish in North Jersey," he said. "If you're in New York and you don't have a car, it's not easy to get to Atlantic City. Proximity to New York is always a benefit."

That could mean further troubles for Atlantic City, where the city's bond rating is now at junk level, the unemployment rate hovers around 13% and the city has asked for state aid.

State officials have said some of the tax revenue from new casinos would go toward helping Atlantic City, but Mr. Shore said any new casinos are "definitely a negative" for Atlantic City.

"It would hurt our local industry here, and frankly, it just doesn't make economic sense," Mr. Guardian, the mayor, said.

Meadowlands officials said they aren't hoping to kill Atlantic City's business. "But we can't let Atlantic City's struggles keep us from success here," said Ron Simoncini, a Meadowlands Regional Chamber spokesman.

The moves could also pressure Resorts World Casino New York City in Queens, the city's only casino. Parent company Genting is bidding on two properties in Orange County. At least 75% of the casino's customers come from within 20 miles, said Stefan Friedman, a spokesman for the casino.

"There's no question that the Northeast region is starting to become extremely saturated," Mr. Friedman said. He added that any casino in New Jersey is "speculation at this point and that if something comes online, we'll deal with it."

—Joseph De Avila
contributed to this article.