Political Pressure Grows as New York Faces Casino License Delays

Attempts to rush the granting of downstate New York casino licenses have hit major snags even with growing pressure from politicians like State Senator Joseph Addabbo.

In 2022, the New York State Legislature gave the green light for up to three new casino licenses hoping to give the local economy a boost through new jobs and tax money. But things have moved at a snail’s pace, and the New York Gaming Commission has hinted that decisions on who gets these licenses will not happen before December 2025.

Push for Quicker Casino Bidding Stalled by Governor’s Lack of Support

Addabbo feels upset about these holdups pointing out that too much money and jobs are on the line to let things drag out anymore. He backed a bill to speed up the bidding by setting earlier cutoff dates. His plan wanted casino bid applications in by August 31, 2024, with choices made by December 2025. But this deadline has come and gone without Gov. Kathy Hochul taking action leaving the bill hanging in the balance.

Gov. Hochul does not want to back the bill, and people close to her say her team likes the longer schedule set by the state’s Gaming Facility Location Board, reported Spectrum News.

This plan gives those who might bid until June 2025 to turn in their ideas, a date that some casino experts think makes more sense given how tricky these billion-dollar casino plans can be. Those who do not like the faster timeline say builders need more time to come up with good bids since some parts of New York City still have not sorted out their zoning rules.

Addabbo Remains Hopeful on Casino Bill Despite Governor’s Reluctance

Even though the governor is not keen to speed up the process, Addabbo and Assemblyman Gary Pretlow, who worked together on the bill still think Hochul might change her mind. They point out the monetary benefits that starting casinos sooner could bring to New York, like getting $1.5 billion right away from license fees. This cash could help make up for money lost due to recent choices such as putting off the start of congestion pricing in Manhattan.

Worries exist about how downstate casinos might affect existing upstate gambling venues. When New York first made casinos legal, it focused on upstate areas to boost their economies.

Now, politicians like Addabbo say it is time for the downstate region, including New York City, to get similar advantages. But the long wait could change the competition for racinos like MGM’s Empire City Casino and Genting’s Resorts World. People see these places as top picks for two of the three licenses. These spots already run video lottery terminals and could become full casinos giving them a big edge over new rivals.