Cuomo Wants Casino Expansion Deal
New York’s Governor Andrew Cuomo has made no secret of the fact that he would like to put three Nevada-style casinos in upstate New York, and this week came news that he is hoping to broker a deal with Empire State lawmakers to do just that.
Under the proposed plan, which Cuomo hopes to see finalized before the current legislative session draws to a close in two weeks, on June 20, video slots parlors would also be installed in the western portion of the state.
No NYC properties to be included
One big sticking point has been whether or not to permit the construction of casinos in the five boroughs that comprise New York City. As the nation’s most populous city, there is no doubt that the metropolis could support such an endeavor, however in the Governor’s opinion allowing for New York City casinos would mean that gamblers would patronize them rather than the upstate properties.
In the past, Cuomo had proposed that there be a five-year moratorium on the construction of any New York City casinos, however under his current plan he has changed tack and now insists that New York City properties be explicitly excluded from any new casino expansion law. Cuomo feels it is best to bring about separate legislation that would clear the way for such properties, rather than including it in legislation that addresses the upstate region.
Tribal interests always at issue in New York
Talk of expanding casino gambling in the state of New York has been swirling for years, however the matter is often highly contentious due to issues regarding the state’s Native American tribes, who often disagree with plans to add more casinos, especially those to be run by commercial interests with no Indian affiliation.
The tribes see this as a direct confrontation to their livelihood, as the addition of any such properties would almost certainly “poach” gamblers, resulting in lost revenue for the Native American casinos.
The Seneca Indian tribe has long been at odds with the state, choosing to withhold casino revenue in protest of a plan to build a privately-owned commercial casino in the popular tourist region of Niagara Falls. Under the Governor’s new plan, a video slots parlor would be installed in the disputed area, a move the Senecas view as a direct attack by Cuomo, a Democrat whose father, Mario Cuomo, also served as governor of the state.
Barry Snyder Sr, who serves as President of the Seneca, said of Cuomo, “He’s a bully. I’ll say it again — he’s a bully.”
Competition from neighboring states also a factor
As many of New York’s neighbors work toward expanding land-based casino gambling, surely New York legislators worry about the revenue lost across its borders. As states like Pennsylvania and Massachusetts currently have new luxury casino projects in the works, the competition for gambling dollars has continued to heat up in recent months and years, with no sign of abatement.
With the clock ticking and time running short, however, whether or not Governor Cuomo will be able to get his way remains to be seen.
