State Senator Pushes for Swift Action on Downstate Casino Licenses
The state Legislature approved up to three new casino licenses in the downstate region in 2022, but progress in moving forward with these licenses has been frustratingly slow. With decisions on the location of these new casinos not expected until at least December 2025, State Senator Joe Addabbo is pushing for immediate action to expedite the process.
In a recent interview with Spectrum News 1, Senator Addabbo expressed his impatience with the delays in getting the new casinos up and running. He emphasized the need for Governor Kathy Hochul to take action on a bill he sponsored, which passed late last session. This bill aims to establish clear deadlines for the casino licensing process and ensure that there are no further delays in the implementation of these much-needed projects.
The State Gaming Commission recently updated the timeline for casino license applications, setting a new deadline of June 2023, with decisions expected to be made by December 2025. Senator Addabbo’s bill proposes an earlier deadline of August 31, 2024, for applications, in the hopes that this will expedite the decision-making process and get the new casinos operational sooner.
While the August 31 deadline has already passed, Senator Addabbo remains hopeful that the Governor will consider adjusting the timeline to ensure that the casino licensing process moves forward without any further delays. He stressed the importance of legally enshrining these deadlines in state law to prevent any future setbacks that could jeopardize the significant revenue and job opportunities that the new casinos would bring.
Senator Addabbo highlighted the economic benefits of the new casinos, pointing out that each site is expected to create at least a thousand construction jobs, with an additional 2,500 permanent jobs once the casinos are operational. He emphasized the importance of these jobs, particularly in light of the revenue they would generate for the MTA following the pause in congestion pricing.
While concerns have been raised about the potential impact of expediting the downstate casino expansion on upstate casinos, Senator Addabbo argued that it is now downstate’s turn to benefit from the economic opportunities that come with casino development. He noted that the state had previously prioritized upstate casinos and that it is only fair for downstate to now receive its share of the benefits.
In discussing the revitalization seen in towns like Schenectady around the Rivers Casino, Senator Addabbo highlighted the positive impact that casinos can have on local economies. He pointed out that by allowing the four upstate casinos to establish themselves first, the state had given them a head start, and now it is time to focus on the remaining three licenses for the upstate region.
Moving forward, Senator Addabbo is hopeful that Governor Hochul will take swift action to ensure that the casino licensing process stays on track and that the new casinos can begin operating as soon as possible. The economic benefits of these projects are too significant to be delayed any longer, and Senator Addabbo is committed to seeing them through to completion.