Genting New York is planning a 0 million expansion of the Aqueduct Racetrack of New York, with work to begin later this year, pending state approval.
Genting revealed its plans to the New York Racing Association’s Oversight Board and said it wants to build a 750,000-square-foot addition to the track’s gaming, plus new hotel rooms, entertainment and retail space.
Genting wants to turn the Aqueduct Racetrack of New York into a complete resort destination, but says it can’t proceed without state regulatory approval.
If it gets approval, Genting intends to complete work by the end of 2019.
The state’s Franchise Oversight Board expressed concern the expansion, which would add about 1,000 new video lottery terminals to the 5,525 Resorts World New York already operates, would not benefit the New York Racing Association.
The racing association gets 16 percent of revenues from the racetrack to help pay for racing purses, operational costs, and improvements at member race tracks, which include the Saratoga Race Course.
The Oversight Board suggested the additional 1,000 gaming machines would dilute the local market and not generate expected economic benefits.
Resorts World President Ryan Eller told board members the diversified nature of the project, which includes adding 400 hotel rooms and a convention center, would offset any potential market dilution issues by attracting more visitors.
Meanwhile, a proposed small gaming operation at a shuttered Midtown Rochester is drawing strong opposition from local pastors.
The Seneca Nation of Indians wants to include a Class II gaming facility with a proposed 3,000-seat performing arts venue at the Midtown site.
Another proposal by Thomas Wilmot, owner of the under-construction del Lago Resort and Casino in Seneca County, simply proposes a publicly funded performing arts center and says city officials are favoring the Seneca tribe’s proposal.
Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren says the Seneca’s plan would be beneficial for the poverty-stricken Midtown area, but several local pastors recently raised strong opposition to a gaming casino.
They say a casino would prey upon the local poor population and increase social problems, including gambling addiction and crime.
Warren suggested the ministers oppose the development simply because they were paid to do so by a local lobbyist.
A Better Rochester lobbyist Robert Scott Gaddy said he was the lobbyist who offered money to the churches, but only to help pay for the upkeep and improvements to church facilities.
The Faith Community Alliance went a step further and wrote Warren, saying the ministers were not paid to protest against the proposed Midtown casino and they consistently opposed Downtown gaming projects for several years.
Rochester officials are accepting requests for proposal for the Midtown site through July 15.
