New York poised for referendum on new casinos

Governor of New York has proposed an expansion of casino gambling in the city, with four new sites earmarked for development.

Governor Andrew Cuomo, in office since 2011, has submitted a bill to the State Legislature which would divide the city into seven regions, allowing a casino to be built in four of them. However it is still unclear which locations would be chosen for the resorts.

A number of local businessmen are hopeful that the introduction of casinos would help revive the state’s struggling economies, particularly in the likes of Catskills, Greene County. However the bid is expected to be opposed by the New York Gaming Association, who fear their slot parlours would lose business.

According to Senator John Bonacic, though, the proposal isn’t ambitious enough. “I am hopeful the governor can consider authorising five casinos. I fear if he does not it will leave it too open-ended, allowing casino naysayers and those who play to NIMBYism more fodder to oppose the referendum,” he said.

If the plans are approved by Legislature they would go to a public referendum, likely to be in November.

Bruce Archer