New York Gov. Kathy Hochul Remains Uninterested in Expediting Casinos
A powerful Democrat in the New York State Senate said this week that Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) remains evasive to legislation that would expedite issuing the three downstate casino licenses the legislature authorized in 2013.
The 2013 gaming bill created four upstate and three downstate licenses for slot machines and live dealer table games. Sports betting has since been included in the gaming privileges.
The casino package came with a 10-year moratorium on the downstate licenses being issued. The delay was designed to give the upstate properties time to solidify their customer bases without downstate competition.
The three downstate licenses are coveted opportunities, with the largest casino operators prepping bids. The resort developments, each with an upfront $500 million licensing fee, are expected to provide the state with critical tax revenue amid a shrinking taxpayer base and a desperate need to provide funding for major public transportation infrastructure upgrades.
Governor Dragging Process
State Sen. Joe Addabbo (D-Queens), who chairs his chamber’s Racing, Gaming, and Wagering Committee, sponsored legislation earlier this year to speed up the downstate casino licensing process. The measure, which he championed with Assemblyman Gary Pretlow (D-Mount Vernon), sought to require that bids be submitted to the New York Gaming Facility Location Board by August 31 — far sooner than the board’s current deadline of June 27, 2025.
August 31 has come and gone, and Addabbo and Pretlow’s bill, which passed the Assembly and Senate in June, remains stalled. The lawmakers haven’t forwarded the gaming measure to Hochul because it’s believed the governor will veto it.
