What is symbiosis?
In biology, symbiosis is the term used to describe the interaction between two different organisms living in close physical association. For example, how fungi and plant roots interact and benefit each other. Symbiosis denotes a mutually beneficial relationship between different people or groups.
Or in the case of New York and New Jersey, the beneficial relationship between the two states and their cities – each with its different strengths. Divided by the Hudson River and united by the Statue of Liberty (amongst other things), New Jersey and New York rub along well together.
New York is the fashion capital
New York is the fashion capital of the US, and arguably the fashion capital of the world. Vying with London, Paris, and Milan for the top spot, no collection would be complete without a showing on a New York runway.
However, while the world knows New York is the place to be seen and to check out the latest styles, many do not realize that plenty of top brands are based in New Jersey.
For example, Italian giant Gucci’s US operation is actually in the Garden State. While Gucci is probably the biggest name, hundreds of apparel companies in New Jersey are involved in every aspect of the industry.
One world-class hub
New York’s fashionistas traveling to far-flung corners of the globe have a choice of three airports on their doorstep. However, one of them is not in New York at all. Newark International Airport, New Jersey, is the oldest of the airports serving the city.
Together with JFK and La Guardia, the three airports comprise the most extensive airport system in the United States. The three airports account for the second-largest passenger traffic in the world and operate more flights than anywhere else. For example, in 2022, 43 million passengers passed through Newark Airport, with 55 million at JFK and 29 million at LaGuardia.
Unrivaled live entertainment
New York is one of the top tourist destinations in the world. Visitors flock to the city for unmissable sights and top-end entertainment. Nothing says show biz like Broadway – theatre tickets are a must-have purchase to complete a trip to The Big Apple.
New York is home to some of the world’s most iconic venues, like Carnegie Hall and Times Square. In addition, everyone has heard of Central Park. However, New Jersey also has a slew of attractions that draw New Yorkers across the Hudson River.
New Jersey has the best tables
Undoubtedly, New Jersey’s biggest attraction is Atlantic City – the Vegas of the north. At a time when casino gambling was all but prohibited in the US, New Jersey stuck its neck out and decided to attract people to the seaside for some fun and luck at the tables and on the slots.
Atlantic City dates from 1854; however, the casino resort we know today opened for gambling in 1976. With gambling not allowed in New York, the casinos of New Jersey were a welcome attraction for people living on the Eastern Seaboard.
Pioneering New Jersey
New Jersey has been a pioneer in gambling in many ways. With the large wealthy metropolitan population on its doorstep, the state has gone out of its way to being a focal point of gambling in the USA.
In many ways, it has been even more adventurous than Vegas. New Jersey was the power behind the relaxation of gambling legislation across the USA. Sports betting might now be legal in New York, but without the years of groundwork put in by New Jersey, the country could be in a very different position.
It was action taken by New Jersey against PASPA that led to the Supreme Court overturning the federal ban on sports betting. It was decreed that it was unconstitutional as individual states had the right to decide.
Leading the way in online casinos too
It is not just in sports betting, however, where New Jersey has championed the gambling industry. In 2011 New Jersey passed a bill to allow residents over the age of 21 to be allowed to gamble online.
The state’s constitution says that casino gambling can only occur in Atlantic City, so the gambling websites’ servers had to be located in the city’s casinos.
After various legal tussles and clarification over what was and was not legal due to the 1961 Wire Act, gamblers in the state were able to play online from November 2013. Players could access the online games from anywhere in the state and no longer had to take a vacation to play casino games.
Win: win situation
This means that New Yorkers can take a short hop across the river and be able to play at any of the platforms featured on a New Jersey online casinos list. Playing at legal, regulated online casinos gives igamers protection, as the casinos have to be licensed to operate.
New Jersey has done all the groundwork; New Yorkers get to play. There is speculation about whether New York will open its own online casino market to rival New Jersey’s. However, for now, the two populations can get the best of both worlds without damaging the other’s economy or fun, a mutually beneficial relationship. You could even say it is win: win.
