ALBANY — Gov. Hochul is willing to wager on New York City getting a casino in the near future.
The governor’s budget proposal includes a plan to allow the state Gaming Facility Location Board to issue a request for applications that could lead to three new full-scale gambling parlors in the city or surrounding suburbs.
“We will issue an order to get bids in … there’ll be a board that makes a selection process for casinos across the state largely — the three will be probably focused in the downstate area, but there’s no restriction there,” Hochul Budget Director Robert Mujica said.
The state currently has 11 casinos upstate, seven of which are run by Native American tribes as well as four commercial sites that opened following a change to the state Constitution in 2013.
A prohibition was placed on an additional three downstate until 2023.
Hochul’s plan would speed up the timeline and do away with penalties downstate operators would have to pay to the upstate casino owners if they moved forward before the current ban expires.
Some lawmakers and casino companies have lobbied the state for years in an attempt to lift the moratorium and quicken the pace.
Sen. Joseph Addabbo (D-Queens), chairman of the Senate Racing and Wagering Committee, said the expedited plan could bring in billions more in tax revenue for the state.
“I believe the inclusion of expediting the three full casino licenses for our downstate region has the potential to bring in $1.5 billion in revenue for the state, additional educational funding and improvements to problem gambling programs,” Addabbo said.
Last year, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo toyed with the idea of allowing a Las Vegas-style casino to open in Midtown Manhattan, but the proposal never gained traction.
Past efforts have focused on expanding already established racinos, Empire City Casino in Yonkers and Resorts World New York City in Queens.
Mujica said the plan now under consideration would allow for multiple proposals for licenses.
“There will be a competition for them,” he said.
The push comes a week after mobile sports betting went online in the Empire State.
Officials project the state will bring in $249 million in revenue, including $200 million in already collected license fees, this fiscal year from mobile wagering.
That number jumps to $357 million in the coming fiscal year beginning in July.
